2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards categories

The following categories will be recognised at the 2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards:

Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year Award for the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy

The judging panel may consider nominees in all categories to be eligible for the Sailor of the Year Award. The winner will be announced at the Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards ceremony and presented with the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel.

Previous winners: Emirates Team New Zealand, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, Barbara Kendall, Mike Sanderson.

Barfoot & Thompson Male Sailor of the Year Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding competitive sailing performance(s). The judging panel may consider nominees in the Performance categories to be eligible for Male and Female Sailor of the Year. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel.

Previous winners: Sean Herbert, Micah Wilkinson, George Gautrey, Tom Saunders, Andy Maloney, Josh Junior.

Barfoot & Thompson Female Sailor of the Year Award

Previous winners: 2.0 Racing Team, Erica Dawson, Edge Women's Match, Elise Beavis, Erica Dawson, Justina Kitchen.

NZL Sailing Foundation Young Male Sailor of the Year Award

The purpose of this award is to recognise outstanding competitive sailing performance(s). The judging panel may consider nominees in the performance categories to be eligible for Young Male Sailor of the Year. The person or persons shall be 21 years and under on December 31 in the year of the award. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel.

Previous winners: Mattias Coutts, Joe Leith and Josh Ferrissey, Ewan Brazle, George Lee Rush and Seb Menzies, Caleb Armit.

NZL Sailing Foundation Young Female Sailor of the Year Award

The purpose of this award is to recognise outstanding competitive sailing performance(s). The judging panel may consider nominees in the performance categories to be eligible for Young Female Sailor of the Year. The person or persons shall be 21 years and under on December 31 in the year of the award. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel.

Previous winners: Stella Bilger, Greta Pilkington, Aimee Bright, Helena Sanderson, Lucy Leith and Lizzie Shapland, Courtney Reynolds-Smith.

B&G Performance Coach of the Year

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding service to coaching at a performance level in the current year; outstanding success achieved by sailors coached during the current year; sustained coaching success and commitment over several years; and/or recent innovation in coaching practice. The person or persons nominated for this award shall be any sailing coach, professional or amateur, who is a member of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand.

Previous winners: Paul Snow-Hansen, Matt Stevens, Mark Howard, Mike Bullot, Aaron McIntosh, Andrew Murdoch and John Cutler.

Yachting New Zealand Emerging Coach of the Year

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding service to coaching at community/club level in the current year; outstanding levels of self-development and/or leadership of others in their development; sustained junior or youth coaching success and commitment over several years; and/or recent innovation in coaching practice. The person or persons nominated for this award shall be any sailing coach, professional or amateur, who is a member of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand.

Previous winners: Sophia Morgan, Wade Tresadern, Matthew Rist.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts Official of the Year

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding service to officiating at any level in the current year; outstanding contribution to the development of their field of officiating; exemplary conduct and leadership in the execution of their duty; and/or sustained diligence and commitment to the mentoring and education of others in the sport. The person or persons nominated for this award shall be any sailing race official – race officer, judge, umpire or measurer - who is a member of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand.

Previous winners: Ryan Parkin, Jamie Sutherland, Alistair Deaves, Harold Bennett, Megan Kensington, Jon Henry, Ian Clouston.

PredictWind Emerging Talent Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise an emerging male and female sailor or team who have shown considerable promise in yachting in the 12 months ending 31 August in that year. The recipients will have displayed outstanding potential as future sailing stars for New Zealand. Nominees in the performance categories 17 years and under on December 31 in the year of the award may be considered by the judging panel to be eligible for the Emerging Talent Award. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel. A maximum of two Emerging Talent Awards shall be given annually.

Previous winners: Blake Batten, Zofia Wells and Charlotte Handley, Chloe Turner, Matteo Barker, Greta Hutton, William Mason, Veerle ten Have, Seb Menzies.

Lawson's Dry Hills Peter Lester Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sailing

The purpose of the award is to recognise the work done by a yacht club, individual or organisation in promoting, supporting or developing the interests of yachting in New Zealand. Any club, individual or organisation that meets the objects of the award is eligible to be nominated for this award.

Previous winners: Mark Mulcare, Gary Smith, Waikawa Boating Club, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club Redevelopment Committee, Peter Dawson and Jude Eades, the New Zealand Sailing Trust.

MAST Academy Young Leadership Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding leadership shown by a young individual in the sailing community. The person or persons shall be over the age of 16 years and under the age of 24 years on December 31 in the year of the award. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award.

