Three distinguished sailors have been recognised for their extraordinary achievements in international Olympic classes, receiving their personalised Barranjoey Pins at the 2022 Victorian Awards Evening last week.

Each with their own extensive list of sailing accolades, Owen McMahon (Pin #125), Glenn Ashby MNZM (Pin #166) and Stuart Wallace (Pin #214) were celebrated by more than 200 members of the Australian Sailing community when they were awarded their Pins in person to much applause.

Owen McMahon, Glenn Ashby and Stuart Wallace wearing their personalised Barranjoey Pins

Seventeen-time World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Ashby stated that he was both honoured and humbled to receive his Barranjoey Pin

“The Barranjoey Pin is a lovely recognition of what has been a full lifetime of sailing for me,” said Glenn.

“As a very small cog in the big wheel that is the sport of sailing, it’s wonderful to be included as a Barranjoey recipient and be a part of a wider group of such dedicated and talented sailors.”

A three-time winner of the America’s Cup, Glenn Ashby is widely considered to one of the best sailors in Australian history. Despite this, it is his true passion for the sport and the broader sailing community that makes this recognition so special for him.

“It’s fantastic that the Barranjoey Pin can nullify the age gap between different groups and connect us all. There’s plenty of fantastically skilled people that have come before me, and it is incredibly humbling to be recognised alongside other athletes, Olympians, and Australian Sailing Team members,” said Ashby.

“Being part of a great mix of people that have been really dedicated to the sport is pretty surreal.”.

The Australian Sailing Team Alumni Program, the Barranjoey Pin, started in 2018. It is designed to acknowledge the legacy and history of Olympic and Paralympic class sailing in Australia, and recognise those athletes who have achieved the Australian Sailing Team standard since the Team's establishment in 2006.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.

Australia is now well recognised as the global leader in ILCA 7 sailing with three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the class. But before Wearn, Burton and Slingsby came the likes of Wallace, who was the first Australian to ever win the Laser Worlds after a stellar performance at Port Phillip in 1987. He received long overdue recognition when he was presented with his pin by Olympian Sarah Ogilvie.

Another who set the scene for future domination by Australia in Olympic sailing, Owen McMahon represented Australia in the Men’s 470 at the Atlanta Olympics with Skipper Tom King. Enter Victor “The Medal Maker” Kovalenko, and the work done by groundbreakers like McMahon set our program up to win four of the next six Olympic Gold (and one Silver) in the class.

Owen McMahon wearing his personalised Barranjoey Pin

Australian Sailing wishes to congratulate Glenn, Owen and Stuart 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.