Australian Sailing Awards Nomination 2026
  • Australian Sailing Awards 2026

    The Australian Sailing Awards recognise the outstanding contributions and/or achievements of individuals associated with the sport of sailing in each state. Alongside recognising our sport's people, the awards acknowledge the huge contribution made by volunteers and media representatives.
  • Nominations open
    Monday 1st June 2026

    Nominations close
    Monday 3rd August 2026, 11:59pm AEST

    Click here to view the conditions of entry

     

    Nominations will first be judged for their relevant State Awards, with the winning nominations from the State Awards then put forward as nominees to the judging panel of the National Australian Sailing Awards.


    Helpful Links

    Please ensure all relevant information is provided and checked via the Australian Sailing website or database. To assist you in writing your nomination, please use the AS Number and Qualification finder:

    • Australian Sailing number finder
    • Check an Australian Sailing Qualification

    To help prepare your nomination, you can also find a document with the list of questions and criteria for all awards here. 

    • Coach Criteria 
    • Coach of the Year Criteria

      • Must be fully qualified and current Australian Sailing coach as well as registered Club Member.
      • Quality of sporting performance(s) throughout the nomination period, considering the relative depth and level of competition
      • Contribution to broader coaching community (eg coach education and development, mentoring, knowledge sharing, embracing innovation and inspiring others)
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of sportsmanship and continuing self-development; and leadership of other people in their development.
    • Instructor Criteria 
    • Instructor of the Year Criteria

      • Must be a fully qualified and current Australian Sailing instructor (Dinghy, Powerboat, Keelboat, Windsurf, Wing Safety & Sea Survival), working at an accredited Centre.
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development; and leadership of others in their development.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
    • Official Criteria 
    • Official of the Year Criteria

      • Must be qualified Australian Sailing Official as well as a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development; and leadership of others in their development.
      • The individual shall have a demonstrable record of contributing to the conduct of events or programs.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
    • Volunteer Criteria 
    • Volunteer of the Year Criteria

      • An individual, club or class association who has made a significant voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
      • Nominees encouraged to detail their contribution.
    • Lifetime Achievement Criteria 
    • Lifetime Achievement Award Criteria

      • Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
      • Individual involved for at least 20 years in sailing.
      • Outstanding contribution to sailing.
      • Recipient can only receive the Award once.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
      • To be awarded only when there is a deserving individual nominated, not necessarily every year.
    • SheSails Criteria 
    • SheSails Award Criteria

      • May be awarded to an individual, group, class or club.
      • Nominee/s must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
      • The nominee must be of good character and made an outstanding contribution to female participation in sailing during the nomination period.
      • Awarded for achievements and contributions in the coordination, promotion and/or administration of female participation in the sport. Positions and roles held, activities undertaken and time contributed will be considered.
      • The contribution may be in areas of, but not limited to, administration, coaching, leadership, planning, events, regattas, program development, participation, school sailing and retention.
      • All relevant personnel hold the appropriate Australian Sailing qualifications (i.e. Coaches used in a coaching program are Australian Sailing qualified Sailing Coaches)
    • Sport Professional Criteria 
    • Sport Professional Award Criteria

      Awarded to an individual who has positively contributed to sailing in areas including management, administration, club and sailing operations

    • Sport Promotion Criteria 
    • Sport Promotion Award Criteria

      Awarded to a Club, individual or organisation that has positively promoted sailing in the community during the nomination period, involving one or more of the following responsibilities:

      • Organised and promoted a significant local or national or international event(s);

      • Enhanced public and/or commercial interest in sailing;

      • Generated publicity for sailing via print, electronic, radio or television media or by the application of photographic images.

    • Innovation Criteria 
    • Innovation Award Criteria

      • Originality and Innovation: Does the product, program, activity or service demonstrate a truly novel approach or a significant improvement over existing practices?

      • Impact and Significance: What is the potential or actual impact of the innovation on its target audience or industry?

      • Effectiveness and Practicality: How well does the innovation address a specific need or problem, and is it practical and implementable?

      • Scalability and Viability: Can the innovation be scaled up and sustained over the long term?

