David Forbes was an Australian sailor who competed at three Olympics (1968-76), winning a gold medal in 1972 in Star Class alongside John Anderson. Forbes won multiple regattas, including a 5.5 metre World Championship in 1970, the 1974 Sydney-to-Hobart race, and 10 Australian championships, in the Star (seven times), 5.5 metre, Soling, and Etchells classes. He was also part of two America’s Cup challenges, serving as crew on Gretel II in 1970 and as a relief helmsman in 1977.
Forbes was a businessman who started the soft drink company Shelley Ecks, which he eventually sold to Coca-Cola. He was named Australian Sailing’s Yachtsman of the Year in 1972-73, was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1988, and in 2000 received the Australian Sports Medal. Forbes was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2015 and in 2018 was inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.
Australia