Held at Mounts Bay Sailing Club on Thursday 26 September, the 2024 West Australian Sailing Awards saw the community come together in celebration of outstanding individuals, events and clubs that made an incredible and lasting contribution over the past 12 months.

The impressive lineup of finalists spoke to the quality of the West Australian sailing community as a whole, with Olympians, national champions and tenured volunteers and officials all celebrated regardless of the outcome.

Double Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn (Fremantle Sailing Club and Royal Perth Yacht Club) won the Male Sailor of the Year title after successfully defending his ILCA 7 trophy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Fellow ILCA sailor and Olympian Zoe Thomson (Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club) won in the Female Sailor of the Year category, while Australian Sailing Team teammates Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas (Fremantle Sailing Club and Royal Perth Yacht Club) won Team of the Year.

Youth Sailor of the Year was won by up-and-coming talent, Murray Duthie (South of Perth Yacht Club), while Coach of the Year was awarded to Arthur Brett (Fremantle Sailing Club) for his work with Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris in the iQFOil class.

Long-time volunteer Cherry Callcott (Fremantle Sailing Club) was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award for her tireless contributions.

In the coveted Club of the Year categories, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club won Category A, while Perth Dinghy Sailing Club took home the Category B trophy.

Australian Sailing Western Australia offers our sincerest congratulations to all those recognised at the 2024 Awards. 

2024 Western Australian Sailing Awards

Female Sailor of the Year - Zoe Thomson

Male Sailor of the Year - Matt Wearn

Team of the Year - Nia Jerwood/Conor Nichoas

Para Sailor of the Year - Genevieve Wickham

Youth Sailor of the Year - Murray Duthie

Coach of the Year - Arthur Brett

Motor Yacht Person of the Year – Geoff Wells

Club of the Year Cat A - Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

Club of the Year Cat B - Perth Dinghy Sailing Club

Instructor of the Year - Kaiella Taylor

Official of the Year - Michael Jones

Volunteer of the Year - Cherry Callcott

Lifetime Achievement Award – Graham Stafford

She Sails Award - Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (Girls Who Sail Camp)

Sport Professional of the Year - Premo Jacniacki

Sport Promotion Award - Dana Jolliffe 

The winners are now nominated for the Australian Sailing Awards with the national finalists to be announced soon. We wish all the best for the West Australian nominees.