Bvlgari Yachting NSW Awards

by Di Pearson on 20 Dec 2004 Bvlgari, the classy makers of fine jewellery and watch wear, hosted a lavish ‘do’ for the Yachting NSW Awards at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron last night.

A number of Australia’s top sailors were in attendance, including respectively four and six-time World Tornado champions and Olympic medallists, Darren Bundock and John Forbes, along with Sydney 2000 Gold medallists , Jenny Armstrong and Belinda Stowell and extreme offshore racer, Adrienne Cahalan.

Also in attendance, long time Yachting NSW Board members including President, Malcolm Levy, former President Max Press and long time board member, John ‘Duffy’ Stuart-Duff who was awarded Life Membership of the Association for his many years of service, both on the board and in hands-on roles.

‘Duffy’, now in his early eighties, still actively races (and places) competitively on his Hood 23, Marian, at both Royal Prince Edward YC and RANSA in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. A well deserved reward for him.

In the main event, upcoming Olympic potential, Wangi Wangi’s Nathan Outteridge (18) and his 420 crew, Ayden Menzies (19), received the Yachting NSW Youth Sailor of the Year award for their outstanding successes in the 420 class, including winning the 420 ISAF Youth Worlds, winning 420’s at 2004 Kiel Week in Germany and then a fourth overall at the 470 Junior Worlds in their inaugural 470 campaign.

Outteridge in particular has great prospects in front of him, having no problem in jumping classes and finishing top three. He nearly toppled team Seve Jarvin for the Australian Youth Match Racing championship earlier in the year, finishing second, and also competes in the Laser class from time to time.

The next ‘big thing’, Outteridge told me last night, ‘I would like to do more match racing and a bit of big boat racing, match racing is a good skill to have, but for the moment, my mind is set on an Olympic campaign in the 49er.’

Another Nathan, Nathan Wilmot and his 470 crew, Malcolm Page, won the Yachting NSW Sailor of the Year award, their brilliant performances include ownership of both the 420 and 470 World titles in 2004.

A pleased Nathan commented, 'this is the 13th time I've been nominated, but the first time I've won!'

The pair has had a phenomenal four years, going into the Athens Games the favourite for Gold in the 470 class. However, it was not to be.

At the Yachting NSW organised Sydney International Regatta, which concludes today, Wilmot is skippering a 505 and currently sits in second place overall, whilst Outteridge is skippering a 49er with Malcolm Page as crew (fourth), and Ayden Menzies is crewing for Dylan Clarke in the 470 class – they are currently ninth overall.