Finalists named
Australia’s leading sailors, clubs, coaches and contributors have been named as national finalists for the 2026 Australian Sailing Awards, recognising achievements across the sport during the 2025–26 season.
01 October 2026
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The 2026 Australian Sailing Awards finalists include some of the country’s leading Olympic-class, offshore and international sailors, alongside clubs, volunteers, officials and professionals who have contributed to sailing at every level.
The Female and Male Sailor of the Year categories headline the national awards, with Jiang Lin, Stacey Jackson and Zoe Thomson OLY named as the three female finalists.
Lin made history in 2025 as the first woman to skipper an overall winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, while Jackson was part of the first all-female crew to complete a non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation for the Jules Verne Trophy.
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Australian Sailing Team ILCA 6 athlete Thomson has continued her international campaign towards LA2028, rising to seventh in the world rankings during the nomination period.
In the Male Sailor of the Year category, Andy Green joins Australian Sailing Team athletes Matt Wearn OAM OLY and Grae Morris OLY.
Green’s season included victories at Hamilton Island Race Week and the Etchells World Championship, as well as Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours. Wearn recorded wins at three Sailing Grand Slam events, while iQFOiL athlete Morris finished second at the Long Beach Olympic Class Regatta and won the Under 23 World Championship.
Australian Sailing has also expanded its youth recognition following Noakes Group becoming its Official Youth Sailing Partner, introducing separate Noakes Group Female Youth and Male Youth Sailor of the Year awards.
The female finalists are 29er combination Mia Austin and Zara Marks, International Cadet sailor Olive Hooper and ILCA 6 sailor Caterina Meyer. Rory Meehan, Connor Radford and Jasper Stay are the finalists for the male award.
2026 national finalists
Female Sailor of the Year
Stacey Jackson – Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLD
Jiang Lin – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW/ACT
Zoe Thomson OLY – Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club/Australian Sailing Team, WA
Male Sailor of the Year
Andy Green – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW/ACT
Grae Morris OLY – Woollahra Sailing Club/Australian Sailing Team, NSW/ACT
Matt Wearn OAM OLY – Royal Perth Yacht Club/Fremantle Sailing Club/Australian Sailing Team, WA
Team of the Year
Brett Burvill and Max Puttman – Jervoise Bay Sailing Club, WA
Kairos Racing – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW/ACT
Brin Liddell OLY and Rhiannan Brown OLY – Wangi Amateur Sailing Club/Australian Sailing Team, NSW
Para Sailor of the Year
Gregory Myers – Dobroyd Aquatic Club, NSW/ACT
Chris Symonds – Wynyard Yacht Club, TAS
Genevieve Wickham – Royal Perth Yacht Club, WA
Noakes Group Female Youth Sailor of the Year
Mia Austin and Zara Marks – Woollahra Sailing Club, NSW/ACT
Olive Hooper – Sandy Bay Sailing Club, TAS
Caterina Meyer – Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLD
Noakes Group Male Youth Sailor of the Year
Rory Meehan – Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron/Australian Sailing Squad, QLD
Connor Radford – Belmont 16ft Sailing Club, NSW/ACT
Jasper Stay – Fremantle Sailing Club/Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, WA
Coach of the Year
Darren Bundock OLY – Australian International A Division Catamaran Association/Australian Sailing Team, NSW/ACT
Ben Durham – Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, WA
Rafael Trujillo OLY – Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron/Australian Sailing Team, QLD
Club of the Year – Category A
Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, VIC
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, WA
Whitsunday Sailing Club, QLD
Club of the Year – Category B
Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, SA
Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, QLD
Sandy Bay Sailing Club, TAS
Innovation Award
Adelaide Sailing Club Adventure Club – Adelaide Sailing Club, SA
Royal Perth Yacht Club – SailLAB – Royal Perth Yacht Club, WA
Southport Yacht Club – Summer on the Lake – Southport Yacht Club, QLD
Instructor of the Year
Ian Fox – Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, VIC
Samantha Hogerheyde – Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, QLD
Scott Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project, NSW/ACT
Official of the Year
Malcolm Hughes – Adelaide Sailing Club, SA
Evan McHugh – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club/Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto/Toronto Amateur Sailing Club, NSW/ACT
Paul Pascoe – Royal Brighton Yacht Club, VIC
SheSails Award
Canberra Yacht Club, NSW/ACT
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, VIC
South Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta – Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club, SA
Sport Professional Award
Joal Mackenzie – Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club, SA
Greg Rowlings – Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, TAS
Melissa Warren – Mornington Yacht Club, VIC
Sport Promotion Award
Sail Port Stephens – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, NSW/ACT
Paul van Bellen – Wave Rally World Championships, WA
Stuart Watson – Finn Sailing Australia, QLD
Volunteer of the Year
Chris Chatburn – Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, SA
Gerard Del Favero – Tinaroo Sailing Club, QLD
Emma Hooper – Sandy Bay Sailing Club, TAS
The national winners will be announced at the 2026 Australian Sailing Awards and Hall of Fame Inductions Gala Dinner at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour on Friday 30 October.
Australian Sailing says the winners will also be announced through its Facebook and Instagram channels.
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