Vinny Lauwers
{{short description|Australian round-the-world yachtsman (born 1967)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
Vincent Marc Thierry Lauwers (born 12 September 1967) is an Australian round-the-world yachtsman. In 2000 he became the first paraplegic sailor to sail solo, non-stop around the world. In 2001, he won the Laureus Award for "Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability".
Early life
Vinny Lauwers was born in Belgium{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurynie.com.au/documents/InspirationalMERC27MAY2013p27COPYRIGHT.pdf |title=Our Heroes |first=Damian |last=Bester |work=The Mercury |date=27 May 2013 |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307110446/http://mercurynie.com.au/documents/InspirationalMERC27MAY2013p27COPYRIGHT.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2017 |df=dmy-all }} on 12 September 1967{{cite web |url=https://www.laureus.com/content/vinny-lauwers |title=Vinny Lauwers – Biography |publisher=Laureus |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235202/https://www.laureus.com/content/vinny-lauwers |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} and emigrated to Australia at the age of four.{{cite web |url=http://sea-to-summit.net/2000-australian-paraplegic-finishes-non-stop-circumnavigation-by-pm |title=2000 – Paraplegic's Non-Stop Circumnavigation |first=Peter |last=Marsh |publisher=Marsh's Maritime Media |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070440/http://sea-to-summit.net/2000-australian-paraplegic-finishes-non-stop-circumnavigation-by-pm/ |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} Vinny Lauwers' early childhood was marked by psychological abuse.{{Cite web |title=Historic Yacht Vision Quest for sale |url=https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Historic-Yacht-Vision-Quest-for-sale/-47537 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=www.sail-world.com}}
He first experienced ocean sailing aged 14, crewing on a yacht from Melbourne to Sydney.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j6i2DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT463 |title=Sail: A tribute to the world's greatest races, sailors and their boats |first=Timothy |last=Jeffery |pages=198–199 |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=9781781316580 |date=27 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235019/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=j6i2DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT463 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
He became a paraplegic in 1990 when he was 22;{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/news/17022.php |title=Vincent Lauwers (AUS) wins 2001 Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award |publisher=World Sailing |date=25 May 2001 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120000636/http://www.sailing.org/news/17022.php |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} Lauwers' back was broken in three places after he was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle.
Before his circumnavigation, Lauwers gained extra experience in the Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race, a non-stop south-to-north, double-handed race, covering a 5500-nautical-mile (10,186 km) course between the two sister cities{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/news/17481.php |title=2003 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race |publisher=World Sailing |date=7 November 2001 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120000611/http://www.sailing.org/news/17481.php |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} and also sailing in two Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races with the Sailors with Disability (SWD) crew, including SWD's first entry in 1994.{{cite web |url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Paraplegic-yachtsman-finds-freedom-through-Sailors-with-disabilities/-116363 |title=Paraplegic yachtsman finds freedom through Sailors with disabilities |first=Polly |last=Taylor |publisher=Sail-World Australia |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065829/http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Paraplegic-yachtsman-finds-freedom-through-Sailors-with-disabilities/-116363 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://arhv.anmm.gov.au/objects/151510 |title=Australian Register of Historic Vessels – Vision Quest |publisher=Australia National Maritime Museum |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175521/http://arhv.anmm.gov.au/objects/151510 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org.au/sailors-with-disabilities-launch-03-project/ |title=Sailors with disABILITIES Launch '03 Project' |first=Di |last=Pearson |publisher=Australian Sailing |date=1 May 2003 |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235124/http://www.sailing.org.au/sailors-with-disabilities-launch-03-project/ |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
Honours
On 15 August 2000, Lauwers and his feat were recognised in the Australian Parliament.{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-08-15%2F0064;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-08-15%2F0000%22 |title=Lauwers, Mr Vinny |publisher=Parliament of Australia – Senate Hansard |date=15 August 2000 |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208221120/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-08-15%2F0064;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-08-15%2F0000%22 |archive-date=8 February 2018 |df=dmy-all }} He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in July 2000{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/979602 |title=Lauwers Vincent |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235209/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/979602 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} and in January 2001, the Australian Centenary Medal "for outstanding service as the first paraplegic sailor to sail around the world unassisted".{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1128070 |title=Lauwers, Vinny |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235211/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1128070 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
In 2000 Lauwers was nominated for the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Sailor of the Year Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2000/index.php |title=ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2000 |publisher=World Sailing |date=7 November 2000 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208000000/http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2000/index.php |archive-date=8 February 2018 |df=dmy-all }} Lauwers was Australian Sailing's Sailor of the Year with a Disability for 2000–01{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org.au/sailor-of-the-year-with-a-disability/ |title=Sailor of the Year with a Disability |publisher=Australian Sailing |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235147/http://www.sailing.org.au/sailor-of-the-year-with-a-disability/ |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }} and shared the Yachting Victoria's Sailor of the Year Trophy in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org.au/three-share-victorian-award-honours/ |title=Three share Victorian award honours |first=Diana |last=Liptrot |publisher=Australian Sailing |date=11 August 2001 |access-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235056/http://www.sailing.org.au/three-share-victorian-award-honours/ |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
In 2001 Lauwers was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. At the awards ceremony, where he was presented with his statuette by New Zealand sailor Sir Peter Blake and French footballer David Ginola, Lauwers joked that his wife allowed him a mistress "and she’s 48 foot long, 15 foot wide and has all the right curves."
On 25 May 2001, he was awarded the P&O Nedlloyd Disabled Sailor of the Year accolade.{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/news/17040.php |title=2001 BEA Australian Yachting Awards |publisher=World Sailing |date=29 May 2001 |access-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120000613/http://www.sailing.org/news/17040.php |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
In 2002, a DVD, The Spirit of Vision Quest: The Vinny Lauwers Story, was released.{{cite book |title=The spirit of vision quest : the Vinny Lauwers story. |date=27 October 2016 |publisher=WorldCat |isbn=9781781316580 |oclc = 277169059|df=dmy-all }}
Speaking of his crew members such as Lauwers and Liesl Tesch, founder of Sailors with Disabilities, David Pescud, said: "People are people first and your disability is either part of your life; it owns you or you own it. The guys I sail with, they own their disability and I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve sailed with some of the most amazing people."{{cite web |url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Rolex_Sydney_Hobart_2012__Last_Hobarts__Never_Say_Never/105196 |title=Rolex Sydney Hobart 2012; Last Hobarts? Never Say Never |first=Crosbie |last=Lorimer |publisher=Sail-World Australia |date=1 January 2013 |access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065803/http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Rolex_Sydney_Hobart_2012__Last_Hobarts__Never_Say_Never/105196 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |df=dmy-all }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lauwers, Vinny}}
Category:Australian male sailors (sport)
Category:Australian people of Belgian descent
Category:Belgian emigrants to Australia
Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners
Category:People with paraplegia
Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
Category:Single-handed circumnavigating sailors