Australian Yachtsman of the Year


Australian Yachtsman of the Year Award was created in 1962 by Max Press, OAM, the then Commodore of the Parkdale Yacht Club in Melbourne.
The club was launching an appeal to build its new clubhouse on Port Phillip Bay foreshore at Parkdale and to hold an annual Ball at the Springvale Town Hall. To further the attendances, Max Press approached Ampol, the Australian petroleum company and a supporter of sailing through its part sponsorship of the 1962 Australian bid for the America's Cup with the 12-metre yacht, Gretel launched by the syndicate head, Sir Frank Packer. Ampol supported this award for many years, which recognises the outstanding achievements of leading Australian yachtsmen and women.
Rolex, the Swiss watch company, supported the award for many years, presenting a Rolex Submariner to the winner annually.
The award presentations moved to Sydney in 1966 when the voting panel was handed to the Editors of the national boating publication, Modern Boating. The Award briefly went back to Melbourne for three years being presented at the opening of the Melbourne International Boat Show.
In recent years, the award was taken over by Australian Sailing- the national sailing/yachting authority in Australia.

List of winners of the Australian Yachtsman of the Year award

From 1962 to 1996
YearWinnerAchievementReference
1962–63Jock Sturrock MBESkipper of the America's Cup challenger, Gretel
1963–64Bryan PriceWorld Champion in the 505 class
1964–65Bill NorthamGold Medalist in the 5.5-metre class at the 1964 Olympic Games at Enoshima,Tokyo. Australia's first ever Gold medal win in sailing.
1965–66Tryge and Magnus HalvorsenStill unbeaten record of three successive wins in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
1966–67Craig Whitworth and Robert Miller Australian Champions in the Flying Dutchman class
1967–68John CuneoAustralian Dragon representative at the 1968 Olympic Games
1968–69Carl RyvesAustralian Flying Dutchman representative at the 1968 Olympic Games
1969–70David McKayWorld Champion in the Moth class
1970–71Syd Fischer OBEWorld One Ton Champion on Stormy Petrel
1971–72John GilderWorld and Australian Champion in the 420 class
1972–73David ForbesGold Medalist in the Star class at the 1972 Olympic Games
1973–74Peter HollisTwice World Champion in the Contender class
1974–75Kevin J McCann OAMFor outstanding services to yachting as Olympic Team Manager and as an Administrator. The first time a Team Captain and Administrator has won this award.
1975–76Tom StephensonWorld Half Ton Champion on Foxy Lady
1976–77John Bertrand OAMBronze medalist in the Finn class at the 1976 Olympic Games
1977–78Brian LewisAustralian Champion and runner-up in the World Championships in the Tornado class and as the Australian Tornado representative at the 1976 Olympic Games
1978–79Mike Fletcher OAMAustralia's first Olympic yachting coach
1979–1980Peter O'DonnellWorld Champion in the Etchells class
1980–81Sir James Hardy OBEAmerica's Cup helmsman and involved in four America's Cup challenges
1981–82Mark BethwaiteWorld Champion in both J/24 and Soling classes
1982–83Alan Bond, John Bertrand and Ben LexcenWinners of the America's Cup on Australia II
1983–84Chris Cairns and Scott AndersonBronze Medalists at the 1984 Olympic Games and consecutive World Champions in the Tornado class
1984–85Iain Murray AMWorld Champion in the Etchells class
1985–86Colin Beashel OAMWorld Champion in the 12-metre class on board Australia II
1986–87Stuart WallaceFirst Australian winner of the Laser class at the World Championships
1987–88Peter GilmourWorld Champion in the 12-metre class and World Match Racing Champion
1988–89Glenn BourkeTwice World Champion in the Laser class
1989–90Glenn BourkeWorld Champion for a third time in the Laser class
1990–91John DransfieldThree times World Champion in the Fireball class
1991–92Mitch Booth and John ForbesBronze medalists at the 1992 Olympic Games and World Champions in the Tornado class
1992–93Syd Fischer OBEWinner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on board Ragamuffin and Captain of the Admiral's Cup Team
1993–94Chris and Darren NicholsonTwice World Champions in the 505 class
1994–95David AdamsWinner of Class 2 in the BOC Challenge in True Blue
1995–96Mitch Booth and Andrew LandenbergerSilver medalists in the 1996 Olympic Games in the Tornado class

