Yachting’s big Awards – Service and Performance Winners

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Issue date

14 Oct 2015

The Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards, to be held on 27 November in 2015 is yachting and boating’s big night of the year when achievements and service in the sport are recognised and celebrated.

Yachting New Zealand has today announced a list of those to be awarded and recognised in 2015, setting the scene for the major announcement of 2015 Sailor of the Year for the Sir Bernard Fergusson trophy, to be revealed on Awards night.

The top honour is New Zealand’s highest recognition within the sport of sailing; it is presented annually and dates back to 1963. The winner will join a long list of highly accomplished kiwi sailors.

Also under wraps until 27 November are winners in the Volvo Young Sailor of the Year and Aon Emerging Talent Award, Nespresso Coach of the Year, Zhik Official of the Year, as well as the Yachting New Zealand President’s Award, supported by Fuji Xerox.

Peter Lester will be Master of Ceremonies, ensuring this year’s Awards presentation will be a fabulous celebration of the year of sailing. Tickets are on sale now.

Winners announced today are;

Yachting New Zealand Service Awards for 2015

Merlin Caskie – for services to Panmure Lagoon Sailing Club
Matt Hall-Smith – for services to French Bay Yacht Club
Dave Gunn – for services to Murrays Bay Sailing Club
Martin Tasker – for broadcasting services to yachting
Bill Miller – for services to Stewart 34 racing
Rob Burn – for services to Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
Craig Jones – for services to yacht race handicapping
Phil Turner – for services to youth sailing
Roger Badham – for weather forecasting services to yachting
Will Calver – for promotion of sailing through photography

Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards for 2015

Dave Shaw – Paper Tiger International Champion (three consecutive titles)
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 49er, Moth, AC45
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech – 49erFX class
Daryl Wislang – Winner Volvo Ocean Race (Abu Dhabi)
Matt Stechmann – Winner 2014 OK Dinghy World Champs
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – Nacra 17 class
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie- Women’s 470
Scott Leith – 2015 Laser Radial Masters World Champ
Luke O’Connell – Silver medal 2014 OK Dinghy World Champs
Grant Loretz – Sole kiwi on the highly successful TP52 Azzurra

Yachting New Zealand Youth Performance Awards for 2015

Alastair Gifford (Queen Charlotte Yacht Club) – Byte II class
Sam Bacon (Worser Bay Boating Club) – 2015 Optimist National Champion and P Class Tanner Cup winner
Jackson Keon and Nick Egnot-Johnson (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) – 29er class
Josh Armit (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - 2015 Starling National Champion
James Wilson and Oscar Gunn (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) – 29er class
Tam Lindsay and William McKenzie (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) – 29er class