Another honour for America's Cup sailor Hugh Treharne

ONE of the peninsula's most successful - and popular - yachtsmen was inducted into the Boating Industry Association's hall of fame yesterday as part of the Sydney International Boat Show.

ONE of the peninsula's most successful - and popular - yachtsmen was inducted into the Boating Industry Association's hall of fame yesterday as part of the Sydney International Boat Show.

Hugh Treharne has sailed in all the world's major yacht races and was world champion in the half-ton class, but it was as the tactician on Australia II when it won the America's Cup in 1983 for which he is best-known to non-sailing Australians.

And it's a mark of the man that he will give $5000 that goes with the induction to Sailability, which helps disabled people become sailors.

"I was blessed to live where I did as a kid, above the family's boatshed at North Harbour," he said. "I sailed for years with the local sailing clubs and never took much notice of disabled kids.

"Then I saw what paralympic sailor Daniel Fitzgibbon did - silver at the Beijing Olympics and gold at the London Olympics - with little help from local yachting associations. That's the sort of person I want to support. The hall of fame is a real honour but I'm a bit confused why it's happening."

Hugh Treharne was the tactician on Austalia II when it won the America's Cup 30 years ago in 1983. He is going to the US for the anniversary. On Saturday he is being inducted into the Boating Industry of Australia hall of fame.

Later this month Mr Treharne will fly to San Francisco for a 30-year reunion with most of his crewmates aboard Australia II when it made yachting history.

San Francisco is the venue for this year's America's Cup and Mr Treharne said he was looking forward to seeing the incredible multihull yachts that will compete for the trophy.

"It was an important time for all of us," he said. "We get together every five years or so but it's always a very private thing.

"This time it's where the race will be held and will be a bit more public.

"It will be a good opportunity to see how everyone is getting on."