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When Bill Clancy left the Australian Defence force in 1993 he came across the radio sailing club that was located at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland. As a skiff sailor of old he took to radio sailing as a duck would to water.

As is his nature Bill immediately recognised the need for good volunteers if the sport were to grow and develop. He took on Race Officer duties at this club one year after taking up the sport. His commitment to serving the sport in South-East Queensland area continued to develop and he can be credited with having served at every National and State Championship which has been run by this area of the country since 1994. Although Bill sails an IOM he has not limited his support to this class. He has managed regattas for the IOMs, the Ten Raters, the Marbleheads, the A Class, the RC Lasers, the EC 12s, the Micro Magics, the DF 65s and the DF 95s.

In 2005, at the IOM World Championship held at Kawana, Bill served as an assistant measurer. He found this was a good fit for his skills and commitment and he continued to develop this interest to the point where Bill is now not only an accredited ARYA measurer, but is also the Queensland State Measurement Coordinator, a position he has held for many years and in which he continues to serve. To date he has measured 282 IMOs and a good number of Ten Raters and Marbleheads.

In addition to the service Bill has provided at a club and state level he also served as Vice President of the Australian Radio Yachting Association under three presidents over a period approaching ten years. When his terms on the executive of the national body were completed he ensured that his skills remained available to the body by serving on a number of committees and sub-groups. In this capacity he has helped to shape a suit of documents which serve the sport to this day. These include the current Constitution, the Notice of Race, the Standard Sailing Instructions and the Race Management Manual.

He has also sought to pass on his knowledge and love of the sport by preparing study notes and holding courses in the skills required to be a competent Race Officer for large regattas. Bill continues to provide education and training opportunities to anyone who wishes to avail themselves of his work.

In summary it has to be said that Bill has never wavered in his commitment to others and to the sport, at all levels, from the time he took up radio sailing to the present day. This commitment and dedication is available to all and many skippers who have never even met Bill continue to benefit from this.

On behalf of the ARYA Committee, our member States and all radio sailors - thank you Bill for your contribution and congratulations on this award.