Issue date
The “Oscars” of New Zealand sailing will have added glitz and glamour this year with the introduction of a new award – and a sparkling new trophy.
The Emerging Coach of the Year will be honoured for the first time at the 2023 Aon Yachting Excellence Awards on November 24, with a custom-made trophy created by MAST Academy New Zealand and C-Tech Ltd.
The trophy is made from carbon fibre with the design resembling the cross section of a Farrier F32 mast.
It was created by Lasantha de Silva, a MAST Academy apprentice at C-Tech Ltd.
C-Tech Ltd's Chris Kitchen (left) with MAST Academy New Zealand apprentice Lasantha de Silva.
The Emerging Coach of the Year award has been added to the list of accolades to acknowledge coaches who don’t work in the high-performance environment but whose contribution is no less important to the sport.
“The award exemplifies what the Aon Yachting Excellence Awards are about,” said Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie.
“It is about more than just high-performance sailing – it is also an opportunity to honour the often-unsung heroes of our community, those people making a difference every day at their clubs and class associations, through our service awards.
“We are extremely grateful for the work done by our friends at MAST Academy and C-Tech Ltd to create a piece that truly recognises this.”
The awards evening is a highlight on the annual sailing calendar and recognises achievements at all levels of the sport during the nomination period (September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023).
This year’s event will be presented at a gala dinner at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on November 24, 2023, with a handful of tickets still available.
As always, a number of winners have already been announced in the service, performance, youth performance, and cruising categories. The main awards - including the prestigious Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for the Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year – will be handed out on the night.
Previous winners of the award include Tom Saunders, 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.
Tickets include entry to the event, a three-course dinner and drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks), and cost $75 (for awardee tickets) and $150 (for single tickets).
To secure your ticket, please email Angela Jordan at angela@yachtingnz.org.nz.
