On Friday 21 August 2026 Australian Sailing announced the finalists in the 2026 NSW & ACT Sailing Awards. The NSW & ACT Sailing Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements, dedication and contributions of sailors, clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and industry leaders from across our sailing community. Congratulations to all finalists recognised this year for their excellence both on and off the water!
Among those locals nominated are the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's Lyndall Patterson in the Female Sailor of the Year category.
Dr Lyndall Patterson grew up on Sydney’s north shore and began sailing with her younger brother, Michael Coxon, an accomplished sailor and Sydney-to Hobart racer, at the Hunters Hill junior sailing club. At age 11, she won her first Australian title in a sabot dinghy at Gosford in 1966. In 1977, she won the inaugural World Women’s Sailing Championship.
Lyndall was Australian Yachtswoman of the Year in 2010-2011 and was also the winner of the 2010 Laser Grand Master Worlds sailed at Hayling Island, UK.
The wins have kept coming including at the 2026 ILCA 6 Masters World Championship in Athens, Greece, securing podium finishes against some of the world’s best masters sailors. Hosted by the Nautical Club of Kalamaki from 30 May to 7 June, the championship attracted more than 400 competitors from around 40 nations, racing on the waters of the Saronic Gulf.
Lyndall Patterson produced an exceptional series in the highly competitive Great Grand Masters division (65–74 years), finishing as the first female Great Grand Master and placing 13th overall in a fleet of 51 sailors. Her result earned her the Great Grand Masters Women’s world title and a place on the championship podium.
Finalists for Female Sailor of the Year alongside Dr. Patterson include Sarah Lee and Zoe Dransfield of the Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club.
At Manly 16ft Skiff Club, a record number of females are entering the various classes on the back of the path paved by some of Australia’s finest women sailors. The likes of former Flying 11s national champion Zoe Dransfield and an Australian 16ft champion skipper, Sarah Lee, are inspiring the next generation with their deeds and actions. Zoe is part of an exciting young crop of female sailors emerging - or having already arrived - on the 16s circuit.
That brings us to the finalists among the She Sails awards which sees Pittwater’s RPAYC named as a finalist for the club’s Women's Sailing Courses. The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club just elected its first female Commodore in Julia Hornsby, who runs as Profile this week, underlining the club’s culture is firmly embedded in supporting female sailing.
SheSails is an Australian Sailing initiative to recognise all of the amazing female contributors to the sport, and to encourage women of all ages to enjoy sailing. It is all about enjoying your sailing adventure in a fun, friendly and safe environment. Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club is committed to recognising and supporting females through sail training, club events and volunteering opportunities.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has introduced SheSails regattas to its annual sailing program. The SheSails Open Regatta is a fantastic opportunity for female sailors to participate in one-design race training onboard the RPAYC fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats, with a focus on having fun, developing skills, and meeting new people. Together with these regattas the club also hosts its Women’s Tuesday Twilight Series during daylight savings and runs regular Adult Learn to Sail courses for women to enjoy sailing together.
The RPAYC Womens Development Regatta is aimed at those individuals who have recently completed an RPAYC Adult Learn to Sail program or similar at other clubs.
During the months of October to March the clubs runs fortnightly Womens Tuesday Twilight Series. There are multiple ways to become involved from entering your own yacht, helming a members yacht, leasing a club yacht (Elliott 7) or joining as crew. Racing starts from 1755hrs followed by a post race presentation over dinner back at the club house. This is open to Members and Non-Members (Sail Pass required for non-member crew).
The RPAYC also offers a simple training pathway for adults wanting to get into sailing or for those seasoned sailors to develop their skills. Training is delivered by Australian Sailing (AS) accredited instructors following a national syllabus. RPAYC offers the Start Crewing, Start Helming and Start Skippering Courses to members and non-members.
The club also encourages women to reach out to fellow female sailors at RPAYC and join in racing. There are several ways to link up with like-minded sailors and get out on Pittwater.
The Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA) has been named as a finalist in the Innovation Award category this year for the BYRA Boatbuilding Program, which is finishing up next Sunday, August 30. This program sold out, ran from May 17, and included; Workshop Induction & Safety Training, Hull & Structural Assembly, Fairing & Reinforcement, Foils, Fittings & Rigging, Painting & Finishing, and will include a Launch Day and Milestone Celebrations as well as a Transition Into Sailing Pathway.
