Keppel Bay Sailing Club wins Club of the Year at the Australian Sailing Queensland Club Awards
Posted on October 3rd, 2023
At a prestigious Australian Sailing gala event on Thursday 7th September at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, the Queensland sailing community came together for the announcement of the winners for the 2023 Queensland Sailing Awards.
At the gala event, attended by over 90 guests, Keppel Bay Sailing Club was aptly honoured with the 2023 Queensland Club of the Year Award.
Recognising growth, quality, and success of sailing clubs throughout the nation, Australia’s premier off-water celebration proudly showcased the 50 clubs and 20 Discover Sailing Centres offering state and national championships, as well as world class regattas.
The timely recognition for Keppel Bay Sailing Club came off the back of hosting a highly successful junior sailing regatta – the Zhik Queensland Youth Championships, which welcomed more than 600 competitors, support crew, families, and coaches to the Capricorn Coast.
In 2023, the Club of the Year Award was split into Category A and Category B to allow for clubs to be recognised and celebrated for their contribution to the sailing community regardless of size.
Keppel Bay Sailing Club was honoured for the Club of the Year Award (Category A) alongside Humpyong Yacht Club (Category B), with both clubs demonstrating membership growth, participation programs, quality and impact of events, effort and results of sport promotion, and the quality of their governance.
Winners of the State Awards go on to be nominees for the National Australian Sailing Awards.
Capricorn Enterprise congratulates Keppel Bay Sailing Club on their win and wishes them all the very best luck for the national awards.
A full list of winners can be found below…
Club of the Year Category A – Keppel Bay Sailing Club
Club of the Year Category B – Humpybong Yacht Club
Youth Sailor of the Year – Laken Eaton from Brisbane Sailing Squadron
Para Sailor of the Year – Jason Lea from Newport Cruising Yacht Club
Team of the Year – Women Racing Skipper Stacey Jackson from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Female Sailor of the Year – Mara Stransky from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Male Sailor of the Year – Garry Holt from Southport Yacht Club
Instructor of the Year – Sophie Baynton from Keppel Bay Sailing Club
Coach of the Year – Adrian Finglas from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Official of the Year – Alan Crawford from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Volunteer of the Year – Kate Slade from Humpybong Yacht Club
Sports Promotion Award – Southport Yacht Club
Sports Professional Award – Mark Dingley from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
SheSails Award – Jasmine Ruck from Southport Yacht Club
Sustainability Award – Ian & Annika Thomson from Whitsunday Sailing Club
Lifetime Achievement Award – Keith Stover from Keppel Bay Sailing Club
Lifetime Achievement Award - Ted Reye from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Lifetime Achievement Award - Colin Metcher from Southport Yacht Club
