Belcher and Ryan claim Yachting Australia Male Sailor of the Year prize

Lisa Darmanin and Mathew Belcher were among the sailors awarded on the night ©Yachting Australia/Richard Wearne

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan have been rewarded for their victories at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup Final and 470 World Championships with the duo claiming the 2015 Yachting Australia Male Sailor of the Year award.

The pair joined forces following the London 2012 Olympic Games with Ryan ably filling the shoes of Malcolm Page, whom Belcher had secured three consecutive World Championship victories with.

Since their partnership began the duo have yet to finish outside of the podium positions and they have successfully retained the 470 world title for the last three editions, with their latest victory coming in October at Haifa Bay, Israel.

Belcher and Ryan also defended their World Cup Final title in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi last month after seeing off the challenge of Sweden's Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström.

The world champions received their honour at the Yachting Australia Awards, held at Doltone House in Sydney, where Belcher paid tribute to the strength of the country’s sailors.

“There is such a deep talent in Australian sailing at the moment,” he said.

“It's amazing what we’re achieving and what we're doing for the sport in Australia.

“Will and I as a team are working really hard to make you proud and inspire the next generation of sailors.”

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan secured their third consecutive men's 470 world title in October ©Getty Images

Having earned victory at the Rio 2016 test event in August and topping the podium at two World Cup events during the season, Nacra 17 sailor Lisa Darmanin was presented with the Female Sailor of the Year award.

Darmanin, and her team-mate Jason Waterhouse, were forced to settle for silver at the World Championships and the duo will be aiming to continue their fine sequence of results at next year’s Olympics at Rio de Janeiro.

Skud 18 sailors Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch were honoured with the Sailor of the Year with a Disability award after continuing to dominate their class since the London 2012 Paralympics, while Kyle O’Connell and Tom Siganto won the Youth Sailor of the Year title following their victory at the 2015 29er World Championships.

Bill Buckle and Bob Oatley, founding members of the Balmoral 12ft Sailing Club, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards, with decorated Olympic sailing coach Mike Fletcher picking up the President’s Award.