Delivered by experienced BYRA mentors and supervisors, the BYRA Boatbuilding Program has shared knowledge on workshop safety procedures, PPE requirements and safe tool systems, and has been an inclusive and supportive learning environment for those who took part.
The below, penned by a BYRA stalwart, shares a better insight:
Introducing BYRA’s Youth Timber Boat Building Program
By Paul Chudleigh, BYRA Treasurer, Timber Boat Owner & Enthusiast
Many of us growing up in the 60’s and 70’s were introduced to sailing by building our own timber boats in our garages with our parents, offering an affordable entry point to the sport. Sadly, the skills we learnt through building and maintaining our boats have been largely lost to later generations with the availability of fibreglass moulded boats ready to go off the dealer’s floor. We also recognise that not everyone comes from a sailing family and not every family has the space at home to build a boat. In short, we recognise that times change and we need to change with them.
Enter the BYRA Youth Timber Boat Building program, designed as a pathway for young non-sailors into the sport. There is no programme fee. Yes, you read that correctly – all we ask is a commitment to join as a family for three years and to fully embrace the programme, which runs on Sundays throughout the winter. At the end of the programme, participants will have built their own boat, learned how to sail it, and, more importantly, made new friends and gained skills for life – parents as well!
The focus is on creating a genuine passion for sailing. The programme fosters teamwork, co-operation, responsibility and earned trust.
The boats we are building are Northbridge Juniors, an 8-foot-long scow design dinghy, much like a mini scow moth. Northbridge Juniors were originally designed by Frank Bethwaite in the early 1960s. Frank is well known in yachting circles, being involved in the design of the Tasar, Laser 2, and the 49er.
The Northbridge Junior is ideal for our programme, being a purpose-designed junior sailing dinghy. It is stable and practical for junior training, with forgiving handling, and the self-draining cockpit and low freeboard make recovery after a capsize much easier. The simple rig allows focus on sailing skills development. It is a perfect stepping stone into club sailing and racing and a perfect first boat.
The boats are relatively easy and quick to build. Construction is of 4mm Gaboon ply skins and frames, with Paulownia internal timbers. Internal frames come pre-cut using a CNC machine. Essentially, it’s like putting together a big model. The boats are light, with a hull weight of only 8 kg, making them readily transportable and easy for kids to move about on shore, yet still incredibly strong. Our Northbridge Juniors have also been slightly modified from the original design to allow for the addition of aluminium wing bars as the skippers get older, and before they move into larger boats.
The boat-building programme is led by our BYRA Rear Commodore, Shane Greaves, who is both a professional boat builder and Programme Manager of the Making Waves Foundation ‘Wright of Passage’ programme. Shane is also our AS-accredited sailing instructor.
Each programme participant is guided by Shane and a team of BYRA volunteers. We currently have seven boats being built by children aged between 6 and 13, but there is still limited opportunity for more participants to get involved.
The kids are not just spectators; they are actively involved in the building of their own boats with assistance from their parents. Each step and the use of all tools is demonstrated, then the kids take over. They know and respect that they have been trusted to use saws, chisels, planes, staple guns, multi-tools, etc., safely and correctly. While it was a little scary to watch them for the first time (!), they have all proved just how much they have listened to ensure they all stay safe.
Upon completion of their boat, they get to paint it in the colour of their choice, name it, and learn to sail it. Most importantly, they get to keep it as their own boat.
Getting to keep their own boats is an important part of the programme. From day one, each kid cut their frames from the pre-cut CNC sheet and wrote their name on each piece. This gave instant ownership. Each child understood that this was their boat, and their commitment to the build was instantaneous. The pride in what they are achieving is evident. It is a joy to watch, and the volunteers are thoroughly enjoying it.
This pathway provides a very affordable entry into sailing. The family membership also provides the whole family with access to BYRA, including SUPs, kayaks, and, more importantly, friendly peers they can enjoy their new water bound adventures with.
The programme commenced in mid-May and will run for 16 Sundays. However, the build time will be less than that, giving families the flexibility to miss some weeks for holidays or family commitments.
The build is taking place in our boatshed and adjacent Riddle Reserve at BYRA clubhouse, 1842 Pittwater Road, Bayview. People are welcome to stop by any time for a viewing (from a safe distance!).
