2021 BC Sailing Awards announced

Jan 19, 2022

Last week, the BC Sailing Association announced its annual awards:

  • Female Youth Sailor of the Year
  • Male Youth Sailor of the Year
  • Volunteer of the Year
  • Sailor of the Year

These are awarded to deserving sailors and volunteers in British Columbia to recognize and acknowledge their hard work, determination, and passion for our sport.

Female Youth Sailor of the Year:   Jessica Hirschbold and Grace Poole of the Royal Victoria YC have dominated the 29er fleet at competitions across Canada throughout 2021. This dynamic duo came first overall in the 29er at the 2021 (CORK) Canadian Olympic Training Regatta Kingston. Grace and Jessica attended their first European Championship and represented Team Canada at the 2021 Youth Sailing World Championship.

Male Youth Sailor of the Year: Tayne Steven from Rossland BC has earned himself a spot on the ​​Junior team by CORE KITES Canada. The 17-year-old kiteboarder who is affiliated with the Interior Kiteboarding and Windsurfing Society, won the Canadian trials with his 5th place overall finish at CORK Sr Canadian Kitefoil Championships. This result qualified Tayne for Team Canada at the 2021 Youth Sailing World Championships in Al Mussanah, Oman. Tayne’s sport experience has been very unique and his pure enthusiasm for the emerging Olympic sport of Kiteboarding is inspirational.

Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Parslow was regatta chair for the 2021 Pumpkin Bowl. The Pumpkin Bowl hosted by the West Vancouver Yacht Club each October, was an especially large undertaking this year as the event was spread into 2 weekends which saw 220 competitors in 185 boats with countless volunteers.  Kathy is a committed volunteer whose dedication and leadership over the past years have helped make Pumpkin Bowl what it is today. Kathy has been a member at the West Vancouver Yacht Club since 2003. Kathy currently sits on the WVYC Board of Directors representing Jr. Activities and Sail Training.

The Sled TeamThe Sled Team included McCorquodale as mid-bow

Sailor of the Year:  Andrew McCorquodale of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club took the TP52 world by storm in 2021, winning both the 2021 52 SUPER SERIES and Rolex TP52 World Championship in Palma, Mallorca. Sled has been on the 52 SUPER SERIES since joining in January 2014 and finished on regatta podiums eight times. Building on their 2019 season successes, the Sled team came back after the pandemic hiatus with progressive and consistent performance.

Bravo Zulu Andrew McCorquodale!

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