Issue date
The first winners of the 2025 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards have been announced, celebrating the country's top performances on and off the water over the past year.
As in previous years, winners in four categories have been unveiled ahead of the major awards, which will be presented at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Friday, 28 November 2025.
Tickets for the awards evening are on sale here.
This year, 10 winners were named in the Yamaha Motors New Zealand Service Awards and the Radix Nutrition Performance Awards, while 12 were recognised in the Appliances Online Youth Performance Awards and one in the Kiwi Yachting and Baltic Lifejackets Cruising Award.
See the full list of early award winners below.
Click here to read more about the Appliances Online Youth Performance Awards winners.
Click here to read more about the Radix Nutrition Performance Awards winners.
Click here to read more about the Yamaha Motor NZ Service Awards winners.
The judges praised the standard of this year's nominations, particularly in the youth category.
"Our athletes have once again made their mark on the world stage, with several of our top youth sailors reaching the podium over the European summer - including three brand new world champions being crowned within days of each other," said Yachting New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage. "During the eligibility period, we've also celebrated Emirates Team New Zealand's historic America's Cup three-peat, seen the successful return of the Admiral's Cup after a hiatus of more than two decades, and watched Kiwi sailors do us proud in every class of boat and board, from skiffs to Sun Fast 30s."
Armitage also praised the work of yacht club volunteers in a challenging year.
"We've been humbled by the exceptional work of our volunteers up and down the country. Selecting only 10 to recognise from the many outstanding entries for our Service Awards was almost impossible. We'd like to thank everyone for their selfless contribution; they remain the heartbeat of our sport," he said.
The 2025 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards will have a fresh look and will be hosted by popular sports broadcaster Kimberlee Ritchie.
The major awards, including the coveted Sir Bernard Ferguson Trophy for the Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year Award, will be announced on the night. Last year's top honour went to 49er duo Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie - the "McKiwis" - for their silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
One of the country's most prestigious awards has also been renamed in memory of much-loved sailing commentator and America's Cup stalwart Peter Lester, who died in August.
"The Peter Lester Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sailing celebrates individuals, clubs, and organisations who have made a significant and lasting impact on sailing in New Zealand - an ethos Peter embodied throughout his life," Armitage said. "It is our hope that this tribute will serve not only as a memorial to Peter's legacy but also as an inspiration to future generations who strive to make a difference in our sport."
For more information about the 2025 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards, click here.
2025 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards early winners
Yamaha Motors New Zealand Service Awards: Graham Catley (Royal Akarana Yacht Club), Aevril Hibbard (Taipa Sailing Club), Grant Innes (Port Chalmers Yacht Club), Gwenda Johnson (Waimakariri Sailing Club), Kevin Lidgard (Richmond Yacht Club), Paul Pearson (Manly Sailing Club), Blair Park (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Larry Paul (Classic Yacht Charitable Trust), Wayne Radford (Pigeon Bay Boating Club), Brett Willcock (Charteris Bay Yacht Club).
Kiwi Yachting and Baltic Lifejackets Cruising Award: Bruce Maunsell (Island Cruising NZ).
Appliances Online Youth Performance Awards: Ella Arnold and Ben Roff (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Matteo Barker (Murrays Bay Sailing Club), Stella Bilger (Wakatere Boating Club), Aimee Bright (Manly Sailing Club), Mattias Coutts (Manly Sailing Club), Xervier Doney (Titahi Bay Boating Club), George Pilkington (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Jake Pye (Manly Sailing Club), Summer Torbet (Manly Sailing Club), Chloe Turner (Murrays Bay Sailing Club), Zofia Wells (Glendowie Boating Club) and Charlotte Handley (Murrays Bay Sailing Club), Westlake Girls High School sailing team.
Radix Nutrition Performance Awards: 2.0 Racing Team (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Emirates Team New Zealand, George Gautrey (Muritai Yacht Club), Sean Herbert (Manly Sailing Club), Knots Racing (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie (Torbay Sailing Club), Seb Menzies (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) and George Lee Rush (Wakatere Boating Club), Anna Merchant and Aaron Hume-Merry (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Admiral’s Cup team, Veerle ten Have (Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club).
