CYCA - Ocean Racer of the Year nominations

by Lisa Ratcliff on 16 Oct 2006 The CYCA is calling for nominations for the 2006 Ocean Racer of the Year Awards, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of achievements in ocean racing by Australians in national and international events.

Apart from the CYCA itself, other Australian clubs that conduct ocean races have been asked to nominate candidates they feel would be eligible for the four Award categories:

• Ocean Racer of the Year
• Ocean Racing Crew Person of the Year
• Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year
• Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year

'The Ocean Racer of the Year Awards are Australia’s most prestigious recognition of our outstanding ocean racing sailors, not only of successful owners and skippers, but also newcomers to the sport, as well as crew members and those who have made a significant contribution over a long period of time,' says CYCA Commodore Geoff Lavis.

CYCA Vice Commodore Matt Allen, owner/skipper of Australia’s only Volvo 70, Ichi Ban, an applicant for entry in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, was named 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 Ocean Racer of the Year for his achievements with his previous boat, a Farr 52 also called Ichi Ban.

Last year's Ocean Racing Veteran award went to Alex Whitworth who returned to Sydney a week out from the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart start following an epic voyage to Britain and back in his little yacht Berrimilla, another applicant for entry in this year’s bluewater classic.

Lake Macquarie yachtsman Brett Filby was named Ocean Racing Crew Person of the Year at the awards ceremony held at the CYCA last December while Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year went to Geelong yachtsman Tony Fowler who last year successfully campaigned his own yacht, Ocean Skins, in his first season.

In selecting the winners of the four categories of the Ocean Racer of the Year Awards, the CYCA judging panel will assess results in major offshore races around the Australian seaboard, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, the Maria Island Race in Tasmania, the Adelaide to Port Lincoln, Sydney Mooloolaba, Sydney Gold Coast, Brisbane to Gladstone and the big regattas in Hobart, Geelong, Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

Nominations should be forwarded in by email to the CYCA's sailing manager Justine Kirkjian via sailing.manager@cyca.com.au or posted to CYCA, New Beach Rd, Darling Point NSW 2027, with a brief history of the candidate’s offshore successes over the past 12 months. In particular, yacht owners and skippers are encouraged to nominate for the Ocean Racing Crew Person of the Year through their Club.

Nominations close 3 December with the Awards Presentation taking place at the CYCA on Tuesday 19 December 2006 to coincide with the Rolex Skipper’s Cocktail Party.

For further information contact the CYCA Sailing Office on (02) 8292 7870.