Sydney hosted the best sailors from around Australia over the weekend, recognising those who have achieved greatness in the sport of Sailing during the year. Winners were announced, nominees were stoked to be there, and at the end of the night everybody left proud of the sport of sailing. But who won! Here’s the list, and what they had to say about it.

The dynamic duo in the 470 class, Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan stood before a crowd of hundreds after winning the Male Sailor of the Year award. Their domination of the class events worldwide sealed the deal for them, also giving them a place on the Olympic Team for Rio in 2016.

“It’s a fantastic honour. The real message I have taken out of tonight though is how much we all love sailing. And I think that passion we have for our sport is showing in how good our results are across the board.” Said Ryan in his acceptance speech.

Australia’s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller was also stoked with the boys achievement, tweeting that “It would be hard to find better role models for the sport” during the awards ceremony.

Female sailor of the year was won by the incredible Vanessa Dudely for her double achievement of second place aboard Ragamuffin 100 in her 18th Sydney to Hobart last year, and her win in the Grand Master Laser Radial division at the 2013 World Championships.

“I’m so excited about winning this award,” Dudley said. “For an old chook like me to be up here – it’s amazing. I have so much respect for the other finalists Nina and Lisa in the Nacra and I can’t even imagine kiteboarding! I’m incredibly lucky to be able to enjoy small and big boat sailing and do a sport that I just love.”

29’er sailing is some of the most exciting you’ll see anywhere, and Youth Sailors of the year Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton do the class proud. World champions in 2014, and pushing hard in the mens fleets, these two are on track for the 2020 Olympics, probably in the 49er class. Morton was given special mention for his win in the Contender worlds earlier in the year, making him a double world champion.

The team of Daniel Fitzgibbon, Liesl Tesch, Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris, Russell Boaden and Matthew Bugg won the award for Sailor of the Year with a Disability. One point won them the IFDS World championships this year over Great Britain in the Scud 18, 2.4m and Sonar classes, also qualifying them for those three classes in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

Also awarded with coveted Lifetime Achievement awards were Bill Gale and John Calvert-Jones for their ongoing contributions to the sport of sailing. Serving to growing the sport for over 40 years, these two are both partly responsible for the public image of sailing today.

Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees in the 2014 Yachting Australia Awards! For the full list of nominees and winners, check out the Yachting Australia page.

 

#News #Sailing #Kiteboarding