Australian Sailing is mourning the passing of former President Andrew Plympton AM who passed away on Sunday, March 24 at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer.

‘The Admiral’ as he was affectionately known, had an incredible impact on sailing, AFL and sport in general.

A passionate sailor, Plympton won the World Championships in the Etchells Class in 1988 and sailed all his life up until only a few weeks before his death. 

Plympton was the longest serving President of Australian Sailing (Yachting Australia) and his many accolades included serving as President of AFL club St Kilda during the 1990s and serving as an Executive Member of the Australian Olympic Committee for eight years, while he was also a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Board and a member of the Sports Commission Board. 

Plympton is recognised as helping Australian sailing re-discover success at the Olympic Games.

“(Plympton) was instrumental in the development of the Gold Medal Plan after the Athens Olympics when sailing failed to win a single medal,” the AOC wrote in a statement.

“The enormous success of Australia in later Games, especially in London and Rio, were the outworkings of this plan.”

Current Australian Sailing President Alistair Murray AM, and close friend of Plympton, described him as “one of a kind.”

“I was fortunate indeed to be his business partner and a successor as Australian Sailing President, as I got to see him in all his glorious action!” Murray said.

Andrew Plympton (left) at the Sorrento Sailing Club in 2015. Photo credit: Darrian Traynor.

“Andrew was irreverent, hilarious, outrageous and always the life of the party, but behind it all was a deeply intelligent and hard-working individual who gave his all to contribute to his yacht club, football club, Australian Sailing, sport in general and of course to his family and friends. 

“His contribution to the sport of sailing was little short of incredible, paving the way for those of us who have followed him. 

“Sailing is now one of Australia’s pre-eminent sports, largely thanks to Andrew Plympton. 

"He will be sorely missed. Deepest condolences to his family and the whole sailing community.

“He was much loved.”

Plympton was originally a member of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, and since 2003, he was a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and was previously a Commodore of the Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia CEO Justine Kirkjian said Plympton “left an indelible mark” on Australian sport.

“It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to ‘The Admiral’ Andrew Plympton AM, who passed away over the weekend,” Kirkjian said in a statement. 

“Andrew's contributions to sailing and sports in general over the years, including tenure as the longest serving President of Australian Sailing, have left an indelible mark.

“Our thoughts are with Andrew's family and friends at this time.”

Australian Sailing sends our deepest condolences to his wife Kim, his daughters Katrina and Amanda, and all of the Plympton family and friends during this difficult time.