    • DSC Criteria 
    • Discover Sailing Centre of the Year Criteria

      The judging panel will be looking at the following criteria;

      1. Number of and type of Accredited programs
      2. Number of participants put through these programs
      3. Level of Compliance to DSC operating standards and guidelines
      4. Conversion rates into further programs
      5. Conversion of new participants into club membership
      6. Description of club programs and how they map to the sailing pathway (i.e Green Fleet)
      7. Demonstrated Growth of programs/number of participants from previous year
      8. Demonstrated Training and pathways for instructors and officials
      9. Demonstrated Succession planning
      10. Marketing strategies

      Nominee must be a current Discover Sailing Centre.

    • Inclusion Criteria 
    • Inclusion Program of the Year Criteria

      Nominations are sought from programs which have resulted in a positive contribution to sailing through inclusive engagement of disadvantaged groups to increase participation in sailing. Inclusion programs will be considered eligible if targeted at specific groups within the community which include (but not limited to); people with a disability, women and girls, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, LGBT+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

      Consideration will be given to programs that have resulted in some or all of the following:

      1. Increased participation in sailing, especially among women and girls, people with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
      2. Established supportive environments for volunteering and community involvement.
      3. Being inclusive and inspiring a change in behaviours and attitudes towards disadvantaged groups through sailing.
      4. Shown a desire to fully integrate disadvantaged groups into club sailing and/or membership
  • Nominee Details

    Please provide the below information regarding your nominee
  • Is this nomination for:*
  • Date of Birth*
     - -
    • Crew Details 
    • Crew Date of Birth*
       - -
    • Performance Award Details 
    • Performance Awards

      Female Sailor of the Year, Male Sailor of the Year, Team of the Year, Para Sailor of the Year and Youth Sailor of the Year.
      • Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
      • The athlete(s) must have performed outstandingly in a sailing event(s) or other activity that commenced within the nomination period.

      • Consideration will be given to an athlete, crew or team in any event.

      • The athlete(s) must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.

      • Athlete(s) nominating for Youth Sailor of the Year must be under 19 years of age during the year in which the event(s) included in the nomination took place.

      • Athlete(s) nominating for Para Sailor of the Year must be classified, or eligible for classification, under the World Sailing Rules of Para Classification or the Virtus Athlete Eligibility Criteria or the Deaflympics Athlete Eligibility Criteria.

      • Team of the Year will be awarded to the Skipper or crew who has/have excelled in one or more of the premier Sailing competitions in Australia and/or globally.

      Please list details of outstanding performances in order of merit, including regatta name, how many entrants, your placing, regatta dates and a link to results for all achievements.

      Please note: each individual result will be checked against your submission. Failure to include an accurate result or results link below will result in the result not being considered.

    • Rows
    • 0/2500
    • Coach Details 
    • Coach of the Year

      • Must be fully qualified and current Australian Sailing coach as well as registered Club Member.
      • Quality of sporting performance(s) throughout the nomination period, considering the relative depth and level of competition
      • Contribution to broader coaching community (eg coach education and development, mentoring, knowledge sharing, embracing innovation and inspiring others)
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of sportsmanship and continuing self-development; and leadership of other people in their development.

      Please list details of outstanding coaching results in order of merit, including how many entrants, the placing, regatta dates and a link to results for all achievements.

    • Rows
    • 0/2500
    • Instructor Details 
    • Instructor of the Year

      Must be a fully qualified and current Australian Sailing instructor (Dinghy, Powerboat, Keelboat, Windsurf, Wing, Safety & Sea Survival), working at an accredited Centre.
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development; and leadership of others in their development.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
    • 0/5000
    • Official Details 
    • Official of the Year

      Must be an accredited Australian Sailing Official as well as a member of a club in the state they are being nominated in.
      • The individual shall have demonstrated exceptional levels of self-development; and leadership of others in their development.
      • The individual shall have a demonstrable record of contributing to the conduct of significant events or programs.
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
    • 0/5000
    • Volunteer Details 
    • Volunteer of the Year

      • Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards
      • An individual, club or class association who has made a significant voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing
      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.
      • Nominees encouraged to detail their contribution
    • 0/5000
    • Lifetime Details 
    • Lifetime Achievement Award

      • Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
      • Individual involved for at least 20 years in sailing.

      • Outstanding contribution to sailing.

