Ericsson 4 watchcaptains win New Zealand Sailor of the Year

by Yachting NZ Media on 20 Nov 2009

Stuart Banatyne (second from left) receives the Sir Bernard Trophy as joint winner along with Brad Jackson for Sailor of the Year Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne, watch captains on Ericsson 4, the outstanding winner of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, have been jointly named Singapore Airlines Sailor of the Year, at the 2009 Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards.

Jackson and Bannatyne, two of the world’s most experienced and successful ocean racers, are now in an elite group of three, joining another New Zealander Mark Christensen as the only sailors to have won the famous round the world race three times. The VOR 08/09 was the tenth edition of the Round the World Race that started as the Whitbread in 1973 and has since become a very significant race for New Zealand sailors.
Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne sailed on New Zealand Endeavour in the 1993-94 race winning the maxi class. Then, in the 2001-02 race, Bannatyne, collected his second win in three races as a member of the illbruck crew. Jackson made it two as watch captain on the all conquering ABN AMRO ONE crew in the 2004/05 race. This latest win now means both Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne have three wins each, from five races.
'We think that Brad and Stuart’s longevity in the sport, and the significant input that they have had in the repeated successes of their teams, is highly admirable,' says Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive Des Brennan. 'There are very few yachtsmen who have stood the test of time as this pair have done.'

Sam Meech (left) and Stu Bannatyne - both winners of the ISAF Youth worlds in the Laser class. Meech was named as 2009 Young Sailor of the Year © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Broadcaster Peter Montgomery said Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne had a major influence on the success of the Ericsson 4 campaign even before the race started, making key decisions during the build up before the race and prior to replacement skipper Torben Grael’s appointment.

'Their relentless hard driving leadership during the race was also the secret to the success of E4,' he said.
Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne have joined offshore yachtsmen Peter Blake (1982 and 1989, and in 2001 with the Steinlager 2 crew), Grant Dalton (2001), and Mike Sanderson (2006) in winning the Sir Bernard Fergusson trophy for New Zealand Sailor of the Year.

The Young Sailor of the Year title also went to joint winners: Sam Meech, for his victory in the Laser at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Brazil this July, and the combination of Bianca Barbarich-Bacher and Alex Maloney, who won the Women’s 420 World Championships earlier this year.

New Zealand Sailor of the Year Stu Bannatyne, and Young Sailor of the Year Sam Meech, have something important in common: in 1989, Bannatyne won the same World Youth Championship title for single handed sailing that Sam Meech did twenty years later.

'To have exciting young World Champions emerging from these highly competitive classes is very promising for New Zealand’s future sailing success,' says Des Brennan. 'These exceptionally talented young sailors will make New Zealand proud in the future.'

The Team New Zealand 2000 Trust was awarded the Presidents Award for its work in promoting and supporting the interests of yachting.

Nearly sixty sailors and sailing teams were honoured at the Yachting Excellence Awards, held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Friday 20 November and officiated by yachting broadcaster Peter Montgomery.

Hard Labour won the KORC Trophy which weighs 50kg and was designed by Brett Bakewell-White © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Joint winners of the Young Sailor of the Year were presented their awards by Olympic Gold medalist, Tom Ashley © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Leading international yachting commentator, Peter Montgomery was in fine form, despite recovering from a broken leg, and received a presentation from Yachting NZ CEO, Des Brennan (left) © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

The Yachting Excellence Awards were staged in the hallowed hall of the Royal New Zealand yacht Squadron © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Those honoured were:

Singapore Airlines Sailor of the Year Finalists
Black Match Racing Team – Match Racing
Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne – Ocean Racing
Mark Perrow – OK Dinghy Class
Michael Bullot – Olympic Laser Class
Bianca Barbarich Bacher and Alexandra Maloney – 420 Class
Blair Tuke – Olympic 49er and 29er Class
Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk – Olympic Star Class

Young Sailor of the Year Finalists
Declan Burn – Splash Class
Finn Drummond and Francisco Lardies – 420 Class
Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders – Olympic 470 Class
Sam Meech – Laser Class
Bucklands Beach Yacht Club Team Racing Team – Youth Teams Racing
2009 New Zealand 420 Worlds Team
2009 New Zealand Splash Worlds Team
Bianca Barbarich-Bacher and Alexandra Maloney – 420 Class
Blair Tuke – Olympic 49er and 29er Class

Yachting New Zealand Merit Awards
Michael Bullot – Olympic Laser Class
Emirates Team New Zealand – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and Audi MedCup
NZB2 Blind Sailing Crew - Blind Sailing
Roger Pagani and crew – International BMW Sailing Cup
Reuben Corbett and crew - Teams Racing
Thomas Saunders – Starling Class
Bucklands Beach Yacht Club Team Racing Team - Youth Teams Racing
2009 New Zealand 420 Worlds Team
2009 New Zealand Splash Worlds Team
Blair Tuke - Olympic 49er and 29er Class
Sam Meech – Laser Class
Adam Minoprio - Match Racing
Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne – Ocean Racing
Mark Perrow – OK Dinghy Class
Bianca Barbarich-Bacher and Alex Maloney – 420 Class
Declan Burn – Splash Class
Finn Drummond and Francisco Lardies – 420 Class
Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders – Olympic 470 Class
Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk - Olympic Star Class
Tony Mutter - Ocean Racing
David Endean - Ocean Racing
Phil Jameson - Ocean Racing
Karl Purdie - OK Dinghy Class
Neville Crichton - Offshore & Coastal Racing

Yachting New Zealand Honour Awards
This category recognises long-term service and achievement in yachting, bringing hard-working volunteers and unsung heroes into the spotlight. While awards are not what these people pursue, their hard work and dedication make them deserving recipients.

Neville England – (deceased) Christchurch Sailing Club
Bryan Robson Leckie (deceased)- Waihola Yacht Club
Brian Peet - Glendowie Boating Club
Ross Currie – For Coastal Rescue Efforts (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Gary Smith - For Coastal Rescue Efforts (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Greg Harrex - Macandrew Bay Boating Club
John Bullot – Murrays Bay Sailing Club & Richmond Yacht Club
Jon Olds – Timaru Yacht & Powerboat Club
Judy Francis – Muritai Yacht Club
Justin Hurst - Waiuku Yacht Club
Terry Coles - Wanganui Sailing Club
Trevor Hawke – Wanaka Yacht & Powerboat Club
Vera Mummery - Richmond Yacht Club
Bill Mitchinson - Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
John Buck - Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
Kevin Whitehead – Wakatere Boating Club
Graham Catley - Auckland Sailing Club

President’s Award Finalists
Team New Zealand 2000 Trust
Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club
Napier Sailing Club
Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
Wairoa Yacht Club

KORC Trophy for IRC Nationals
Hard Labour (owned by Steve Barton, skippered by Cameron Thorpe)