Male Sailor of the Year Award, and Female Sailor of the Year Award

From 1996, the award was restructured into Male Sailor of the Year, and Female Sailor of the Year.
YearMale WinnerAchievementFemale WinnerAchievement
1996–98Chris Nicholson and Daniel PhillipsWorld Champions in the 49er classSarah BlanckGold medalist at the Women's Laser Radial World Championships
1998–99Colin Beashel and David GilesAustralia's first World Champions in the Star classMelanie DennisonSilver medalist in the Olympic Europe World Championships
1999-00Lars KleppichWorld Champion in the Olympic Mistral One Design sailboard and Gold Medal at the 1999 pre-Olympic regattaJessica CrispConsistent outstanding performance in the Olympic Mistral One Design sailboard
2000–01Tom King and Mark TurnbullGold medalists in the men's 470 class at the 2000 Olympic Games and Australia's first World 470 ChampionsJenny Armstrong and Belinda StowellGold medalists in the women's 470 class at the 2000 Olympic Games and Australia's first women's Olympic sailing gold medalists
2001–02Arthur Brett, Darren Bundock and John ForbesTwo award winners: Brett – 2001 and 2002 Contender World Champion; Bundock and Forbes – 2001 World, European and Australian Tornado class championsJenny Armstrong and Belinda StowellSecond placing in 2001 470 World Championships
2002–03Darren Bundock and John ForbesWinners at the 2002 Tornado World Championships Adrienne CahalanKey member of teams that set four open World Sailing speed records in the space of five months
2003–04Darren Bundock and John ForbesWinners of the 2003 Tornado World Championships, the pre-Olympic regatta, and the Tornado class at the European Sailing Championships in 2003 and 2004.Krystal WeirWinner of the 2004 World and Australian Laser Radial Championship
2004–05Richard PeriniWinner of the 2004 Mumm 30 World Championship and the 2005 Rolex Farr 40 World ChampionshipsAdrienne CahalanNavigator and weather router on the Cheyenne which in 2004 broke the Around the world sailing record
2005–06James Spithill2005 ISAF Match Racing World ChampionAllison ShreeveIn 2006, she scored the Women's Australian Formula Windsurfing Championship winning every race. Winner of the Windsurfing Worlds, the Formula Oceanic Championships and the South American Windsurfing Title
2006–07Darren Bundock and Glenn AshbyWinners of the Princess Sofia Trophy, Kiel Week, World Tornado Championships, second in Holland Regatta, Tornado World Championships, and the Tornado South American Championships-in 2007 they won the Rolex Miami OCR and again the Princess Sofia Trophy gaining the world number one ranking in the Tornado Class.Sarah BlanckSarah moved to the Laser Radial class in 2005 after being our highest placed Olympian in Athens with a 4th in the Europe class. She was World Champion in the Europe's in 2002.In 2006 she won a Bronze medal in the ISAF World Sailing Games and won the Laser Radial class at the Sydney Int.Regatta and won the 05-06 Australian Radial class championships. Currently ranked 4th in this class and is co-captain of the Australian Sailing Team.
2007–08Tom SlingsbyWinner of the 2007 Laser World ChampionshipsElise Rechichi and Tessa ParkinsonGold medalists in the 470 class at the Olympic Sailing Test Event and Bronze medalists at the 2008 Women's 470 World Championships
2008–09Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm PageGold medalists at the 2008 Olympic Games in the men's 470 class.Elise Rechichi and Tessa ParkinsonGold medalists at the 2008 Olympic Games in the women's 470 class
2009–10James SpithillSkipper/helmsman for BMW Oracle Racing, winning the 33rd America's Cup, and becoming the youngest ever winner of the America's CupNicole Souter, Rayshele Martin, Nina Curtis, Lucinda Whitty, Kat Stroinovsky and Amanada ScrivenorGold medalists at the 2009 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship
2010–11Tom SlingsbyWinner of the 2010 Laser World Championship, First Australian to win the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award and the ISAF World Sailor Cup.Lynda PattersonWinner of the 2010 Laser Grand Master Worlds sailed at Hayling Island, UK
2011–12Tom Slingsby, Malcolm Page, Mathew Belcher, Nathan Outteridge and Iain JensenGold Medalists at the 2012 Olympic Games in the Laser, 470 and 49er classes respectivelyOlivia Price, Nina Curtis and Lucinda WhittySilver medalists at the 2012 Olympic Games in the Elliott 6m match racing
2012–13Mathew Belcher and William RyanWinners of nine 470 regattas, including the 470 World ChampionshipsCarrie Smith and Ella ClarkeGold medalists in the 420 girls class at the 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships
2014Mathew Belcher and William RyanVanessa DudleyCompleted her 18th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, finishing 2nd on Ragamuffin 100 and was 2013 World Champion in the grand-master Laser Radial class at the Laser Master World Championships
2015Mathew Belcher and William RyanGold medalists in the 470 class at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsLisa DarmaninSecond place at the Nacra 17 World Championships
2016Tom BurtonWon Olympic Gold in the Laser Class at the Rio 2016 Olympic GamesLisa DarmaninTogether with her cousin Jason Waterhouse, Lisa won the silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the Nacra 17 Class. They finished just one point behind the gold medalists in a highly competitive field.
2017Glen AshbySkipper of the 2017 America's Cup winners, Emirates Team New ZealandTash Bryant and Annie WilmotWon 2017 Youth Sailing World Championship in the 29er class
2018Matt WearnWon Oceania Laser Championships, Treofeo Princesa Sofia and Laser European ChampionshipsWendy TuckFirst female skipper to win the Clipper Round the World race aboard Sanya Serenity Coast.
2019Mathew Belcher and William RyanBelcher and Ryan remained world number one throughout the entire nomination period in the 470 class. They dominated their class internationally, as they claimed the 470 World Championship, Ready Steady Tokyo Olympic Test Event and the World Cup Series events in Marseilles and Enoshima.Nia Jerwood and Monique de VriesFinished ninth at the 470 World Championships and second at the World Cup Series event in Enoshima