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 for 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 medallists.
World champion medallists
Click here for 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.
List of previous national champions
Barfoot & Thompson 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 Orbit World Travel Sailor of the Year
- 2024 Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie
- 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
Barfoot & Thompson Female Sailor of the Year
- 2024 Erica Dawson
- 2023 Edge Women's Match
- 2022 Elise Beavis
- 2021 Erica Dawson
- 2020 Justina Kitchen
Barfoot & Thompson Male Sailor of the Year
- 2024 Micah Wilkinson
- 2023 George Gautrey
- 2022 Thomas Saunders
- 2021 Andy Maloney
- 2020 Josh Junior
Aon Young Female Sailor of the Year
- 2024 Greta Pilkington
- 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
Aon Young Male Sailor of the Year
- 2024 Joe Leith & Josh Ferrissey
- 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
B&G Performance Coach of the Year
- 2024 Matt Stevens
- 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
- 2024 Wade Tresadern
- 2023 Matthew Rist
Millennium Hotels and Resorts NZ Official of the Year
- 2024 Jamie Sutherland
- 2023 Alistair Deaves
- 2022 Harold Bennett
- 2021 Megan Kensington
- 2020 Jon Henry
- 2019 Ian Clouston
- 2018 Gerald Flynn
- 2017 Doug Elder
Aon Emerging Talent Award
- 2024 Chloe Turner and Matteo Barker
- 2023 Greta Hutton and William Mason
- 2022 Isla Barker and Will Leech
- 2021 Tessa Clinton, Will Leech, Nicola Hume and Sean Kensington
- 2020 Tim Howse
- 2019 Ted Houry
- 2018 Veerle ten Have
- 2017 Seb Menzies
Lawson's Dry Hills Outstanding Contribution Award (formerly President's Award)
- 2024 Gary Smith
- 2023 Waikawa Boating Club
- 2022 Queen Charlotte Yacht Club Redevelopment Committee
- 2021 Pleasant Point Yacht Club
- 2020 Peter Dawson and Jude Eades
- 2019 New Zealand Sailing Trust
- 2018 Graham Cattley
- 2017 Torbay Sailing Club and the Emirates Team New Zealand Board of Directors
MAST Academy Young Leader Award
- 2024 James Swinney
- 2023 Nathaniel Short
- 2022 Angus Wright
- 2021 Vaughan Bamford
- 2020 Polly Wright
- 2019 Serena Woodall
Evocean Sustainability Award
- 2024 Sheryl Lanigan
- 2023 Live Ocean Foundation
- 2022 Delayne Salthouse
- 2021 Live Ocean Foundation
- 2020 Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships
- 2019 Wakatere Boating Club
North Sails Sportsmanship Award
- 2024 Flying Fifteen New Zealand Incorporated Association
- 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 and Jennifer Haliday
- 2019 Harry Edwards and Emily Overend
Yamaha Motor NZ Service Awards
| Year | Awardees | Awardees Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Alison Rutherford | Pleasant Point Yacht Club |
| Gordon Wallis | Ngaroto Sailing Club | |
| Delwyn Erceg | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | |
| Hayden Bell | Macandrew Bay Boating Club | |
| Gill Waite | Gulf Harbour Yacht Club | |
| Mervyn Read | Vauxhall Yacht Club | |
| Murray McDonald & Warren Collingwood | Waimakariri Sailing Club | |
| Peter Ganley | Thames Sailing Club | |
| Ross Hebner | Bucklands Beach Yacht Club | |
| Mike Leyland | Young 88 Owners Association | |
| Joyce Talbot | Auckland Anniversary Regatta |
Andoo Youth Performance Awards
| Year | Awardees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Zofia Wells |
| Joe Leith and Joshua Ferrissey | |
| Ewan Brazle | |
| Will Leech and Sean Kensington | |
| Zach Stibbe | |
| Helena Sanderson | |
| Westlake Girls High School Sailing Team | |
| Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush | |
| Caleb Armit | |
| Greta Pilkington |
Radix Nutrition Performance Awards
| Year | Awardees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sam Street |
| Megan Thomson | |
| Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson | |
| Eli Liefting | |
| Josh Armit | |
| Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren | |
| Jo Aleh and Molly Meech | |
| Thomas Saunders | |
| Veerle ten Have | |
| Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie |
Kiwi Yachting Cruising Award
- 2024 Don Salthouse
- 2023 Island Cruising New Zealand
- 2022 Peter Mortimer
- 2021 Andrew Ventura
- 2020 Jim and Karin Lott, Glenn and Nicky Robertson
- 2019 Sara & Josh Tucker
- 2018 Malcolm & Joan Dickson
- 2017 Emily Riley
