Yachting has a proud history in New Zealand, with multiple national, Olympic and world champions and others who have made an impact on the sport both here and abroad.
Olympic & Paralympic Games
Click here to see a full list of the New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic sailing teams since Peter Mander and Jack Cropp first represented New Zealand at the 1956 Olympic Games.
New Zealand has enjoyed multiple successes at the Olympic Games, here is a list of all the medallists.
World Champion Medallists
Click here to see a list of New Zealander’s who have medalled at a class World Championship. This list is a work in progress and other classes will be added.
National Champions
Each year Yachting New Zealand recognises the winner of national championships. Click here to see the list of national champions for the 2020/21 season.
List of previous National Champions
Yachting Excellence Awards
The annual Yachting Excellence Awards are one of the highlights on the calendar and recognise success and achievement from the grassroots to high performance, with the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy the premier award for sailor of the year.
Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for Overall Sailor of the Year
- 2023 George Gautrey
- 2022 Thomas Saunders
- 2021 Emirates Team New Zealand
- 2020 Josh Junior
- 2019 Dan Slater
- 2018 Daryl Wislang and Stu Bannatyne (Dongfeng Race Team); and Honda Marine
- 2017 Emirates Team New Zealand
Female Sailor of the Year
- 2023 Edge Women's Match
- 2022 Elise Beavis
- 2021 Erica Dawson
- 2020 Justina Kitchen
Male Sailor of the Year
- 2023 George Gautrey
- 2022 Thomas Saunders
- 2021 Andy Maloney
- 2020 Josh Junior
Young Female Sailor of the Year
- 2023 Aimee Bright
- 2022 Helena Sanderson
- 2021 Lucy Leith & Lizzie Shapland
- 2020 Courtney Reynolds-Smith
_________________________________ - 2019 Seb Menzies & Blake McGlashan
- 2018 Josh Armit
- 2017 Kate & Greta Stewart
Young Male Sailor of the Year
- 2023 Ewan Brazle
- 2022 George Lee Rush & Seb Menzies
- 2021 Caleb Armit
- 2020 Seb Menzies & Blake McGlashan
________________________________ - 2019 Seb Menzies & Blake McGlashan
- 2018 Josh Armit
- 2017 Kate & Greta Stewart
Performance Coach of the Year
- 2023 Mark Howard
- 2022 Mike Bullot
- 2021 Aaron McIntosh
- 2020 Andrew Murdoch & John Cutler
- 2019 None
- 2018 NZL Sailing Foundation Youth Team Coaches (Matt Thomas, Geoff Woolley and Kate Ellingham)
- 2017 Murray Jones & Ray Davies
Emerging Coach of the Year
- 2023 Matthew Rist
Official of the Year
- 2023 Alistair Deaves
- 2022 Harold Bennett
- 2021 Megan Kensington
- 2020 Jon Henry
- 2019 Ian Clouston
- 2018 Gerald Flynn
- 2017 Doug Elder
Emerging Talent of the Year
- 2023
- Greta Hutton
- William Mason
- 2022
- Isla Barker
- Will Leech
- 2021
- Tessa Clinton
- Will Leech
- Nicola Hume
- Sean Kensington
- 2020 Tim Howse
- 2019 Ted Houry
- 2018 Veerle ten Have
- 2017 Seb Menzies
Presidents Award
- 2023 Waikawa Boating Club
- 2022 Queen Charlotte Yacht Club Redevelopment Committee
- 2021 Pleasant Point Yacht Club
- 2020 Peter Dawson & Jude Eades
- 2019 New Zealand Sailing Trust
- 2018 Graham Cattley
- 2017 Torbay Sailing club and the Emirates Team New Zealand Board of Directors
Young Leader Award
- 2023 Nathaniel Short
- 2022 Angus Wright
- 2021 Vaughan Bamford
- 2020 Polly Wright
- 2019 Serena Woodall
Sustainability Award
- 2023 Live Ocean Foundation
- 2022 Delayne Salthouse
- 2021 Live Ocean Foundation
- 2020 Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships
- 2019 Wakatere Boating Club
Sportsmanship Award
- 2023 Murray Hartley
- 2022 Jeff O'Leary
- 2021 All the teams and individuals, led by Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, who assisted in the rescue and support of American Magic after their serious capsize during the 2021 America's Cup
- 2020 Andrew Mackmurdie & Jennifer Haliday
- 2019 Harry Edwards & Emily Overend
Service Award
| Year | Awardees | Awardees Club |
|---|---|---|
|
2023 |
Bart Allsop-Smith and Taylor Williams | Pine Harbour Cruising Club |
| Bruce Benson | Point Chevalier Sailing Club | |
| Chris Bowman | Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club | |
| Ann Byford | Clarks Beach Yacht Club | |
| Alan Dawson | Waiuku Yacht Club | |
| John Elliot | Hamilton Yacht Club | |
| Egor Leonenko | Gulf Harbour Yacht Club | |
| Paul Mygind | Paremata Boating Club | |
| Sarah Wiblin | Short Handed Sailing Ass of NZ | |
| Chris Williams | Waikawa Boating Club |
Youth Performance Awards
| Year | Awardees |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Matteo Barker |
| Stella Bilger | |
| Ewan Brazle | |
| Aimee Bright | |
| Tessa Clinton & Nicola Hume | |
| Greta Hutton | |
| Callum Hyde & Callum Noyer | |
| Bella Jenkins | |
| Sean & Rowan Kensington | |
| Will Mason | |
| Seb Menzies & George Lee Rush | |
| Jacob Pye |
Performance Awards
| Year | Awardees |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Jo Aleh & Molly Meech |
| Josh Armit | |
| Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn | |
| George Gautrey | |
| George Lane | |
| Isaac McHardie & William McKenzie | |
| Knots Racing | |
| Veerle ten Have | |
| Micah Wilkinson & Erica Dawson | |
| Edge Women's Match |
Cruising Award
- 2023 Island Cruising New Zealand
- 2022 Peter Mortimer
- 2021 Andrew Ventura
- 2020 Jim & Karin Lott
Glenn & Nicky Robertson - 2019 Sara & Josh Tucker
- 2018 Malcolm & Joan Dickson
- 2017 Emily Riley
