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Grant Innes of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club was named the 2013 Otago Yachting Administrator of the year and Jake and Ben Hawker of Macandrew Bay Yacht Club were the joint recipients of the 2013 Otago Yachtsperson of the Year award.
The 2013 Otago Yachting Awards were presented in front of a capacity audience at the Otago Yacht Club on June 22nd.
Grant has a comprehensive background in yachting administration and has been particularly active during the past year including advents such as the South Island Sunburst, 29er and Z class champs, Festival Regatta, Sunburst Nationals and the SI secondary school Sunburst Champs.
Shelly Duncan and Grant Innes, recipient of the 2013 Otago Yachting Administrator of the Year award. Photo courtesy of Peter Wilhelmsen.
Jake and Ben have a considerable sailing history but it was their recent win in the Sunburst Nationals which brought them recognition. Their dominance in this event and the fact that it was the first time in 49 years that an Otago crew have won the Sunburst title made them very worthy recipients.
Jake (Left) & Ben Hawker with the Otago Yachtsperson of the Year Trophy (The Carey Trophy). Photo courtesy of Peter Wilhelmsen
The other award nominees were; Richard Hawkins, Port Chalmers Yacht Club (Administrator of the Year) and Dylan Edwards, Macandrew Bay Yacht Club and Peter Graham of the Ravensbourne Yacht Club (Both for Yachtsperson of the Year).
The independent selection panel chairperson, Shelly Duncan, presented the awards during a function held in the yacht club clubrooms last Saturday evening and highlighted that all the award nominees were of a very high standard and that Grant, Jake and Ben were truly deserving recipients.
The annual event was attended by a large group of the Otago yachting community with demand for entry tickets significantly exceeding the seating capacity available and unfortunately many of the late rush ticking requests were not able to be accommodated.
An additional feature of the evening was the keynote speaker, Laura Dekker who presented a very interesting account of her solo adventures as well as providing some insights into just who this remarkable young yachtswoman is.
Laura Dekker & Oliver Jones of the Otago Yacht Club Sailing School - Photo courtesy of Peter Wilhelmsen
