One of Australia’s first Olympic sailors has been recognised for his achievements with the presentation of his Barranjoey Pin at the 2023 Tasmanian Sailing Awards held earlier this month.

Born on King Island in 1929 and raised in Glenorchy, Peter Attrill (Pin #8) represented Australia at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki where he placed 22nd in the Finn class. His selection made him the first Tasmanian Olympic sailor and the fifth Tasmanian Olympian. 

At 95 years young, Peter accepted his Barranjoey Pin at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania to overwhelming applause, with his daughter, Sally Attrill, noting that it was a ‘wonderful’ and ‘inspiring’ evening, and a fitting celebration of sailing and its community.

Barranjoey Pin recipient, Peter Attrill (Pin #8)

Attrill grew up sailing a variety of home-built boats with his brothers, and by 1950 was regularly sailing a Snipe dinghy at Austin’s Ferry Yacht Club on the shores of the River Derwent.

A skilled and experienced sailor, Attrill took part in the 1952 Olympic trials for the Finn class. There were no Finn dinghies in Australia in 1952, so Peter and his competitors raced 14-foot naval boats at Sydney Royal Yacht Squadron instead. After a convincing regatta, Attrill placed first, and in doing so, qualified to represent Australia at what was only the country’s second ever appearance at an Olympic sailing regatta.

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