William McKenzie and teammate Isaac McHardie have established themselves as one of the top 49er crews in New Zealand - and the world - over the past 12 months.
McKenzie, like many Kiwi kids, initially started sailing in an Optimist and went to the 2012 Optimist world championships in the Dominican Republic. He also finished fifth in the Sirena SL16 class at the youth worlds three years later, shortly before joining McHardie in the 49er.
Since then the pair have made steady progress – winning the under-23 49er world championships and the Red Bull Foiling Generation world finals in 2019.
Top-10 finishes in several regattas across Europe followed but it has been their form over the past year that has seen them force their way into consideration as the heirs apparent to Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, along with training partners Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn.
McHardie and McKenzie started 2023 with a bronze at the World Cup in Palma de Mallorca in January, followed by sixth overall at the French Olympic Week a fortnight later, to book their spot at the Olympic test event in Marseille.
William McKenzie and Isaac McHardie in action during the 2023 French Olympic Week. Photo / Sailing Energy
Career highlights
2023 French Olympic week (49er): 6th
2023 World Cup Palma (49er): 3rd
2022 World championships (49er): 4th
2022 European championships (49er): 10th
2022 Kiel Week (Nacra 17): 3rd
2022 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (49er): 1st
2022 NZ national championships (49er): 2nd
2020 Oceania championships (49er): 5th
2019 Oceania championships (49er): 5th
2019 Youth world championships (49er): 1st
2019 Red Bull Foiling Generation world finals (49er): 1st
2019 World Cup Genoa (49er): 2nd
2019 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (49er): 2nd
2018 Enoshima Olympic week (49er): 3rd
2018 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (49er): 7th
2017 Sail Sydney (49er): 4th
2017 Enoshima Olympic week (49er): 10th
2017 World Cup Gamagori: 5th
2016 World Cup final (49er): 6th
2016 Red Bull Foiling Generation: 2nd
2015 Youth world championships (Sirena SL16): 3rd