Australian Yachtsman of the Year Award was created in 1962 by Max Press, OAM, the then

Commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore'' * Air commodore ...

of the Parkdale Yacht Club in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. The club was launching an appeal to build its new clubhouse on

Port Phillip Port Phillip (Kulin languages, Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped bay#Types, enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, ...

Bay foreshore at Parkdale and to hold an annual Ball at the Springvale Town Hall. To further the attendances, Max Press approached

Ampol Ampol Limited is an Australian petroleum company headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales. Ampol is the largest transport energy distributor and retailer in Australia, with more than 1,900 Ampol-branded stations across the country . It also ope ...

, the Australian petroleum company and a supporter of sailing through its part sponsorship of the 1962 Australian bid for the

America's Cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one f ...

with the 12-metre yacht, Gretel launched by the syndicate head,

Sir Frank Packer Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer (3 December 19061 May 1974), was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network. He was a patriarch of the Packer family. Early life Frank Packer was born in K ...

. 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 Australian Sailing is recognised by World Sailing as the governing body for the sport of sailing in Australia. It formed in 1950 as the Australian Yachting Federation at a meeting at the Royal St. Kilda Yacht Club. It is responsible for the ad ...

– the governing body for the sport of

sailing in Australia Sailing is a popular sport and recreational activity in Australia with its varied coastline and often warm climate. Australian Sailing is the peak body in charge of sailing as recognised by the International Sailing Federation In 2017-18 there wer ...

List of winners of the Australian Yachtsman of the Year award

From 1962 to 1996

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.

References

{{reflist 1962 establishments in Australia Awards established in 1962 Sailor of the year awards Australian sports trophies and awards Sailing in Australia