GORDON INGATE OAM – NSW Lifetime Achievement award
A NSW Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Gordon Ingate OAM (Member since 1949). Gordon began his extraordinary sailing career at the age of nine when he joined the 1st Chatswood Sea Scouts where he began many adventures and expeditions on the Scout group’s little gaff-rigged boat.
At the age of 12 Gordon joined the 6th Sydney Sea Scouts in Mosman Bay. For the next few years, he spent many weekends at the boatshed sailing on VJs, and 12, 14 & 16 footers. He caught the attention of Members at the nearby sailing clubs and was asked to make up crew on bigger boats –his introduction to ocean racing. Read more.
IAIN MURRAY – 2020 NSW/ACT Male Sailor of the Year
The 2020 NSW/ACT Male Sailor of the Year award has been awarded to Iain Murray (Member since 1988) for winning the 2019 Etchells Worlds in Corpus Christi USA, 35 years after he won the Etchells World Championship sailed out of RSYS in 1984.
Ian, with his crew Richard Allanson and Colin Beashel, started their 2019 World’s campaign at the previous World Championships in Brisbane in 2018. They had a new boat in Brisbane, and it was not quite ready to race. The team then did a lot of campaigning in Australia, working on the full range of conditions that the boat might have to sail in knowing that the boat had to arrive in Corpus Christi ready to race. They scrutinized every single part and every single fitting in the boat.
MATT ALLEN AM – 2020 NSW/ACT Offshore Sailor of the Year
The 2020 NSW/ACT Offshore Sailor of the Year Award has been awarded to Matt Allen AM (Member since 1999). Matt and his Ichi ban team has dominated the offshore circuit in 2019-20 by winning the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for the second time in three years, the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore for the second year in a row and the IRC Nationals for the third year in a row.
JOHN ALLAN – 2020 NSW/ACT Volunteer of the Year
The 2020 NSW/ACT Volunteer of the Year Award has been awarded to John Allan (Member since 1973). John is one of CYCA’s most reliable volunteers, giving up his time not only for race management duties on the start boat but also volunteering his time with the Breakfast Club on Sunday mornings before racing. The Breakfast Club raises money which it donates back to the Club, including the Youth Sailing Academy.
John is a regular on the CYCA start boat, who can jump into any role onboard easily, whether it be as a PRO or time calling. This makes him an invaluable part of the CYCA’s volunteer team. John is always willing to give up his time to help out in regular rostered positions and as a last-minute fill in. It is rare to not see John on the CYCA Start Boat, whether it’s during Summer Twilight Racing, finishing boats late into the night after an offshore race or during the Winter Series.
He is always ready to work with the Sailing Office Team to learn about new results programs and his constant support is always appreciated. It is volunteers like John who keep our clubs running and we are very grateful for his endless commitment.