The build has been made possible with the help of a grant through the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Programme and through funds raised through BYRA’s annual Peter Loft Marathon event. We also thank our sponsors, Resene Paints, Sector 7G Sailing Sails, and Aroona Masts.
I think there is nothing like the sense of achievement and pride that comes from building your own boat. Starting with sheets of plywood and lengths of timber and finishing with a beautifully presented, rigged boat – seeing it float for the first time is a special moment. There is no doubt that the effort and pride in the build means that these kids will respect their boats and look after them. We are really looking forward to our launch date, scheduled for Sunday 13th September.
About BYRA
Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA) is a volunteer-run community sailing and aquatic club based in Bayview on the southern shores of Pittwater.
Established in 1949, the club has a proud history of producing World Champion Sailors, including Emmett Lazich, Mark Thorpe, Rob Brewer, Steve and Stuart Shimeld in Moths, and Brett Beyer in Lasers.
BYRA has the best water access in Pittwater! It has easy parking adjacent to our grassy rigging area, which fronts a wide, safe sandy beach for launching.
This also makes BYRA perfect for new sailors to safely and confidently hone their skills, and we offer an Australian Sailing accredited Learn-to-Sail Programme for children and adults. The programme runs each Sunday morning during the sailing season, with the next course commencing in October 2026. Check out our website for more details! We love welcoming new people to the club.
However, like many grassroots sailing clubs, BYRA has faced difficulties in recent years attracting and retaining young members due to competition from a broad range of other sporting activities. Drawing on our innovative culture, BYRA sought opportunities to offer something different to attract young people and their families to sailing.
For more information about BYRA, please visit our website: www.byra.com.au/home
The Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project has five nominations, with Scotty Reynolds and wife Jen and their great team taking it to the water all over the state, creating connections and joy for Veterans in a program that was tested right here, on Pittwater.
Finalists, their families and club supporters are invited to join the celebrations on Saturday 19 September 2026 to celebrate all finalists and to announce the winners. Event details and tickets are available here: sailing.org.au/events/364571
2026 Finalists – NSW & ACT
Club of the Year – Category A
- Canberra Yacht Club
- Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Lake Macquarie Yacht Club
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
Club of the Year – Category B
- Carcoar Dam Sailing Club
- Hunters Hill Sailing Club
- Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
Male Sailor of the Year
- Andy Green – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Ben Lamb – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Cole Tapper – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- James Mayo – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron / Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club
Female Sailor of the Year
- Jiang Lin – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Lyndall Patterson – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
- Sarah Lee – Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club / St George Sailing Club
- Zoe Dransfield – Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club
Youth Sailor of the Year
- Connor Radford – Belmont 16ft Sailing Club
- Healy Ryan – Double Bay Sailing Club
- Mia Austin & Zara Marks – Woollahra Sailing Club
- Walter Heeley – Woollahra Sailing Club
Team of the Year
- Bacchanal – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Brin Liddell & Rhiannan Brown – Wangi Amateur Sailing Club
- Kairos Racing – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Team Magpie – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
Coach of the Year
- Brady Lowe – Australian Sailing NSW Performance Pathways
- Darren Bundock – Australian Sailing
- Victor Kovalenko – Middle Harbour Yacht Club
- Zac West – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
Instructor of the Year
- Ian Murray – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
- Scott Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
Official of the Year
- Evan McHugh – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club / RMYC Toronto
- Gerry Brooks – Canberra Yacht Club
- John Whitfield – Canberra Yacht Club / Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Volunteer of the Year
- Gerry Brooks – Canberra Yacht Club
- Jackie Sapir – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
- Mark Hooper – Georges River Sailing Club
- Sean Wong – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
She Sails Award
- Canberra Yacht Club SheSails
- Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta – Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
- NSW Opti Chicks Regatta – NSW International Optimist Dinghy Association
- Women's Sailing Courses – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Sport Professional Award
- Jennifer Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
- Scott Reynolds – Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
- Simon Turpin – Lake Macquarie Yacht Club
- Tara Blanc-Ramos – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Sport Promotion Award
- Alessio De Giosa – Hunters Hill Sailing Club / NSWIODA
- Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club
- Sail Port Stephens – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
- Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project
Innovation Award
- Helm – Making Waves Foundation
- BYRA Boatbuilding Program – Bayview Yacht Racing Association
- Terry Wetton – TP52 Class / Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Other Awards
The Para Sailor of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will be announced at the NSW & ACT Sailing Awards Presentation.
