Colin's Story
1959 –
Colin Beashel competed in the Star class sailing at every Olympic regatta from Los Angeles 1984 through to Athens 2004. His best result was a bronze medal, behind Brazil and Sweden, at Atlanta 1996. He finished seventh three times.
His crewmate in Los Angeles was Richard Coxon and at Seoul 1988, Greg Torpy. On the four other occasions, David Giles shared the boat with him. Coxon was selected to go to Moscow 1980 in the Stars, but the sailing contingent withdrew from the Australian team due to the proposed boycott.
Beashel and various crews won five world championships in four different classes. In 1983, he was the mainsheet trimmer when Australia II won the America’s Cup. That work was recognised in 1984 when he received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) ‘in recognition of service to yachting, particularly as a crew member of Australia II’. He was Australian Yachtsman of the Year in 1985-86 and, with Giles, Male Sailor of the Year in 1998-99. At the opening ceremony at Athens 2004, he carried the Australian flag.
