Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

Australian Sailing Team dominates Award nominations

by Australian Sailing Team 16 Nov 2021 16:54 AEDT 25 November 2021
Australian Sailing Team dominates Award nominations © Australian Sailing Team

The Australian Sailing Awards are quickly approaching, and Australian Sailing Team (AST) athletes and coaches have dominated the list of finalists for Male Sailor of the Year, Female Sailor of the Year and Coach of the Year categories.

In a year that has prevented many sailors from attending regattas, it was our Olympic sailing stars who continued to sine in this year's nominations. The Female Sailor of the Year finalists include Nacra 17 Crew Lisa Darmanin up against Olympic debutants Mara Stransky (Laser Radial) and Tess Lloyd and Jaime Ryan (49erFX).

The Male Sailor of the Year is always hotly contested, but it goes to the next level when the three finalists include two Olympic Gold Medallists and on America's Cup winner with eight previous category wins between them.

Emirates Team New Zealand Wing Trimmer Glenn Ashby won the Award in 2017 for his role in winning the Cup that year, and he finds himself as a finalist again this year. Ashby will face stiff competition from our two Olympic champions in Matt Wearn (Laser) and the team of Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (Men's 470). Both nominees secured Gold in dominant fashion, securing their respective wins before the medal race.

The AST Athletes couldn't be credited for their accomplishments without recognising the coaches that were crucial to their success on the water. The Coach of the Year category is also littered with AST coaches. The lineup includes 2015 winner Tristan Brown, who coached Mara Stransky to her Olympic debut in the Laser Radial class which featured a race win in the final fleet race.

Brown will be up against some coaching giants. Victor Kovalenko and Iain Murray have been shortlisted as a combined finalist for leading Mat Belcher and Will Ryan's successful campaign to Tokyo in the Men's 470. Laser supercoach Michael Blackburn is aiming for his fifth straight win in this category after another successful year on the water. Blackburn coached Matt Wearn to the top of the podium to claim Australia's third consecutive Olympic Gold Medal in the Laser Class.

The Australian Sailing Awards are set to celebrate the past year's successes virtually on Thursday 25th November at 7PM AEDT. Tune in via Australian Sailing's Facebook page.

You can see a full list of the Finalists here.

Related Articles

AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
Continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team AST has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years. Posted on 2 Jul
Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted on 30 Jun
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Top 10 finishes for Aussie crews in Europeans
Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding week in Greece Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, with light winds, lengthy delays, and multiple general recalls pushing teams to their limits throughout the week. Posted on 9 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta. Posted on 2 Jun
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
Littlewood claims bronze in ILCA7 Worlds
It was a tale of two winds that decided the World Champions Zac Littlewood has claimed a bronze medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Qingdao, China, after an intense and unpredictable week of racing. Posted on 17 May
Breiana Whitehead set for Formula Kite Europeans
The Australian kitefoiler is back on the international stage this week Australian kitefoiler Breiana Whitehead is back on the international stage this week, as she lines up against top level competition at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye from May 14 to 19. Posted on 14 May
Game on in Qingdao for the 2025 ILCA Worlds
237 of the world's best sailors from 40 nations prepare to battle it out The stage is set in Qingdao, China, as 237 of the world's best sailors from 40 nations prepare to battle it out over six intense days of racing at the 2025 ILCA6 and ILCA7 World Championships. Posted on 12 May
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitSwitch One Design