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: 3rd June 2024

Nominations close:  11:59pm AEST 12 August 2024

Performance Nomination period:  9th August 2024 – 3rd August 2025

Helpful Links

Please ensure relevant information is provided and checked via the Australian Sailing membership system. This includes valid Australian Sailing numbers and qualifications (where applicable). To assist you in your nomination please use the AS Number Checker and Qualification Finder (links below). 

AUSTRALIAN SAILING NUMBER CHECKER

AUSTRALIAN SAILING QUALIFICATION CHECKER

To help you prepare your nomination, please also find a document containing a list of questions for all awards below:

AWARDS QUESTIONS

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 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 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 of the Year Criteria

• 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.

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 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: 9th August 2024 – 3rd August 2025.
• 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 Award Criteria

• Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.
• Awarded to an individual who has positively contributed to sailing in areas including management, administration, club and sailing operations

Sport Promotion Award Criteria

• Awarded to a Club, individual or organisation that has positively promoted sailing in the community during the nomination period: 9th August 2024 – 3rd August 2025 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.

Innovation Award Criteria

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.

Nominee must be a member of a club in this state to be nominated for the state awards.

You will be required to address the questions outlined in the criteria below:

• 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?

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 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

Performance Awards Criteria

(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.

Performance Details

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.

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.

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.

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.

Volunteer of the Year Criteria

• 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

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.

SheSails Award

• 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 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

Sport Professional Award

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

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.

Please address the questions outlined in the criteria below:

Innovation

Describe the innovation (product, program, activity or service) that you introduced? Describe what makes it innovative and how you came up with the idea? (1,500 character limit)

Impact and Success

What impact and success have you achieved recently? This could be in the form of grants, a successful promotional campaign, or an award for your idea. (1,500 character limit)

Effectiveness and Practicality

Explain how the innovation addresses a specific need or problem, and how practical it is in its implementation. (1,000 character limit)

Scalability and Viability

Describe how the innovation can be scaled up and sustained over the long term. (1,000 character limit)

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

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.

Please provide your participant numbers for 2019-20 in the spaces provided below