2010 Western Australia Yachting Awards - Meet the Champions

by Yachting Western Australia on 24 May 2010 Meet The Champions - the annual Yachting WA awards night was held recently at Fremantle Sailing Club where over 240 invited guests were present to witness the awarding of the Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals and special awards to this year’s recipients as follows:

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR - Kevin Luff
Kevin’s considerable passion and energy have been instrumental in the transformation of club’s sailing and coaching development programmes and regattas.

Kevin is the driving force behind the Mandurah Easter Regatta which offers pre regatta coaching by highly recognised sailing identities as well as organising numerous other open regattas including the hosting of the World Fireball Championships in December 2011.

In addition to mentoring sailors competing at national and international levels, Kevin has introduced a primary schools based programme.

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR - Annette Morris
Annette has made significant contribution in the areas of Race Management diligently presiding as Race Officer at a number or RPYC Invitation Regattas and Club events.

Annette’s work with disabled sailing through the Sailability Programme is admirable. She is a regular volunteer for the Wednesday’s Sailability programme and has been instrumental in the integration of the Sailability boats into the Club’s regular Sunday dinghy racing programme.

Annette is always willing to share her Race Officer skills and knowledge and regularly 'inducts' new volunteers on the start boat, including junior sailors.

COACH OF THE YEAR - Diego Figueroa.
Diego has almost single-handedly made West Australian Optimist sailors one of the best performing teams in the country.

As national Optimist coach for 2 years he has given generously of his time holding coaching clinics for Optimist coaches all over Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Diego is a passionate and dedicated coach. His easy-going manner and enthusiasm brings out the best in junior sailors, making them eager to achieve.

SAILOR OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY - Genevieve Wickham.
Genevieve found sailing to be a medium that would provide her the opportunity to return to a world that had been lost to her in 2001 after suffering a stroke. She was left without the use of the right side of her body and with little verbal communication. Genevieve has been acknowledged nationally, receiving awards for her bravery and determination to overcome the obstacles and challenges that have crossed her path. She hopes that her sailing achievements will be an inspiration to others to get out there and 'have a go'. She returned to sailing via the Sailability Programme in 2005 and has quickly become competent and competitive, competing at a national level with positive results. In June 2010 she will compete at the World Access Class Championships on Rutland Waters, UK. She aims to represent Australia at the 2012 Paralympics in the UK for which we wish her all the very best.

SAILOR OF THE YEAR – FEMALE - Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall.
Stacey and Chelsea have been tirelessly putting hours into training in the 470 Olympic Class as they work towards gaining selection for the Australian Sailing Team and qualifying Australia for the 2012 Olympic Games. They competed in Europe in 2009 and enjoyed success at both Sail Sydney and Sail Melbourne and the placed third in the 470 National Championships.

SAILOR OF THE YEAR – MALE - Torvar Mirsky.
Torvar, well known in the match racing world, needs little introduction. Achieving world class results, he finished the 2009 World Match Tour with a Racing Ranking of 2. Not only does Torvar display an exceptional talent, he is also widely respected as a sportsman with high principals who readily gives back time and expertise to encourage the sport of sailing in others.

JUNIOR SAILOR OF THE YEAR - Ron Tough Yachting Foundation Bronze Medal - Nia Jerwood.
Nia is a member of the Australian Optimist Sailing Team earning her benefit of learning from established Optimist sailors and team coaches.

She approaches sailing with a 'must first have fun' attitude whilst maintaining physical fitness training four times a week and cycling three times a week.

Nia has been a consistent performer in local, national and international events during the past year travelling not only within Australia but also to Singapore and Malaysia and Europe.

YOUTH SAILOR OF THE YEAR - Ron Tough Yachting Foundation Silver Medal - Matthew Jerwood and Patrick Vos.

Matthew and Patrick have served a three year apprenticeship in the International 420 Class, progressing from competent beginners to winners of the 2009 State Titles

The pinnacle of the 2009/10 season was the winning of both the State and National 420 Championships.

The success has been the culmination of hard work in both training and preparation by a pair of very dedicated sailors.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO YACHTING - 2009 GOLD MEDAL WINNER -
Grant Alderson & Dean McAullay
Having sailed together for more than 10 years, Grant and Dean are one of Australia’s top sailing duos with a string of State, National and World championship titles under their belts and more than 30 years of sailing experience between them.

2008/09 was the 'grand slam' for Grant and Dean who capped off a year of great performances in the Flying Fifteen Class, taking out the State, Australian and World Championships.

2009 saw them win both the Pre-Worlds Regatta (Australian Championships) and the World Championships - a feat only ever achieved once before. The World Championship fleet included five world champions and was the largest fleet the class has seen other than that of their 50th Anniversary in Cowes.

Grant and Dean’s successes at International levels have in no way diminished their 'grass roots' involvement of the sport. Both continue to sail consistently at club level and actively support and encourage development of the sport from entry level to the more advanced levels.

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