Issue date
Tickets for this year's Aon Yachting Excellence Awards are now on sale as the countdown continues to the "Oscars" of New Zealand yachting.
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 Squadronon November 24, 2023, and will be hosted by radio and TV personality Mel Homer.
As always, a number of awards will be handed out - including the prestigious Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for the Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year, won last year by former ILCA 7 (Laser) world champion Tom Saunders.
Previous winners of the award include 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 can be purchased until 5pm on Friday, November 3 or until sold out.
Awardee tickets cost $75 and single tickets $150.
There are only 125 tickets available and they will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.
To book your tickets, click here.
This year's event will also feature a new award for the Emerging Coach of the Year.
"New Zealand sailors have continued to set the pace in the sport, achieving some remarkable results domestically while also keeping pace with the best international fleets," said Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie.
“While this is important as we count down to next year's Paris Olympic Games, the Aon Excellence Awards 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 looking forward to celebrating our many successes both on and off the water in what has been a challenging period."
The following award categories will be recognised this year:
- Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year Award for the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy
- Aon Male Sailor of the Year Award
- Aon Female Sailor of the Year Award
- NZL Sailing Foundation Young Male Sailor of the Year Award
- NZL Sailing Foundation Young Female Sailor of the Year Award
- B&G Performance Coach of the Year
- Yachting New Zealand Emerging Coach of the Year
- Millennium Hotels & Resorts New Zealand Official of the Year
- Aon Emerging Talent Award
- Lawson's Dry Hills President's Award
- MAST Academy Young Leadership Award
- North Sails Sportsmanship Award
- Evocean Sustainability Award
- Yamaha Motor New Zealand Service Awards
- Radix Performance Awards
- Harken Youth Performance Awards
- Kiwi Yachting Cruising Awards
For a full list of winners from the 2022 Aon Excellence Awards, click here.
For a list of all previous award recipients, take a look at our Roll of Honour.
For more information or assistance, please contact Angela Jordan at angela@yachtingnz.org.nz.
