RSYS Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year

On May 28, 2008

“Nathan Outteridge, RSYS Grant”      
The Royal Sydney Sailboat Team has honoured two society members who’ll be part of the Australian boating crew at the Beijing Olympic Games, last night naming Nathan Outteridge & Karyn Gojnich as the RSYS Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year.

Nathan was granted the Idris Cup, Karyn the Joanne Trophy, both being for excellence in local, international & national boating contest.

Commodore Lloyd Wood announced the grants at the ‘07-’08 Boating Season Prizegiving at the Kirribilli clubhouse, whilst neither Nathan nor Karyn were capable to be present.

Both are competing in races in Europe in the lead-up to the Olympic boating race that’ll be held at Qingdao, China, from 16-21 July, Nathan as the helmsman in the 49er skiff, Karyn as mainsheet trimmer in the Yngling keelboat.

A 3rd Team member competing at the Olympics will be Iain Jamal, captain of the Star category two-man keelboat.

The highlight of the past year for Nathan Outteridge & his crew, Ben Stuart, has been engaging the 49er World Race in Melbourne in December & then being chosen for the ‘08 Olympic Games.

Although the 49er has been his main focus, Nathan has done some boating on Ernest & Lisa Hill’s Didi 40 Estate Master & is looking forward to doing more after the Olympics.

In message read to last night’s Prizegiving, Nathan said he was honoured to receive the Team grant that in the past has been won by “some real legends of boating.”

‘I would like to thank the Royal Sydney Boat Team for the support it has given me, both in my junior boating years & into youth match racing, where I represented the society with victory at Cowes in the Britain with Mark Dorling & others, & now in my quest for Olympic Silver,” Nathan said.

Nathan added that he was frequently asked, as he competed at high profile events about the world in the 49er “why do you sail for the RSYS when they don’t regatta 49ers?”

‘My answer is that I like to support people who have supported me; I’m proud to be member of this society & very appreciative of the help it has given me,” Nathan added in his message.

Called by some ‘the Boating Mum’, Karyn Kojnich will be competing in the Olympic Games for the 3rd time, with good support crew in her husband John & their two children, Amy (14) & Zoe (12).
Karyn is classic example of Sydney girl growing up in boating & attaining the heights of national & Olympic contest. At All Times, mainsheet trimmer, she started boating at the age of eight with the Lane Cove Boating Society, her 1st event being the Sabot two-up society race.

Her 1st Olympic Games was in 1988 when she & Nicky Bethwaite, besides Team member, sailed in the women’s 470 category at the Seoul Games in South Korea, the 1st time in Olympic boating history that there was definite category for women seamans. They finished most credible sixth.

In 2000 Karyn teamed up again with her ‘elderly boating mate’ Nicky Bethwaite to win selection for the women’s keelboat category (the Yngling) at the ‘04 Athens Olympic Games. 13th in the Ynglings was “ok’, but it made Karyn decided to do better at Qingdao.

Karyn & Nicky, with Angela Farrell at the bow, worked hard to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, place fourth in the ‘05 Yngling Worlds in Austria & then eighth in the ‘07 Worlds at Cascai to qualify for the ‘08 Olympics.

Unfortunately, Nicky had to withdraw from the crew following mountain bike accident late last year & Krystal Weir took over the helming position. The new crew of Krystal (helm), Karyn (mainsheet) & Angela (bow) won the ‘07 Yngling Australian Race conducted by the RSYS & early this year placed 2nd in the ‘08 Yngling World Race at Miami, Florida.
by Harold Campbell