2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards
This year's event will once again honour the best the country has to offer, recognising excellence in sailing performance, officiating, coaching, sustainability, sportsmanship, leadership and community service. The event will be held at Royal Akarana Yacht Club on Friday, 6 November 2026.
New Zealand has produced, and continues to produce, some outstanding sailors who have achieved amazing feats on the world stage. Previous winners of the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for the Sailor of the Year include Emirates Team New Zealand, Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, Sir Peter Blake, Barbara Kendall, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Sir Russell Coutts, Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie and Bruce Farr.
The awards are also an opportunity to recognise achievements at local and club level, and many do so much to make these places special.
The following award categories will be recognised in 2026:
- Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year Award for the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy
- Barfoot & Thompson Male Sailor of the Year Award
- Barfoot & Thompson Female Sailor of the Year Award
- NZL Sailing Foundation Young Male Sailor of the Year Award
- NZL Sailing Foundation Young Female Sailor of the Year Award
- B&G Performance Coach of the Year
- Yachting New Zealand Emerging Coach of the Year
- Millennium Hotels and Resorts Official of the Year
- PredictWind Emerging Talent Award
- Lawson's Dry Hills Peter Lester Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sailing
- MAST Academy Young Leadership Award
- Hesketh Henry Inclusive Sailing Award
- North Sails Sportsmanship Award
- AON Sustainability Award
- Yamaha Motor NZ Service Awards
- Radix Nutrition Performance Awards
- Appliances Online Youth Performance Awards
- Kiwi Yachting & Baltic Lifejackets Cruising Awards
More category information here
For a list of all previous award recipients, take a look at our Roll of Honour
Stay and save in Auckland
Travelling to Auckland for the awards? Yachting New Zealand guests can enjoy 20% off stays at three Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties:
- Grand Millennium Auckland
- M Social Hotel Auckland
- Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
- M Social Hotel Auckland
- Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
Book online using promo code NZYACHTING. As the event falls on a high-demand date, early booking is recommended.
Guests can also join MyMillennium to receive a NZD35 food and beverage voucher during their stay, plus exclusive member benefits and rewards.
Dress for the Occasion
The 2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards will be an evening to celebrate the very best of New Zealand yachting — and an occasion to dress accordingly.
With evening wear as the dress code, we have arranged two exclusive formalwear offers for Awards attendees to make getting ready for the night a little easier.
