BTYEA

2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards

Tickets are now on sale for the 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:

For a list of all previous award recipients, take a look at our Roll of Honour.

For more information or if you have any queries, please contact reception@yachtingnz.org.nz.

Our sponsors