Sail Canada invites all sailing and boating enthusiasts to participate in recognizing Canada’s top recreational and competitive sailors, coaches, volunteers, and events via the Sail Canada Annual Awards. The Sail Canada Annual Awards list, guidelines, and descriptions follow. Please submit all nominations to sailcanada@sailing.ca
SAILOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sail Canada’s Sailor of the Year Award winners are individuals who have provided global recognition to Canadian sailing and Sail Canada. They are renowned leaders who have attained high levels of excellence with results and accomplishments around world events or activities. Along with recognition for exemplary sportsmanship, they have held the respect of their fellow sailors.
Nominees are individuals who:
- Have been significantly involved in an activity that, throughout the year, has provided recognition to Canadian sailing and Sail Canada. Results and accomplishments in world settings are considered in recipient selection, with priorities given to leaders who have attained high levels of excellence in Olympic/Paralympic class sailboat competitions.
- Have shown leadership qualities with respect to an event or activity.
- Demonstrate sportsmanship and the gaining of respect from fellow sailors.
- Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
View Winners and the History of the Sailor of the Year Award
GALLAGHER SKIPPERS’ PLAN ATHLETE/TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Gallagher Skippers’ Plan Athlete/Team of the Year is awarded to current Canadian Sailing Team athletes/teams with a record of outstanding achievement in national and international competitions. Two awards will be given annually and they will be awarded to athletes/teams of different genders identities. The nominated athlete(s) must:
- Have a record of outstanding achievement in national and international competitions from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, and brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing. Priority will be given to athlete(s)/team results from international Olympic/Paralympic class competitions in North American and ISAF Graded events. However, please note that other sailing accomplishments will be considered.
- Through behavior and manner, have set an example for other competitors.
- Have demonstrated leadership and sportsmanship.
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
BILL BURK MEMORIAL YOUTH ELITE AWARD
This award was donated to the CYA in 1997 by the Burk family to honor the memory of Bill Burk, their father, an active promoter of youth sailing in Montreal’s West Island region. Two awards will be given annually and they will be awarded to athletes/teams of different genders identities. In order to be eligible, the candidate must:
a) Have a record of outstanding achievement in national and international youth competitions from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, and brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing. The following events will be considered foremost (although not exclusively) in the selection of a male and female recipient: 1) Youth Worlds, 2) International youth events recognized by ISAF 3) Sail Canada Canadian Youth Sailing Championships
b) Through behavior and manner, have set an example for other youth competitors.
c) Have demonstrated leadership and sportsmanship.
d) Be 18-and-under as of December 31st in the year of nomination.
e) Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
GERRY ROUFS TROPHY
This award was established in 1998 by the Canadian Yachting Association to honor the memory of Gerry Roufs, the internationally renowned Canadian sailor and single-handed offshore racer who was lost at sea in 1997.
The award is presented to the person whose achievement in international offshore racing has had a significant impact on the recognition of sailing in Canada.
MARVIN MCDILL MEMORIAL AWARD
The Marvin McDill Memorial Award was established to honour the man who returned Canada to the America’s Cup Competition in 1983.
Also known as the Canadian Sailing Team Rookie of the Year Award, the Marvin McDill Award is presented annually to the athlete/crew with the best results at their first Open World Championship as a member of the Canadian Sailing Team.
The determination of best performance is based on the percentage (%) of boats finishing behind the athlete (crew) at his/her first participation as a member of the Canadian Sailing Team in an Open World Championship.
NATHAN R. COWAN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR DEVELOPING SAILORS
Friends and family of Nathan Cowan donated this award to the CYA in 2002 to honor the memory of Nathan Cowan, a Canadian Sailing Team member, who died tragically in a car accident on February 16, 2002. In 2002, after years of determination and persistence, Nathan finally achieved his goal of making the National Team. Nathan’s friends and family have designed the criteria of this award in order to support athletes like Nathan, and help them through these years of hard work. In order to be eligible, the candidate must:
a) Have a record of outstanding achievement in national and international competitions, have followed a committed training program during the award year, and brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing.
b) Have demonstrated an effort in fundraising through sponsorship and private contributions.
c) Be 19 or over as of December 31st in the year of nomination.
d) Must not be a member of the Canadian Sailing Team, or be a carded athlete during the award year.
e) Have demonstrated leadership and sportsmanship.
f) Be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognizes Sail Canada coaches that work with sailors that race. To be eligible for this award, coaches must be working for a Sail Canada member club or Sail Canada member athletes. Coaches should be Sail Canada certified and registered however exceptions may be made in special circumstances.
The coach of the year award is presented annually to a coach who demonstrates outstanding coaching skills and contributes to sporting excellence by offering a healthy attitude towards winning, enjoying sport and effective training.
