Six sailors from across New South Wales have been recognised for their extraordinary sailing achievements at the international level, receiving their personalised Barranjoey Pins at the 2022 NSW/ACT Awards Evening last week.

With multiple Olympic Games and World Championships between them, Ian Winter (Pin #27), Richard Coxon (Pin #73), Sarah Kenny (Pin #85), Karyn Gojnich (#104), Katie Spithill (Pin #179) and Nicky Souter (Pin #181) were presented with their pins by Olympian Neville Wittey (Pin #147) at the RAN Sailing Association on Saturday night.

Barranjoey Pin recipients

An embodiment of the great traditions and values of those who have competed and continue to compete at the highest level, the Barranjoey Pin is designed to acknowledge the legacy and history of Olympic and Paralympic class sailing in Australia.

To qualify for the honour, athletes must have represented Australia at either an Olympic Class World Sailing Championship, IYRU Women’s World Championship, Olympic Games or Paralympic Games and achieved a top 10 performance or have qualified for the Australian Sailing Team after 2006.

Three-time Olympian Karyn Gojnich said she felt privileged to be awarded the Barranjoey Pin and be included in a special part of Australian Sailing history.

“It’s an honour to be included - there’s so many of Australia’s legendary names that have been awarded the Barranjoey Pin and it a privilege to recognised amongst those people,” said Gojnich.

With a high-performance career spanning two decades, Gojnich also noted the importance of recognising athletes who have represented the country internationally.

“It was great to see people recognised from the 1964 Olympic Games all the way until the present day. It’s important for the sport to recognise people who have competed at the highest level, and it’s nice to know that the Barranjoey Pin is something that the sailors coming behind us will also be aiming to achieve.”

Neville Wittey (Pin #147) presents Karyn Gojnich with Barranjoey Pin #104

Australian competitor in the Two Person Star class at the 1984 Olympics, Richard Coxon also noted that it was nice to be recognised and to see the Barranjoey tradition continue.

“Having been there from the beginning in 64 when the Barranjoey was selected and won the Gold medal, it’s very nice to be recognised,” said Coxon.

“It was a nice touch that the Barranjoey Presentation was combined with the NSW Sailing Awards. My younger sister Lyndall Patterson (Pin #63) has already received her pin and she was able to be there so it was lovely to share it with family.”

Click here to read more about the Barranjoey Pin.

Neville Wittey (Pin #147) with Richard Coxon (Pin #104)

Another Barranjoey Pin recipient recognised on the night, Ian Winter competed in the Flying Dutchman event with helmsman John Sawe at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. The event, which saw 21 nations take part saw Winter place 14^th after a hard-fought regatta.

Sarah Kenny was Australia’s Sailboard Representative at the IYRU Women's World Sailing Championships in 1983. Among other achievements, she won the Freestyle event and placed second in the Pentathlon, Slalom and Marathon events at the Windsurfer World Championships in Fiji in 1985.

With a number of National Championship titles in various classes, Katie Spithill moved into women’s match racing in advance of its debut as an Olympic event at the London Olympics. Spithill placed 2nd at the world championships in 2007 as well as 5th in both 2009 and 2011.

The final recipient awarded their Barranjoey Pin at the awards evening, Nicky Souter won the 2009 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden. Her dominance in the field saw her go on to claim the bronze medal at the World Championships the following year, as well as qualify Australia for the London Olympics with 5th place at the Perth 2011 Worlds.

Australian Sailing wishes to congratulate each of the recipients on their incredible achievements in international sailing and welcome them proudly as the most recent Barranjoey Pin recipients.

For more information on the Barrenjoey Pin, visit the Australian Sailing Team website here.