Previous winners:Lucas Hebberd, James Swinney, Nathaniel Short, Angus Wright, Vaughan Bamford, Polly Wright, Serena Woodall.

Hesketh Henry Inclusive Sailing Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding achievement, contribution, and/or leadership within inclusive and para sailing in New Zealand, including performance at club, regional, national, or international level; contribution to the development, visibility, and advancement of inclusive and/or para sailing; leadership, sportsmanship, and/or advocacy within the inclusive sailing community; and/or long-term service through coaching, mentoring, administration, volunteering, or programme development. Any member or members of a club or class association affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award.

Previous winners: None.

North Sails Sportsmanship Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding sportsmanship of an individual or team who best exemplifies the spirit of yachting and boating. The selection decision is at the sole discretion of the judging panel and will only be awarded in an exceptional show of sportsmanship. Any member or members jointly of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award.

Previous winners: Sailability Wellington, Flying Fifteen New Zealand Incorporated Association, Murray Hartley, Jeff O'Leary, Andrew Mackmurdie and Jennifer Haliday.

AON Sustainability Award

The purpose of the award is to recognise the work done by a yacht club, an individual or an organisation, in promoting, supporting or developing sustainable practices in New Zealand. This individual or organisation has gone above and beyond to bring about sustainable change, either within their organisation or wider community. Any club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand or affiliated organisation that meets the objectives of the award is eligible to be nominated for this award.

Previous winners: The Marama Project, Sheryl Lanigan, Live Ocean Foundation, Delayne Salthouse, Wakatere Boating Club.

Kiwi Yachting & Baltic Lifejackets Cruising Awards

The purpose of the award is to recognise an outstanding non-competitive voyage or cruise under power or sail or outstanding services to cruising rendered by a club member, club members or a club. Any member or members jointly of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive the award, or any person or organisation that meets the objects of the award.

Previous winners:Bruce Maunsell, Don Salthouse, Island Cruising New Zealand, Jim and Karin Lott, Glenn and Nicky Robertson.

Yamaha Motor NZ Service Awards

The purpose of the Yachting New Zealand Service Awards is to recognise exemplary and /or selfless service to the sport. This can be in any form and may include the commendable execution of rescue, excellence in and/or long-term commitment to club administration or training, or the advancement and/or betterment of the sport of sailing in New Zealand at club, regional, national or international level as rendered by any person, club, vessel, corporate body or company. Any member, past member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand, any individual or organisation that meets the objects of the award shall be eligible to receive these awards. A maximum of ten Service Awards shall be given annually.

2025 winners: Graham Catley, Aevril Hibbard, Grant Innes, Gwenda Johnson, Kevin Lidgard, Blair Park, Larry Paul, Paul Pearson, Wayne Radford, Brett Willcock.

Radix Nutrition Performance Awards

The purpose of the awards is to recognise outstanding sailing performance, and/or exceptional achievement(s), in the 12 months ending 31 August in the year of the awards and that either directly or indirectly shall have the effect of promotion, advancement and betterment in New Zealand of the sport of yachting and may include: outstanding examples of sailing achievement in the competitive international sphere excluding those representing countries other than New Zealand, in competition where New Zealand is represented; outstanding examples of seamanship or sportsmanship; and/or design and/or building of boats. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive these awards. A maximum of ten Performance Awards shall be
given annually.

2025 winners: 2.0 Racing Team, Emirates Team New Zealand, George Gautrey, Sean Herbert, Knots Racing, Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, Anna Merchant and Aaron Hume-Merry, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Admiral’s Cup team, Veerle ten Have.

Appliances Online Youth Performance Awards

The purpose of the awards is to recognise outstanding sailing performance, and/or exceptional achievement(s), in the 12 months ending 31 August in the year of the awards and that either directly or indirectly shall have the effect of promotion, advancement and betterment in New Zealand of the sport of yachting and may include: outstanding examples of sailing achievement in the competitive
international sphere excluding those representing countries other than New Zealand, in competition where New Zealand is represented; outstanding examples of seamanship or sportsmanship; and/or design and/or building of boats. The person or persons nominated for this award shall be 21 years and under on December 31 in the year of the award. Any member or members of a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand shall be eligible to receive these awards.

2025 winners: Ella Arnold and Ben Roff, Matteo Barker, Stella Bilger, Aimee Bright, Mattias Coutts, Xervier Doney, George Pilkington, Jake Pye, Summer Torbet, Chloe Turner, Zofia Wells and Charlotte Handley, Westlake Girls High School sailing team.