Three finalists have been announced for the National Sport Promotion Award, providing the opportunity for the National sailing community to recognise those who work behind the scenes to tirelessly promote our sport. The winners will be announced in Syndey on November 3 at the Australian Sailing Awards.

The Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) Media and Sport Promotion Team have notably amplified the promotion of the DSS, enhancing the visibility of sailing in the local community and nationally.

Made up of five committed and diverse talents, the Media and Sport Promotion Team have collectively built a captivating and engaging mix of journalistic, photographic, and promotional media across all platforms.

This year, the team provided extensive coverage of key sailing events held in Tasmania, including the Pipe Opener and the Two Capes race, gaining wide exposure through local newspapers, television media, and various online sailing-centric publications. Their coverage of the 2022-23 Sharpie National Championships, hosted by the DSS, typified their characteristically comprehensive, accurate, timely, engaging and enjoyable style.

The Derwent Sailing Squadron Media and Sport Promotion Team

An initiative lead by local sailors Harry Fisher and Nick Bice in conjunction with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, the inaugural Dockside Festival was held in December 2022 as a three-day program that nurtured the coming together of South Australian sporting, arts and cultural communities.

The festival-scale event generated a footfall of 21,000 visitors over the three-day period, and also acted as an opportunity for clubs to introduce people to the sport of sailing in a more accessible way. 

The main sailing event, broadcast by the in-house event media team, was watched via live stream by thousands of sailors across Australia, and the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia also used the event to launch its inaugural Defence Industry Cup.

Other on-water activations included dragon boat racing and come and try, model yacht racing, inclusive sit-down paddle boarding, and stand-up paddle come and try sessions.

Dockside Festival

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) has consistently demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting sailing, fostering community engagement, and showcasing the sport of sailing through outstanding media and communication initiatives.

Over the past year, the club has used the power of the media to increase participation, most obviously through their 50^th Melbourne to Hobart race campaign which saw a carefully crafted media plan break 25-year race record of forty-nine yachts and 371 sailors onboard.

As part of the media plan, online newsletters, TV, social media, print media and video content were all utilised, resulting in a 34% increase in Facebook followers and 35,000 visits to the official Race Tracker on the ORCV website during the race.

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria

The winner of the Sports Promotion award will be announced at the 2023 Australian Sailing Awards in Sydney on November 3. For more information on the National Awards as well as ticket availability, click here.