This person must demonstrate and reinforce spirit of sport values to hers/his athletes as measured by a respect for the game, a love of sport, a respect for others and a commitment to fair and ethical sport.
– The Coach of the Year should have made a significant impact on athletes’ performances at competitions.
– Honest, sincere and honourable in their relationships with athletes, respect for the sport, race management and jury.
– A high degree of self-awareness and the ability to reflect critically on how their perspectives influence their interactions with others.
– Supporting consideration may be given for the following contributions in the field of coaching.
– A distinguished career as a coach
– Promotion of character development and ethical sport
– Developing high functioning athletes who also display excellence in other fields like citizenship, scholastics, art, etc.
– Education or mentoring other coaches
– Development of coaching materials like books, videos, etc.
– Pioneering new training or competition methods
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Presented by Checklick, this award recognizes Sail Canada instructors focused on sailing skills and instruction. To be eligible for this award, instructors must be Sail Canada Certified and registered and working for a Sail Canada member club or school.
The Instructor of the Year should have made a significant impact and accepted the challenge to improve the level of sailing at their club/school. Honest, sincere, and honorable in their relationships with sailors as well as improving their own teaching and the training and mentoring of new instructors.
Instructors should have a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to reflect critically on the information exchange between them and the sailors and how their perspectives influence their interactions with others.
1. Demonstrate excellent water teaching and communication skills
2. Be respectful, fair, and equitable
3. Encourage pride in the sport
4. Participation in clinics, workshops, sailing camps and regattas
5. Perform above and beyond the requirements of an instructor
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 1991. This award recognizes volunteers for their outstanding contributions to sailing activities at Sail Canada member clubs, Sailing Schools and Regattas. The contribution can be related to activities by the candidate(s) over a period of years or to a specific event or program during a particular year. The candidate(s) must:
a) Have shown leadership qualities with respect to the event or activity.
b) Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
c) The award cannot be awarded to a current director or employee of Sail Canada.
WILLIAM ABBOTT SENIOR TROPHY – SAIL TRAINING PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
In 1991, at the second annual CYA Sail Training Symposium, the Sarnia Yacht Club donated a trophy in honour of William Abbott Senior, who as well as being one of Canada’s best known yacht builders, has contributed significantly to sail training at Sarnia Yacht Club.
The purpose of the trophy is to recognize the many fine programs run by dedicated volunteers throughout Canada and to share the information among clubs for the improvement of their sail-training programs. In order to be eligible, the nominated program must:
a) Be run by a club or school member in good standing of Sail Canada.
b) Employ Sail Canada certified instructor(s).
c) Follow the Sail Canada program and use the Sail Canada material.
CHISHOLM TROPHY FOR EXCELLENCE IN RACE MANAGEMENT
This award, donated by the Ontario Sailing Association, was established in 1993. Emblematic of excellence in race management, the Chisholm Trophy recognizes the club or association responsible for the regatta with the best-managed races during the time frame of the award year. The winner is selected on the basis of the quality of race management. The following criteria must also be met:
a) The regatta must be a provincial, national, continental, or world championship event held in Canada.
b) The minimum number of races as prescribed in the sailing instructions must be completed.
c) The Race Committee Chairperson must hold a valid Sail Canada Race Management certification.
d) In order to be eligible for this award, clubs or associations must be members in good standing with Sail Canada.
e) Applications for the award must include; notice of race, sailing instructions, any other relevant forms used, names of the presiding race officer, as well as any supplementary comments from competitors or other officials (i.e. jury).
CITY OF KINGSTON REGATTA OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is in place to recognize a regatta whereupon all aspects of race management have resulted in an overall organizational success. The following criteria must be met.
a) The regatta should be an event of provincial, national or international status held between the award year
b) The regatta will have been a well co-ordinated and orchestrated event.
c) Key criteria for this event includes: overall achievement of the event objectives, the level of community involvement, positive feedback from participants, including sailors, coaches and officials.
d) The regatta will have met Sail Canada expectations with reference to the use of certified officials. This is an important phpect of promoting and increasing the overall regatta management skill development.
e) Applications for the award must include: notice of race, sailing instructions, any relevant forms used, names of the presiding race officer, social program, press coverage, and any other relevant information, including supplementary comments from competitors or officials.
f) In order to be eligible for this award, clubs or associations must be members in good standing with Sail Canada.
RECREATION EVENT AWARD
This award was established in 1997 to recognize a club, an organization, an individual, or a group that has contributed to the promotion of recreational sailing in Canada.
The club, organization, or individual nominated for this award must be Canadian based and affiliated with Sail Canada.
