Australia’s bright future will be highlighted with the Youth Sailor of the Year finalists at the 2025 Australian Sailing Awards.
The talented trio of Louis Tilly (NSW/ACT), Joshua Garner (VIC) and Rory Meehan (QLD) boast strong performances on the world and national level.
The nation’s peak sailing awards will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Friday, November 14, with the winners set to join an illustrious honour roll including Olympic and world champions and legends of the sport.
The Finalists:
Louis Tilly (NSW/ACT)
Louis Tilly showcased exceptional talent and dedication in the 2025 season. His consistently high performances at national and international events highlights his current skill level, competitive spirit and potential.
Tilly claimed multiple line honours including the WASZP Australian National Championship, WASZP Australian Sprint Nationals, SailGP Inspire Sydney and Harken International Youth Match Racing Regatta, among many others.
The emerging talent also finished 2nd in his age category in the WASZP Pre-Worlds and 9th in the WASZP Worlds.
His commitment to skill development in both the WASZP class and in Match Racing is notable. He is also stepping up as a leader among his peers domestically and internationally.
As new fast-paced formats are now used to deliver sailing as a product to wider audiences, his participation in a variety of formats (including foiling sprint racing) and his ability to move seamlessly between foiling and non-foiling boats highlight his versatility and adaptability. Tilly is also well known to be eager to learn, coachable and a hard worker.
Joshua Garner (VIC)
Joshua Garner claimed the title of International Cadet World Champion in Plymouth, England, and distinguished himself further by securing victory in the National Australian Championship as well as the State Championship.
Demonstrating remarkable consistency and prowess, he was also the top scorer in the UK National Championship, with each of these regattas won decisively, each result accomplished with a race to spare.
Beyond his individual success, Garner was selected as team captain, a role in which he served with notable maturity and exemplary leadership. His conduct both on and off the water reflects a dedication and professionalism well beyond his years.
His commitment to continuous improvement, resilience in the face of challenges, and genuine support for his teammates set a standard for others to follow.
Rory Meehan (QLD)
Rory Meehan has had a phenomenal season, recently crowned the Under-19 iQFOiL World Champion at the 2025 Youth and Junior World Championships in Brest, France — an incredible achievement against a fleet of 149 of the world’s best youth windfoilers.
Earlier in the season, he delivered a standout performance at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma, finishing 29th out of 111 in a truly world-class senior fleet. This result was a standout moment in his season, demonstrating that he can compete with the best Olympic-level athletes in the sport. It sits alongside his strong performances at the 2025 World Championships in Aarhus and the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, where he consistently held his own in elite senior fleets.
Beyond results, Meehan is one of the most dedicated athletes on the circuit — often spending more time on the water than anyone else. His work ethic, passion, and relentless commitment to improvement are unmatched.
He leads by example, earning respect through humility, consistency, and grit. Meehan’s rapid rise and continued excellence reflect not just raw talent, but an extraordinary level of focus and determination.
Previous Winners:
2023-24 Healy Ryan
2022-23 Harry Joyner
2021-22 Evie Saunders
2020-21 James Jackson & Harrison Chapman
2019-20 Scott Whitehead
2018-19 Will Cooley and Rebecca Hancock
2017-18 Zac Littlewood
2016-2017 Finn Alexander
2015-2016 Alistair Young
2014-15 Kyle O’Connell & Tom Siganto
2013-14 Kurt Hansen & Harry Morton
2012-13 Carrie Smith & Ella Clark
2011-12 Mark Spearman
2010-11 Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough
2009-10 Jessica Watson
2008-09 Gabrielle King
2007-08 Gabrielle King
2006-07 Belinda Kerl & Chelsea Hall
2005-06 Evan Walker & Kyle Langford
2004-05 Nathan Outteridge
2002-03 Nathan Outteridge & Ayden Menzies
2001-02 Melissa Bryant & Martha Leonard
2000-01 Ben Austin
1999-00 Jesse Martin
1998-99 Lisa Charlson & Sarah Roberts-Thomson
1996-98 Lauren Jeffries
1995-96 Glenn Ashby
1994-95 Sarah Blanck, Brendan Casey
1993-94 Bryony Hooper & Amanda Miller
1992-93 Australian Youth Team
Natasha Sturges, Beau Moulson, Ian Neely, Maree Early, Kate Fitzsimmons & Kathryn McQueen, Michael Coxon & Christian Stevens
1991-92 Natasha Sturges
1990-91 Natasha Sturges
1988-89 Joshua Faddy
1987-88 David Woods
1986-87 Paul Burnell
1989-90 Jason Muir & Dominic White
