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Disability sailors lead awards night in Sydney

Last weekend saw Yachting Australia host its annual awards night in Sydney, where many members of the WA sailing fraternity were recognised.

One-time YA president Don Nickels headed the WA contingent of YA board members including John Flower, Rupert Leslie and Doug Kerr.

The ceremony was held at the historic Australian National Maritime Museum. The Sailor of the Year with a Disability went to the team of Daniel Fitzgibbon, Liesl Tesch, Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris, Russell Boaden and Matthew Bugg.

The team of six sailors beat Great Britain by one point at the IFDS World Championship to be named the best-performed nation across all Paralympic classes, winning the trophy for the first time.

Fitzgibbon and Tesch were first overall in the SKUD 18; Harrison, Harris and Boaden finished third in the Sonar class and Tasmanian Bugg was fifth overall in the 2.4m. These individual results qualified Australia in all three Paralympic classes for the 2016 Rio Games.

Also nominated in this category were West Australians Kylie Forth, Ryan Honschooten and Erin McGew, the Australian team crowned at the 2014 World Blind Match Racing Championship in the US.

WA’s John Rosser shared the Volunteer Award with Garry Housie (Vic) and Brian Sorell (SA).

Also on Friday, the Australian Sailing Team opened an extended deck at the National Training Centre at Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney to integrate Paralympic training and to accommodate more rigging, launching area and coach boat storage.

It is designed to provide a facility that meets all the demands of high-performance Paralympic sailors as they continue their quest for gold at the Rio Games.

In contrast to last year, Perth Dinghy Sailing Club was in brilliant sunshine for its opening day and the presentation of burgees to commodore Rob Thomas, vice-commodore Graeme Everett and rear commodores Andrew Wilson and Anthony Dvorak at what was a perfect start to the club’s 112th season.

Patron Greg Vance marked the opening with a cannon salute and paid tribute to life members Jim Vance and Gwen Carless, club stalwarts who passed away this year. Lady patron Sue Vance then christened the new boats of sailors keen to join 1 classes on the bay.

Pint-sized pirate Toby commandeered the 118th Opening Day Sail Past at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Saturday in a combined opening of juniors, dinghies and keelboats.

Aware of a marauding pirate upriver, Fremantle Sailing Club’s red-jacketed musketeers fired smoking muskets over Fremantle, declaring Fremantle Sailing Club’s season open.

Commodore Terry Baker awarded flying start wins to Garry McNally’s Black Betty (division 1), Matt Dickmann’s Fifty Four (division 2) and Eric Gath in Stimulus Package in the jib and main.

Tomorrow marks National Discover Sailing Day, where all would-be sailors are urged to get down to a local club and try it out.

Free to attend from 9am to 1pm, boats and safety equipment are provided by the club. Take clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet, sunscreen and a hat.