Royal Geelong Yacht Club Vice Commodore wins Ocean Racer of The Year 2023

Royal Geelong Yacht Club Vice Commodore wins Ocean Racer of The Year 2023 © Steffen Pedersen

Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) Vice Commodore and Honorary life member Paul Buchholz has been awarded the 2023 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's (ORCV) Ocean Racer of the Year award. This prestigious award recognises an individual's achievement of excellence in ocean racing. The Award also considers the person's contribution over several years in areas such as sailing, navigation, boat preparation, race management, rescue and/or incident recovery.

Although a second time recipient of this award Paul was both elated and humbled to be recognised at this level again. "It's pretty special," Paul said of the award. "I won it once before, but this one came out of left field. I'm elated. I think my crew had a lot to do with it" said the Geelong yachtsman. I'll keep racing and introducing people to sailing for as long as I can. I would say that I am the lucky one here, as I was also awarded Honorary Life Membership of RGYC in 2019 for doing what I love and have a passion for...Sailing"

The Ocean Racer of the Year honour was awarded alongside several other prestigious awards at the ORCV's annual Ocean Racing Awards for the 2022/2023 season:

• Claire Olding was named Youth Sailor of the Year, recognising sailors 25 years or younger for their contribution to, and participation in ocean racing.
• Lillian Stewart was the recipient of the Crew Development award which recognises crews and or skippers that are relatively new to ocean racing who have demonstrated the attitude, commitment and energy required to be a truly valuable crew member.
• Delma Dunoon was also recognised as the Volunteer of the Year, awarded due to an individual for outstanding effort and contribution to the ORCV and it's members.

Festival of Sails Chairman, Paul Buchholz; City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Peter Murrihy; Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens MP and Royal Geelong Yacht Club Commodore, Roger Bennett with the Perpetual Festival of Sails Passage Race Trophy - photo © Leigh McClusky

Paul has been a member of RGYC for 35 years, and a member of the ORCV for 33 years. He has dedicated much of this time towards developing and fostering the sport of sailing, holding many positions within RGYC and the broader sailing community, including Vice Commodore of RGYC and the current Chair of the annual Festival of Sails event and biannual Geelong Wooden Boat Festival. As an advocate for sailing development these positions have been a well aligned fit for the decorated Geelong Sailor and gave him the platform to continue to champion the sport of sailing. This award has come alongside the 30-year anniversary of Pauls boat Extasea, originally launched in 1993 with the express aim of competing in the 50th running of the Sydney to Hobart race.

We join in congratulating Paul, alongside all the award recipients, and continue to praise them for their dedication, expertise, and passion for the sport of sailing.