The Aon Yachting Excellence Awards recognise excellence in sailing, from Optimists through to offshore boats. This country has produced, and continues to produce, some outstanding sailors who have achieved some amazing feats on the world stage. Previous winners of the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for the Sailor of the Year include Sir Peter Blake, Barbara Kendall, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Sir Russell Coutts, Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, Bruce Farr, and Emirates Team New Zealand. But the annual Aon Yachting Excellence Awards, which features a gala dinner, are also an opportunity to recognise achievements at local and club level and there are many who do so much to make these places special.
This year’s event will be presented at a gala dinner at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on November 24, 2023 with tickets going on sale from September 22.
Nominations for this year's event have now closed.
The following award categories are recognised in 2023;
- Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year Award for the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy
- Aon Male Sailor of the Year Award
- Aon 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 & Resorts New Zealand Official of the Year
- Aon Emerging Talent Award
- Lawson's Dry Hills President's Award
- MAST Academy Young Leadership Award
- North Sails Sportsmanship Award
- Evocean Sustainability Award
- Yamaha Motor New Zealand Service Awards
- Radix Performance Awards
- Harken Youth Performance Awards
- Kiwi Yachting Cruising Awards
For a list of all previous award recipients, take a look at our Roll of Honour.
For more information or assistance, please contact Angela Jordan at angela@yachtingnz.org.nz.
