Burling and Tuke named for New Zealand Sailing’s Top Honour for 2014

by Jodie Bakewell-White on 21 Nov 2014 Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have taken New Zealand’s top honour in sailing for two years running after being named as 2014 House of Travel Sailor of the Year at tonight’s Awards ceremony in Auckland.

'It’s a big honour to win this Award,' says Peter Burling. 'We had a great year last year, so to do it all again, to build on that is just brilliant.'

This Volvo Young Sailor of the Year, recognising outstanding achievement for sailors under the age of 21, also went to a pair of skiff sailors; Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie, from Wakatere Boating Club have taken the honour following their 2014 results in the 29er skiff class.

A special highlight this-evening was the unveiling of a stunning new trophy for the Aon Emerging Talent category, awarded in 2014 to Kate Stewart, also from the Wakatere Boating Club. Kate won the prestigious and long-standing P-Class Tauranga Cup becoming only the second ever female to do so after Leslie Egnot 35 won it years ago.

In other announcements made tonight Comworth Coach of the Year went to Jim Maloney from Auckland, and Isotak Official of the Year was awarded to John Grace from Wellington.

House of Travel Sailor of the Year: Peter Burling (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Blair Tuke (Kerikeri Cruising Club)

Peter Burling (23 years old) and Blair Tuke (25 years old) have had another incredible twelve months going unbeaten at all major Olympic 49er regattas world-wide and notching up notable accomplishments in the Extreme 40, A-Class catamaran and offshore keelboat racing.

Securing the 2014 49er World crown in Santander, Spain at the ISAF Sailing World Championships meant back to back 2013 and 2014 world titles in the Olympic skiff – an enviable feat given long-time rival and four-time world champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Nathan Outteridge of Australia is still competing.

The world champions also won the 2014 49er European Championship, 2014 South American Championship, two ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas (Palma and Hyeres) as well as taking victory at the 2014 Rio Olympic Test Event.

Sailing independently at the single-handed A-Class catamaran World Championship held off Takapuna in January, both were on the podium. Tuke won silver, Burling won bronze. In their new roles with Emirates Team New Zealand Burling and Tuke went to Extreme Sailing Series Regattas in St Petersburg, Russia and Qingdao, China placing third in both events.

Volvo Young Sailor of the Year: Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie, Wakatere Boating Club

2014 Volvo Young Sailor of the Year was awarded to Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie (Wakatere Boating Club), gold medallists at the 2014 RYA British Youth National Championships and winners of the bronze medal in the 29er skiff at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. The young pair also claimed the 29er National Championship. McHardie is a former recipient of the Emerging Talent category, named for that honour two years ago in 2012.

Aon Emerging Talent Award: Kate Stewart, Wakatere Boating Club

Kate Stewart from Wakatere Boating Club on Auckland’s North Shore has been named 2014 winner of the Aon Emerging Talent Award becoming the first female to take the honour.

Kate, who turned 16 in September, is one of the hottest young talents in sailing taking first place in the prestigious Tauranga Cup for P-Class sailors. She goes down in history as the second female ever to have won the Tauranga Cup.

Comworth Coach the Year: Jim Maloney

Comworth Coach of the Year went to Jim Maloney who, for a number of years, has fostered and mentored the crews he has dedicated his coaching time to. In total over the last 12 months the sailors Jim has coached have amassed a Gold, a Bronze and three top ten finishes in major international regattas.

He has raised the profile of the 29er Class in New Zealand and the level of competition within the fleet. Jim also adds a personal touch by actively helping sailors to find crew.

Isotak Official of the Year: John Grace, Paremata Boating Club

John Grace from the Paremata Boating Club was named Isotak Official of the Year for his huge contribution to the sport in his various official roles. The recently retired President of the Wellington Yachting Association holds several qualifications; he is a Club Race Officer and Umpire and has been a qualified Yachting New Zealand Judge since 2008 and an International Judge since 2012.

John volunteers his time at numerous regattas in the Wellington region and he is Chairman on most of the Protest Committees for the regattas in the area. Earlier this year he travelled to Spain where he was an International Judge at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander.

John also works closely with Yachting New Zealand helping to pass along his hard earned knowledge to others by developing resources and running Officials training seminars in the Wellington region.

Yachting New Zealand President’s Award supported by Fuji Xerox: The NZ Multihull Yacht Club for the Coastal Classic Race

The iconic Coastal Classic Yacht Race undoubtedly holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealand sailors and tonight the organization behind the race, the NZ Multihull Yacht Club, was recognized with the Yachting New Zealand President’s Award.

The full list of Awardees from tonight’s 2014 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards

House of Travel Sailor of the Year: Peter Burling (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Blair Tuke (Kerikeri Cruising Club)
Volvo Young Sailor of the Year: Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie, Wakatere Boating Club
Aon Emerging Talent Award: Kate Stewart, Wakatere Boating Club
Comworth Coach the Year: Jim Maloney
Isotak Official of the Year: John Grace, Paremata Boating Club
Yachting New Zealand President’s Award supported by Fuji Xerox: The NZ Multihull Yacht Club for the Coastal Classic Race

Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards:

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – 2014 Women’s 470 World Championship Silver medallists
(RNZYS, Takapuna Boating Club)
Mark Bond – Winner of the Stewart 34 Championships
(RNZYS)
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 2014 49er World and European Champions
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, Kerikeri Cruising Club)
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – 2014 Nacra World Championships fifth place
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Josh Junior- 2014 Finn World Championships fifth place
(Worser Bay Boating Club)
Scott Leith – 2013 World Apprentice Master Laser Champion
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – Consistent podium finishes in the 49erFX class
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Sam Meech – 2014 Laser World Championship ninth place
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Andrew Murdoch - 2014 Finn World Championships sixth place
(Kerikeri Cruising Club)
Waka Racing – Winners of the 2013 Monsoon Cup and third overall in the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour
(RNZYS - Phil Robertson, Nick Catley, Garth Ellingham, James Willliamson and Adam Martin)

Yachting New Zealand Service Awards

Shirley Closey (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Dean Coleman (Wakatere Boating Club)
Dr Rob Ebert (Hamilton Yacht Club)
John Grant (Russell Boating Club)
Martin Hannon (RNZYS)
Margaret Harvey (Richmond Yacht Club)
Gay Noyer (Sandspit Yacht Club and NZTSA)
Murray Walls (Waimakariri Sailing & Powerboat Club)

Yachting New Zealand Youth Performance Awards

Sam Barnett and Zak Merton – International results in the 420 class
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Abigail Goodwin and Olivia Mackay – Consistent podium finishes in the 420 class
(Napier Sailing Club)
Patrick Haybittle – 2014 RYA British Youth National Championship seventh place
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Trent Rippey – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships eighth place (Boy’s Laser Radial)
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Jack Rogers and Micah Wilkinson – International results in the 29er and SL16 classes
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships Bronze Medal (29er skiff)
(Wakatere Boating Club)
Kate Stewart – Winner of the 2014 Tauranga Cup
(Wakatere Boating Club)
Yachting New Zealand Cruising Awards

Tom and Vicky Jackson (Tasman Bay Cruising Club)
Jim and Karin Lott (RNZYS)