Hugh Treharne OAM and inductee into the BIA hall of fame has died.
Hugh was widely recognised for his role as tactician aboard Australia II during its historic 1983 America’s Cup victory, where he played an instrumental role in one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history, ending the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak.
Outside of competitive sailing, Hugh was a one of Australia’s foremost sailmakers, founding Blue Peter Sails and contributing design expertise to countless successful campaigns.
He designed and made the spinnaker that was used in the final downwind leg of the 1983 America’s Cup, when Australia 2 gained 47 seconds to overtake Liberty.
Alongside the America’s Cup victory Hugh had a world 18-foot skiff title, world One Ton and Half Ton titles, and a win in the Fastnet Race.
He was also a member of winning Admiral’s, Southern Cross and Kenwood cup teams, and sailing master in countless ocean-racing successes.
His work across Olympic classes, offshore racing, and elite coaching solidified his standing as one of Australia’s most respected yachting minds and contributed to being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000
He was inducted into the Boating Industry of Australia (BIA) hall of fame in 2013, donating the $5,000 that goes with the induction to Sailability to help disabled people get out onto the water.
“On behalf of Australian Sailing I would like to send our condolences to Hugh’s family and many friends at this sad time,” said Australian Sailing president Shevaun Bruland.
“Hugh was a lifelong sailor, coach, and mentor whose passion for the sport never waned. He generously gave his time and expertise to countless sailors — from grassroots participants to world-class athletes—always with humility and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
He generously gave his time and expertise to countless sailors.
Shevaun Bruland
Hugh was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2000 for his services to sailing, and in 2017 was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame for his role with the Team of Australia II.
Hi father, David Treharne, purchased Sydney’s Manly Boatshed in 1945 and the family lived above the business with Hugh growing up on the water around Manley and helping his father on several occasions to rescue boaties in distress.
The business is currently run by Hugh’s son and general manager Robbie Treharne.
He also led Treharne Moorings, the family marine business, into the modern era while retaining its founding values of quality and craftsmanship.
Under his leadership, the company embraced modern engineering advancements while preserving the time-tested values.
Hugh’s commitment to innovation solidified Treharne Moorings’ reputation as a trusted authority in the field, with Hugh regularly called upon by industry bodies and government agencies to share his expertise and provide a framework for mooring standards.
In 1986, Hugh built the 52ft timber yacht Bright Morning Star, which he used to share his love of sailing sailors from around the world through offshore education and training.
