Yachting NZ include cruising awards in their annual line-up

9:03 AM Sun 25 Sep 2011 GMT

'2009 Sailor of the Year Winners Brad Jackson and Stu Bannatyne with the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy - Yachting Excellence Awards' Yachting NZ Click Here to view large photo

Yachting New Zealand has announced the 2011 category finalists and some of the award winners for the esteemed Yachting Excellence Awards. Unlike Australia, New Zealand has specific cruising awards - two of them - and no less than ten service awards, matching the ten performance awards which are primarily intended for racing sailors.

The balance of the awards will be announced at the 2011 Yachting Excellence Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner on the evening of Friday 28th October at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland.

There are ten Performance Awards, ten Service Awards, two Cruising Awards and the 2011 Emerging Talent Award.

Yachting Australia offers four performance awards, a Sport Promotion Award, a Sport Professional Award, a Volunteer award and three Lifetime Achievement Awards. There are no Cruising Awards.

Speaking about this year's gala event at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland, Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive, David Abercrombie observed, 'This year's Gala Dinner is shaping up to be an exciting event. It's terrific to see the sport's hard workers and high achievers rewarded for their efforts, they deserve to be congratulated.'

2011 Excellence Awards Awardees and Category Finalists include...

2011 Performance Awards
Jon-Paul Tobin, Takapuna Boating Club
Sara Winther, Takapuna Boating Club
Andrew Murdoch, Kerikeri Cruising Club
Sam Meech, Tauranga Yacht &amp; Powerboat Club
Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie, Takapuna Boating Club
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Tauranga Yacht &amp; Powerboat Club and Kerikeri Cruising Club
Scott Leith, Pupuke Boating Club
Waka Racing, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Taylor Burn, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, Murrays Bay Sailing Club

2011 Young Sailor of the Year Finalists
In association with Orbit Travel, Auckland
Sam Meech, Tauranga Yacht &amp; Powerboat Club
Peter Burling, Tauranga Yacht &amp; Powerboat Club
Taylor Burn, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
Alexandra Maloney, Murrays Bay Sailing Club
2011 Emerging Talent Award Winner
Leonard Takahashi-Fry, Murrays Bay Sailing Club

2011 Service Awards
Phil Galloway, Mount Pleasant Yacht Club
Katy and Mark Kenah, Napier Sailing Club
David Whytock, Timaru Yacht &amp; Powerboat Club
Mark Mulcare, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Ted Frankham, Wakatere Boating Club
Alan Garbutt, Ravensbourne Boating Club
Stuart Burrough, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
Gerald Flynn, Peter McKeogh and Neil Harris, RNZYS
Tim Sandall, Napier Sailing Club
Alan Poore, Charteris Bay Yacht Club

2011 Coach/Official of the Year Finalists
In association with Orbit Travel, Auckland
Charles Baillie-Strong, Wakatere Boating Club
John Bullot, Murrays Bay Sailing Club
Bob McDavitt, Cruising and Navigation Association of New Zealand
Chris Steele, Wakatere Boating Club

2011 Cruising Awards
TS Talisman, New Zealand Cadet Forces
Danny and Yvonne Simms, Mangonui Cruising Club

Order your tickets now...

Tickets to attend the 2011 Yachting Excellence Awards on Friday October 28th cost $110 per person and can be purchased from Yachting New Zealand. Get your ticket order form in now to avoid disappointment.