Australian Yachtsman of the Year Award was created in 1962 by Max Press, OAM, the then Commodore of the Parkdale Yacht Club in Melbourne. The club was launching an appeal to build its new clubhouse on Port Phillip Bay foreshore at Parkdale and to hold an annual Ball at the Springvale Town Hall. To further the attendances, Max Press approached Ampol, the Australian petroleum company and a supporter of sailing through its part sponsorship of the 1962 Australian bid for the America's Cup with the 12-metre yacht, Gretel launched by the syndicate head, Sir Frank Packer. Ampol supported this award for many years, which recognises the outstanding achievements of leading Australian yachtsmen and women.
Rolex, the Swiss watch company, supported the award for many years, presenting a Rolex Submariner to the winner annually.
The award presentations moved to Sydney in 1966 when the voting panel was handed to the Editors of the national boating publication, Modern Boating. The Award briefly went back to Melbourne for three years being presented at the opening of the Melbourne International Boat Show.
In recent years, the award was taken over by Australian Sailing – the governing body for the sport of sailing in Australia.
List of winners of the Australian Yachtsman of the Year award
From 1962 to 1996 Year Winner Achievement Reference 1962–63 Jock Sturrock MBE Skipper of the America's Cup challenger, Gretel 1963–64 Bryan Price World Champion in the 505 class The Age 2 August 1968 1964–65 Bill Northam Gold Medalist in the 5.5-metre class at the 1964 Olympic Games at Enoshima, Tokyo. Australia's first ever Gold medal win in sailing. 1965–66 Tryge and Magnus Halvorsen Still unbeaten record of three successive wins in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 24 June 2016 1966–67 Craig Whitworth and Robert Miller (Ben Lexcen) Australian Champions in the Flying Dutchman class 1967–68 John Cuneo Australian Dragon representative at the 1968 Olympic Games 1968–69 Carl Ryves Australian Flying Dutchman representative at the 1968 Olympic Games St Petersberg Times 27 December 1969 1969–70 David McKay World Champion in the Moth class Rolex Sydney Retrieved 29 June 2016 1970–71 Syd Fischer OBE World One Ton Champion on Stormy Petrel 1971–72 John Gilder World and Australian Champion in the 420 class 1972–73 David Forbes Gold Medalist in the Star class at the 1972 Olympic Games 1973–74 Peter Hollis Twice World Champion in the Contender class 1974–75 Kevin J McCann OAM For outstanding services to yachting as Olympic Team Manager and as an Administrator. The first time a Team Captain and Administrator has won this award. 1975–76 Tom Stephenson World Half Ton Champion on Foxy Lady 1976–77 John Bertrand OAM Bronze medalist in the Finn class at the 1976 Olympic Games page 13 1977–78 Brian Lewis Australian Champion and runner-up in the World Championships in the Tornado class and as the Australian Tornado representative at the 1976 Olympic Games 1978–79 Mike Fletcher OAM Australia's first Olympic yachting coach 1979–1980 Peter (Pod) O'Donnell World Champion in the Etchells class 1980–81 Sir James Hardy OBE America's Cup helmsman and involved in four America's Cup challenges page 137 1981–82 Mark Bethwaite World Champion in both J/24 and Soling classes page 111 1982–83 Alan Bond, John Bertrand and Ben Lexcen Winners of the America's Cup on Australia II 1983–84 Chris Cairns and Scott Anderson Bronze Medalists at the 1984 Olympic Games and consecutive World Champions in the Tornado class 1984–85 Iain Murray AM World Champion in the Etchells class 1985–86 Colin Beashel OAM World Champion in the 12-metre class on board Australia II 1986–87 Stuart Wallace First Australian winner of the Laser class at the World Championships 1987–88 Peter Gilmour World Champion in the 12-metre class and World Match Racing Champion 1988–89 Glenn Bourke Twice World Champion in the Laser class 1989–90 Glenn Bourke World Champion for a third time in the Laser class 1990–91 John Dransfield Three times World Champion in the Fireball class 1991–92 Mitch Booth and John Forbes Bronze medalists at the 1992 Olympic Games and World Champions in the Tornado class 1992–93 Syd Fischer OBE Winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on board Ragamuffin and Captain of the Admiral's Cup Team 1993–94 Chris and Darren Nicholson Twice World Champions in the 505 class 1994–95 David Adams Winner of Class 2 in the BOC Challenge (solo round-the-world yacht race) in True Blue 1995–96 Mitch Booth and Andrew Landenberger Silver medalists in the 1996 Olympic Games in the Tornado class
Male Sailor of the Year Award, and Female Sailor of the Year Award From 1996, the award was restructured into Male Sailor of the Year, and Female Sailor of the Year.