      • Recipient can only receive the Award once.

      • The individual must be of good character and known for displaying good sportsmanship.

      • To be awarded only when there is a deserving individual nominated, not necessarily every year.

    • 0/10000
    • SheSails Details 
    • SheSails Award

      Awarded for achievements and contributions in the coordination, promotion and/or administration of female participation in the sport.
      • The nominee must be of good character and made an outstanding contribution to female participation in sailing during the nomination period
      • Awarded for achievements and contributions in the coordination, promotion and/or administration of female participation in the sport. Positions and roles held, activities undertaken and time contributed will be considered.
      • The contribution may be in areas of, but not limited to, administration, coaching, leadership, planning, events, regattas, program development, participation, school sailing and retention.
      • All relevant personnel hold the appropriate Australian Sailing qualifications (i.e. Coaches used in a coaching program are Australian Sailing qualified Sailing Coaches)
    • 0/5000
    • Sport Promotion Details 
    • Sport Promotion Award

      • Awarded to a Club, individual or organisation that has positively promoted sailing in the community during the nomination period involving one or more of the following responsibilities:
      • Organised and promoted a significant local or national or international event(s);
      • Enhanced public and/or commercial interest in sailing;
      • Generated publicity for sailing via the print, electronic, radio or television media or by the application of photographic images
    • 0/5000
    • Sport Professional Details 
    • Sport Professional Award

      Awarded to an individual who has positively contributed to sailing in areas including management, administration, club and sailing operations.
    • 0/5000
    • Innovation Award Details 
    • Innovation Award

      The Innovation Award recognises the advancements and innovations displayed by individuals, teams, crews, classes, clubs or groups around the country, including (but not limited to) STEM, technology, sustainability, programs, products, boat design and concepts contributing to a more innovative sailing industry.
    • 0/1500
    • 0/1500
    • 0/1000
    • 0/1000
    • Inclusion Details 
    • Inclusion Program of the Year

    • Nominations are sought from programs which have resulted in a positive contribution to sailing through inclusive engagement of disadvantaged groups to increase participation in sailing. Inclusion programs will be considered eligible if targeted at specific groups within the community which include (but not limited to); people with a disability, women and girls, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

      Consideration will be given to programs that have resulted in some or all of the following:

      1. Increased participation in sailing, especially among women and girls, people with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
      2. Established supportive environments for volunteering and community involvement.
      3. Being inclusive and inspiring a change in behaviours and attitudes towards disadvantaged groups through sailing.
      4. Shown a desire to fully integrate disadvantaged groups into club sailing and/or membership
    • 0/100
    • 0/500
    • 0/500
    • 0/500
    • 0/500
    • Does your program have a review/feedback process?*
    • 0/500
    • 0/500
    • DSC Details 
    • Discover Sailing Centre of the Year

    • The judging panel will be looking at the following criteria:

      1. Number of and type of Accredited programs
      2. Number of participants put through these programs
      3. Level of Compliance to DSC operating standards and guidelines
      4. Conversion rates into further programs
      5. Conversion of new participants into club membership
      6. Description of club programs and how they map to the sailing pathway (I.e Green Fleet)
      7. Demonstrated Growth of programs/number of participants from last year
      8. Demonstrated Training and pathways for instructors and officials
      9. Demonstrated Succession planning
      10. Marketing strategies

      Nominee must be a current Discover Sailing Centre.

    • Programs delivered by Centre*
    • Rows
    • 0/2500
    • 0/2500
    • 0/2500
    • 0/2500
  • Nominator Declaration

    Each nomination must be endorsed by a nominator who is a current Club/Class Association/Staff Member. If the Nominator does not enter their name below, the nomination will be void and not eligible for consideration.
  • Nominee Photo

    Nominees are required to attach image(s) here to be used in the promotion of your nomination should it be selected as a finalist.
  • The image should be in high resolution (approximately 2MB if possible), and if the award is nominating a person the nominee’s face should be clearly visible (avoid hats and sunglasses), with appropriate lighting, no filters and should not have inappropriate behaviours depicted (E.g no alcohol being consumed).

    You can add multiple images by selecting the “Browse Files” button after uploading each image.

    For performance awards, please upload an action shot and a profile picture.

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