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Profiles > David Tillett, Sailing - Passion paves way to best seat in the house
David Tillett, Sailing - Passion paves way to best seat in the house
Issue: Volume 4 Number 2
A legal background, dedication and a passion for yachting have taken David Tillett to the top of his sport.
With senior officiating roles at three Olympics and as many America’s Cups behind his sails, he credits much of his success to the opportunities and training provided by Yachting Australia.
‘There’s a good structure in place with an international sub-committee for both judges and umpires which oversees the education and accreditation process; and that system is replicated by Yachting Australia at a national level,’ David said.
‘To achieve appointments you have to gain experience, as well as attend seminars and sit tests. It is also very useful to be an active sailor.’
Yachting Australia Chief Executive Officer Phil Jones says David’s talent and skills were recognised early, as a competitor, then as an official.
‘Like athletes, officials have their own goal to become among the best in the world,” Mr Jones said.
‘David had that goal, plus a legal background which helps, and the dedication to succeed. The key to success for him has been hard work, knowledge of the sport and some pushing from time to time.’
David’s involvement in the sport started when he was eight years old, sailing with his identical twin Christopher, the pair winning the International Cadet Class World Championship in Tasmania in 1969.
While Christopher continued his successful racing career, winning world titles in the fireball class and competing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, David decided to pursue a career in law, branching into judging and umpiring.
‘It seemed a natural progression with my legal background and active participation. I started by sitting on protest hearings and went from there.’
Yachting Australia gave him plenty of encouragement when he showed an interest in developing his racing rules knowledge, according to Mr Jones.
‘We have to develop our officials in parallel with our sailers if the sport is to progress’.
One of his highest appointments has been Chairman of the International Sailing Federation Racing Rules Committee, the world rules body for sailing. This also meant he was Chairman of the Athens 2004 Olympic Jury, having previously been a member of the Olympic Jury in Atlanta and Sydney.
He has also been on the jury/umpire team for several America’s Cup challenges (1992, 1995 and 2003) and will again be involved in the 2007 Cup, as well as recently being reappointed a Director and Council member of the International Sailing Federation.
David somehow manages to fit all this in along with practising commercial law as a partner in the South Australian law firm Duncan Basheer Hannon.
‘It is very difficult balancing everything, but I have very understanding partners and a very supportive family,’ David said.
He plans to continue at Olympic level until the Beijing Games and will then step aside as Chairman of the Olympic Jury.
‘That will be two terms for me and then it will be time to hand it over to someone else. I’m not a believer in having positions and keeping them for too long.
‘There are plenty of good people coming up through the system because the sport invests a lot in training and education.’
His advice to others wanting to follow his path is to get involved at a young age.
‘Don’t put off doing it until you’re 50 or 60, when you think you might have more time. There’s no reason you can’t get involved early on.’
