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Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie won the top honour at the 2024 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards on Friday, claiming the prestigious Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year title as Olympic sailors dominated the major awards at the glitzy event held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
The 49er team of McHardie and McKenzie collected the Sir Bernard Ferguson Trophy in front of over 220 attendees, recognising their stellar season, culminating in a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in August.
Their achievement marked New Zealand’s fourth medal in the men’s skiff class across as many Games, following Peter Burling and Blair Tuke’s podium finishes in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.
Nacra 17 teammates Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson won the Barfoot & Thompson Male and Female Sailor of the Year awards after securing bronze in the mixed multihull event in Marseille during a dramatic medal race.
McHardie, McKenzie, Wilkinson, and Dawson also received Performance Awards, alongside fellow Olympians Jo Aleh and Molly Meech (49erFX), Josh Armit and Veerle ten Have (windfoiling), and Tom Saunders (ILCA 7).
“These awards are a wonderful reward and an excellent example of Isaac, William, Micah, and Erica’s commitment, dedication, and attention to detail,” said Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie.
“It’s encouraging to see the depth of talent emerging during the last Olympic cycle, which sets us up well for Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.”
Matt Steven, coach of the “McKiwis” – as McHardie and McKenzie are known – received the B&G Performance Coach of the Year award, while Wade Tresadern was recognised as Yachting New Zealand Emerging Coach of the Year.
Numerous other awards celebrated achievements from club level to the international stage. Greta Pilkington, who debuted at the Games in Marseille, was named NZL Sailing Foundation Young Female Sailor of the Year, while 420 crew Joe Leith and Josh Ferrissey claimed the Young Male Sailor of the Year title. Leith and Ferrissey won bronze at the class world championships in Brazil in January, weeks after finishing fifth at the youth sailing world championships.
Jamie Sutherland received the Millennium Hotels and Resorts Official of the Year Award, while Matteo Barker and Chloe Turner each received an Aon Emerging Talent award.
Other honours included Don Salthouse (Cruising Award), Gary Smith (Outstanding Contribution Award), Sheryl Lanigan (Sustainability Award), Flying Fifteen New Zealand (Sportsmanship Award), and James Swinney (Young Leadership Award).
Abercrombie praised the volunteers and committee members essential to the sport’s success. “The Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards are about more than just high-performance sailing – they’re an opportunity to acknowledge the selfless work, dedication, and resilience of our club members and volunteers,” he said. “They remain the heart of what makes sailing such a valued sport in New Zealand, and I can’t thank them enough for their contributions.”
The evening also included a special tribute to Emirates Team New Zealand’s historic three-peat at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, despite the defence of the Auld Mug falling outside the eligibility period for the 2024 awards.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei were honoured with an Outstanding Contribution Award by Yachting New Zealand chair Greg Knowles for their role in supporting Emirates Team New Zealand’s record-breaking campaign.
2024 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards:
Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year: Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie
Barfoot & Thompson Female Sailor of the Year: Erica Dawson
Barfoot & Thompson Male Sailor of the Year: Micah Wilkinson
NZL Sailing Foundation Young Female Sailor of the Year: Greta Pilkington
NZL Sailing Foundation Young Male Sailor of the Year: Joe Leith and Josh Ferrissey
Aon Emerging Talent Award: Matteo Barker, Chloe Turner
Millennium Hotels and Resorts Official of the Year: Jamie Sutherland
B&G Performance Coach of the Year: Matt Steven
Yachting New Zealand Emerging Coach of the Year: Wade Tresadern
Lawson's Dry Hills Outstanding Contribution Award: Gary Smith
Evocean Sustainability Award: Sheryl Lanigan
North Sails Sportsmanship Award: Flying Fifteen New Zealand
MAST Academy NZ Young Leadership Award: James Swinney
Service Awards supported by Yamaha Motor New Zealand
Hayden Bell (Macandrew Bay Boating Club)
Warren Collingwood and Murray McDonald (Waimakariri Sailing Club)
Delwyn Erceg (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Peter Ganley (Thames Sailing Club)
Ross Hebner (Bucklands Beach Yacht Club)
Mike Leyland (Young 88 Owners Association)
Mervyn Read (Vauxhall Yacht Club)
Alison Rutherford (Pleasant Point Yacht Club)
Joyce Talbot (Auckland Anniversary Regatta)
Gill Waite (Gulf Harbour Yacht Club)
Gordon Wallis (Ngaroto Sailing Club)
Cruising Award supported by Kiwi Yachting and Baltic
Don Salthouse (Opua Cruising Club)
Performance Awards supported by Radix Nutrition
Jo Aleh and Molly Meech (Torbay Sailing Club)
Josh Armit (Wakatere Boating Club)
Francesco Kayrouz (Torbay Sailing Club) and Hamish McLaren (Royal Akarana Yacht Club)
Eli Liefting (Royal Akarana Yacht Club)
Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie (Torbay Sailing Club)
Tom Saunders (Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club)
Sam Street (New Plymouth Yacht Club)
Veerle ten Have (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Megan Thomson (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Micah Wilkinson (Ngaroto Sailing Club) and Erica Dawson (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Youth Performance Awards supported by Andoo
Caleb Armit (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Ewan Brazle (Manly Sailing Club)
Will Leech (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) and Sean Kensington (Kohimarama Yacht Club)
Joe Leith and Josh Ferrissey (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Seb Menzies (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) and George Lee Rush (Wakatere Boating Club)
Greta Pilkington (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Helena Sanderson (Wakatere Boating Club)
Zach Stibbe (Otago Yacht Club)
Zofia Wells (Glendowie Boating Club)
Westlake Girls High School Sailing Team
