The deadline to submit nominations for 2024 (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024) is September 30. Please complete the nomination form below and submit it to [email protected]

NS Sailor of the Year
Presented to the Nova Scotia sailor(s) who are deemed to have had the most successful year on the water from October 1 thru September 30 of that year.
2023 – Peter Wickwire
2022 – Georgia & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
2021 – Georgia & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
2019 – Larry Creaser
2018 – Tim Woodford
2017- Rob Gale
2016 – Paul Tingley & Scott Lutes
2015 – Peter Wickwire
2014 – Paul Tingley
2013 – Warren Nethercote & Rob Williams
2012 – Brian Todd
2011 – Will Apold
2010 – Mike Evans
2009 – Jonathan Reid, Ted Skiffington, Dana Archibald, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Tom Brosky, Erin Rafuse
2008 – Paul Tingley
2007 – Paul Tingley
2006 – Peter Brock
2005 – Paul Tingley
2004 – Lisa Ross & Paul Tingley
2003 – Rob Gale
2002 – Jeff Brock

Hal Davies Offshore Sailor of the Year
The Hal Davies Offshore Sailor of the Year award was established in 2011 to honor a leader and passionate sailor when it came to Offshore Sailing and Racing. Presented to the sailor who has had the most successful year in Offshore Sailing (racing or cruising).
2023 – Ray Rhinelander
2022 – Matt Stokes
2021 – Peter Blunden
2019 – Durk Steigenga & Team MacIntosh
2018 – Judy Robertson
2017 – Team Triple Lindy: Sean McDermott, Patrick LaRoche, Rory MacDonald, Rob Trainor, John MacKay
2016 – Stuart McCrae
2015 – Elizabeth Shaw
2014 – Scott MacLeod
2013 – Mary Ridgewell
2012 – Todd Barnard
2011 – Hal Davies – posthumously

Male Sailor of the Year
Presented to the Nova Scotia Male Sailor who has posted the best results on-the-water that year.
2023 – Matthew Stokes
2022 – Roby Douglas
2021 – Jacob Chaplin-Saunders & Oliver Bone
2019 – Evan Petley-Jones
2018 – Ryan Anderson
2017 – Cameron Shaw & Justin Timmins
2016 – Jacob & Graeme Chaplin-Saunders
2015 – Henry Demone
2014 – Nathan Reece
2013 – Devan Dube & Greg Simms
2012 – Paul Tingley
2011 – Dave DeWolfe
2010 – Eric Hill
2009 – Jonathan Reid & Ted Skiffington
2008 – Oliver Bone
2007 – Oliver Bone
2006 – Mathew Archibald
2005 – Geoff Beck
2004 – Mathew Archibald
2003 – Andrew Childs
2002 – Andrew Childs

Female Sailor of the Year
Presented to the Nova Scotia Female Sailor who has posted the best results on-the-water that year.
2023 – Georgia & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
2022 – Savannah Taylor
2021 – Georgia & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
2019 – Jesleine Baker
2018 – Georgia Lewin-LaFrance & Madeline Gillis
2017 – Lesley Taylor
2016 – Erin Rafuse & Danielle Boyd
2015 – Erin Rafuse & Danielle Boyd
2014 – Erin Rafuse & Danielle Boyd
2013 – Corinne Peters
2012 – Danielle Dube
2011 – Lisa Ross
2010 – Lisa Ross
2009 – Judy Robertson
2008 – Lisa Ross
2007 – Lisa Ross
2006 – Lisa Ross
2005 – Lisa Ross
2004 – Danielle Dube
2003 – Nicole Hammond
2002 – Rachel Dennis

Brian Todd Youth Sailor of the Year
This award was named in honour of Brian Todd who was instrumental in athlete and coach development here in Nova Scotia and across Canada for many years. Youth sailors must be less than 19 years of age by December 31 of that year.
2023 – Johanna Pickart, Becca Driscoll, & Sullivan Nakatsu
2022 – Hailey Nichols, Kat Lowe, & Sullivan Nakatsu
2021 – Elsie Gillis (Female) & Jackson Macaulay (Male)
2019 – Gabby Rafuse (Female) & Ryan Anderson (Male)
2018 – Noah Adler, Jackson Macaulay (Male), Savannah Taylor (Female)
2017 – Jack Gogan (Male), Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, and Madeline Gillis (Female)
2016 – Jack Gogan (Male), Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, and Lauren Sullivan (Female)
2015 – Luke Ruitenberg (Male), Georgia Lewin – LaFrance & Terra Lanteigne (Female)
2014 – Nathan Dunn & Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
2013 – Allie Surette, Ali ten Hove, Luke Ruitenberg, Jake Megaffin, Alex Sapp
2012 – Allie Surette & Ali ten Hove
2011 – Andrew Burns & Max Flinn
2010 – Henry Machum & Julien Fougere
2009 – Jacob Chaplin – Saunders & Joss Warren
2008 – Dana Archibald
2007 – Ted Murphy
2006 – Brendan Wilton
2005 – Erin Rafuse
2004 – Ted Murphy
2003 – Mat Archibald
2002 – Mat Archibald

