As always, the Board of the Ron Tough Yachting Foundation have been very busy over the last year.  

Sailors want to travel overseas to compete internationally, and we are delighted to continue to support them to do that. We want them to practice sailing in a much larger fleet, learn how to compete fiercely, enjoy meeting other like-minded people, relish every aspect of the regatta, and absorb lots – so they can bring that knowledge and experience back home to improve sailing in WA at all levels. 

We express our grateful thanks to all members of the various Western Australian sailing clubs who donate and enable us to provide this support. I am sure you know that RTYF has handed out over $1.1 million to WA sailors since its inception in 1980. These can be either a personal grant to an individual sailor to encourage their international travel, to yacht clubs for small capital items such as safety gear, or to the Class Associations via the RTYF (Pre-Nationals) coaching clinics.  

This year, RTYF will be supporting 10 Class Associations to organise an additional coaching weekend to encourage and prepare sailors who are planning to participate in a sailing regatta over the summer. The original idea was to prepare sailors in ‘pathway’ classes prior to a National or World Championship. However, RTYF has found that there are several more enthusiastic and well-supported local classes interested in this sponsorship that do not necessarily have a National Championship – and we are delighted to support them too!  

We cannot forget the ever-popular ‘RTYF Pacer Racer Challenge’ held in conjunction with RFBYC and WAIS. It has to be one of the most competitive and fun regattas on the Swan River – and I urge you all to come and watch! RFBYC is very generous with their loan of 30 Pacers and DTC admin staff, RTYF is the sponsor and provider of cash prizes, the sausage sizzle and the terrific trophy, and WAIS gets the tricky task of organising and matching the sailors – giving an ‘emerging’ sailor the opportunity to sail with a top-class talented WAIS sailor, in matched uniform boats, where weight, talent, and skill are equalised as evenly as possible per boat. It provides a superb learning experience for all – and so much fun! This year it will be held at RFBYC on Sunday 17th September with the racing starting at 1400 and great viewing from the top lawn, so why not come along? 

The Ron Tough Yachting Foundation goes to great trouble to ensure that the Board and Governors are seen to be representational of all Western Australian sailors but are totally impartial and unbiased towards any one specific Sailing Club or Class Association. Because we support you all!! Because of its independence, individuality, and non-aligned position, the Foundation can, and does, take a long-term universal view and accordingly, strategy. And we need your help to do it! Please continue to help us to support the young sailors of today and the future sailors of tomorrow. Donations can be made on our website www.rtyf.au and I thank you in advance! 

RTYF’s mission is to “encourage participation and excellence in the WA Sailing community, with a focus on youth”. This is a snapshot of what we have been doing over the past couple of years: 

The Ron Tough Yachting Foundation is pleased to have awarded: 

  • In 2021 – $60,800 to 26 sailors, 5 yacht clubs and 7 Class Associations for the RTYF coaching clinics.  
  • In 2022 – $62,200 to 41 sailors, 7 yacht clubs and 6 Class Associations for the RTYF coaching clinics,  

In 2023 – RTYF has committed to awarding $71,500 in grants to 34 sailors (in photo), 2 yacht clubs and to 10 Class Associations to enable them to run their extra RTYF coaching clinics this financial year.  

This is in large part, thanks to you! – the members of the various Yacht Clubs of WA. Some donations are large, some small, but they are all gratefully received and directly passed on to the appreciative sailors of WA. Your donation does make a difference!  

Apart from the financial support, the Ron Tough Yachting Foundation also presents Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals annually, to recognise individuals who have accomplished an ‘outstanding’ performance or contribution to the sport of sailing in WA. These are the premier awards for Sailing in Western Australia.  

This year, the John Baron-Hay Gold Medal for ‘outstanding contribution’ was awarded to John Anderson to acknowledge his lifetime of service to the sport – RFBYC Commodore, Regatta organiser, accredited sailing judge, protest committee, on-water race management and umpire, volunteering wherever possible, and making it all just so easy for us all to ‘turn up’ and go sailing! It’s astonishing that he managed to find time to sail his Dragon competitively at all! 

Thank you so much, John – from us all! 

The RTYF Silver Medal (for an ‘outstanding’ emerging talented sailor aged 16-18yo) was awarded to Harry Joyner and his incredible performances on an IQ Windfoil, and the Bronze Medal (for an ‘outstanding’ emerging talented sailor aged below 16yo) was awarded to Brenn Armstrong for his terrific success in his O’Pen skiff and 29-er.  

RTYF has also awarded Ethan McAullay the 2023 Syd Corser Scholarship (and the healthy cash prize!) to support and inspire him to achieve his goal of Olympic Success. 

Many congratulations to you all – and keep doing what you are doing. It is awesome! 

RTYF would also like to thank the Perth Dinghy Sailing Club who kindly hosted the RTYF 2023 Awards Night. It was a fantastic event with over 150 people present, with our Guest Speakers, WA’s own America’s Cup heroes, Andy Fethers and Graham Spence, discussing the possibilities of ‘Achieving a 

Professional Career in Sailing’. It was an excellent and stimulating talk and capped off a wonderful evening of camaraderie of all ages and experience, linked by the love of sailing. It was proof that the sport of sailing is alive and well in Western Australia! 

For your donation and more information about the Ron Tough Yachting Foundation, please have a look at our revamped website with lots of progress reports from sailors and fantastic photos of their successes! Both www.rtyf.au and www.rontoughyachtingfoundation.com.au will work!

Regards,
Philippa Packer, Chairman, RTYF Pty. Ltd