1962 – 63 Jock Sturrock

Skipper of the America’s Cup challenger Gretel

1963-64 Bryan Price

World Champion in the International 505

1964-65 Bill Northam

Olympic Gold Medallist in the 5.5 class at the 1964 Games

1965-66 Trygve & Magnus Halvorsen

Still unbeaten record of three successive wins in the Sydney to Hobart Race on board Freya

1966-67 Craig Whitworth & Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen)

Australian Champions in the International Flying Dutchman

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

1969-70 David McKay

World Champion in the International Moth

1970-71 Syd Fischer

World One Ton Champion on board Stormy Petrel

1971-72 John Gilder

World and Australian Champion in the International 420

1972-73 David Forbes

Olympic Gold Medallist in the Star class at the 1972 Games

1973-74 Peter Hollis

Twice World Champion in the International Contender

1974-75 Kevin McCann OAM

For outstanding services to yachting.

1975-76 Tom Stephenson

World Half Ton Champion on board Foxy Lady

1976-77 John Bertrand OAM

Olympic Bronze Medallist in the Finn at the 1976 Games

1977-78 Brian Lewis

Australian Champion and runner-up in the World Championship of the International Tornado

1978-79 Mike Fletcher AM

Australia’s first Olympic yachting coach

1979-80 Peter (Pod) O’Donnell

World Champion in the International Etchells 22

1980 – 81 Sir James Hardy OBE

America’s Cup helmsman on board Australia

1981-82 Mark Bethwaite

World Champion in both the International J24 and the International Soling classes

1982-83 Alan Bond, John Bertrand & Ben Lexcen

Winners of the America’s Cup on board Australia II

1983-84 Chris Cairns & Scott Anderson

Olympic Bronze Medallist in the Tornado at the 1984 Games and consecutive World Championships

1984-85 Iain Murray AM

World Champion in the International Etchells 22

1985-86 Colin Beashel OAM

World Champion in the International 12 metre on board Australia III

1986-87 Stuart Wallace

First Australian winner of the Laser World Championship

1987-88 Peter Gilmour

World Champion in the International 12 meter and International Match Racing Champion.

1988-89 Glenn Bourke

Twice World Champion in the International Laser

1989-90 Glenn Bourke

World Champion for an unprecedented third time in the International Laser

1990-91 John Dransfield

Three times World Champion in the International Fireball

1991-92 Mitch Booth & John Forbes

Olympic Bronze Medallists and World Champions in the International Tornado

1992 – 93 Syd Fischer

Winner of the 1992 Sydney to Hobart on board Ragamuffin and Captain of the Australian Admiral’s Cup Team

1993-94 Chris & Darren Nicholson

Twice World Champions in the International 505

1994-95 David Adams

Winner of Class 2 of the BOC Challenge solo round-the-world yacht race

1995-96 Mitch Booth & Andrew Landenberger

Olympic Silver Medallists in the International Tornado at the 1996 Games

In 1996 the Yachtsman of the Year award was restructured into two awards, the Male Sailor of the Year and the Female Sailor of the Year