Race Coach of the Year
Presented to a Nova Scotia based Sail Canada registered race coach who has made a significant impact on racing that year.
2023 – Stephen Waldie
2022 – Chris Watters
2021 – Paul Tingley & Krysztof Kierkowski
2019 – Max Seward
2018 – Meghan Henneberry
2017 – Florencia Siccardi
2016 – Lisa Ross
2015 – Federico Lopez 

Instructor of the Year
Presented to a Nova Scotia based Sail Canada registered sailing instructor who has made a significant impact on a Learn to Sail or Cruising program that year.
2023 – Gabe Sutherland
2022 – Chris Tully
2021 – Dan Cloutier
2019 – Sophia Josenhans & Jeff Devoe
2018 – Ashley Anthony
2017 – Adrienne O’Connor
2016 – Kate Pepler
2015 – Max Page
2014 – Lesley Taylor

Regatta of the Year
Presented to the Club or organization deemed to have hosted the most successful regatta in Nova Scotia.
2023 – Bay Wind / Sail East Regatta
2022 – 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 World Championships
2021 – Women’s Keelboat Provincial Championships – Hosted by Lunenburg Yacht Club
2019 – Albacore International Regatta hosted by Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club
2018 – Clearwater Mobility Cup hosted by RNSYS
2017 – Opti Nationals hosted by RNSYS
2016 – Chester Race Week
2015 – Race the Cape

Official of the Year
Presented to the Sail Canada certified Race Official for their commitment and dedication to supporting racing events in Nova Scotia.
2023 – Paula Minnikin
2022 – Colleen Dewis
2021 – Luke Porter
2019 – Chris Tully
2018 – Warren Nethercote
2017 – Daniel Conrod
2016 – Brian Todd
2015 – Ray Cambria

Volunteer of the Year
Presented to the volunteer(s) of a member Sail Nova Scotia club who have contributed significantly with their time to support the club.
2023 – Gillian Graves & Karen Gordon
2022 – Joe Goetz & Michelle Keddy
2021 – Eric Siegel & Anthony Rosborough
2019 – Robert Stevens
2018 – Colin Mann, Ian Mann and the Crew of Windward
2017 – Pat Nelder
2016 – Bryan MacDougall
2015 – Michael O’Connor

Presidents’ Award
The President’s award is Sail Nova Scotia’s version of the Lifetime Achievement award. It has been awarded since 2015. It is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing over many years and is selected by the President of Sail Nova Scotia.
2023 – Kim Johnson
2022 – Paul Gallant
2021 – Patricia Jones
2019 – Dean Baldwin
2018 – Not awarded
2017 – Ron Whynacht
2016 – Denis Astephen
2015 – Mike Archibald

Paul Tingley Perseverance Award
Established in 2017, the Paul Tingley Perseverance Award recognizes someone for their outstanding dedication to the sport and also for their exceptional perseverance.
2023 – Tim Woodford
2022 – John Astephen
2021 – Club Commodores
2019 – Marilyn Murphy
2018 Gerry Giffin
2017 Paul Tingley

Pamela Lerch WOW! Women on Water Award
The WOW! Women On Water award was established in 2007 in memory of Pamela Lerch who passed away from breast cancer that year.
This award is presented to a female sailing leader who demonstrates outstanding achievement in sailing education, leadership, mentorship and health promotion.
2023 – Val Doan
2022 – Lee Gifford-Simms
2021 – Lesley Taylor
2019 – Sharyn Hiscock
2018  Kim Hatcher
2017  Kathryn Josenhans
2016  Elizabeth Jardine
2015  Kate Pepler
2014  Lesley Taylor
2013  Karen Fowler