Ten volunteers who keep New Zealand sailing clubs running have been named winners of the Yamaha Motor NZ Service Awards, the first of two announcements ahead of the 2026 Barfoot & Thompson Yachting Excellence Awards at Royal Akarana Yacht Club on Friday, 6 November.
At Whangārei Cruising Club, Alan Barker, known to everyone as 'Womble', has clocked up 23 years of membership and still gives around 30 hours a week. His contributions span board work, a rewritten club constitution, maintenance and bar shifts, all carried out with a quiet dedication that colleagues say is his trademark.
Youth sailing gets its own champion in Tash Brasell at Lake Taupo Yacht Club. She coordinates the central North Island teams racing regatta and national championships, manages the Tauhara and Nui teams, and will lead next year's nationals in Taupō.
Geoff's contribution runs deeper into offshore racing. Over more than two decades he has worked seven Round North Island Races plus the Round New Zealand Race and Triangle events, holding senior roles with SSANZ and Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. He picked up SSANZ life membership earlier this year, a recognition many feel was overdue.
Tim Harris at Murrays Bay Sailing Club has taken on numerous roles over the years: rear commodore, health and safety officer, boat launcher, working bee organiser. His two-year push to secure the building's Code Compliance Certificate finally paid off in 2026.
Since 2020, Ann Hamilton has been part of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's race management team, covering everything from the Winter Series to international match racing. She also turns up for the Emirates Team New Zealand Youth Training Programme, and reliability is the quality most often mentioned by those who work with her.
Pamela Lilley's story at Panmure Yacht and Boating Club stretches back through trailer yachts with husband Neville, then keelers, then the launch Ronaki, which has served for years as committee boat for the club's annual short-handed weekend.
John and Linda Macduff led Sailability Nelson for 12 years, building the trust and its place in the local sailing community from the ground up. John served as founding chair, commodore and volunteer coordinator, while Linda ran the treasury, the pontoon team, catering and sailor and whānau liaison.
John Olds has spent more than 30 years fixing boats at regattas around the country, including a long stint at the Sir Peter Blake Regatta. He already holds the PJ Montgomery Trophy from 2024 and a Yachting New Zealand Excellence Award from 2009.
Lynn Porter joined Lowry Bay Yacht Club in 1998 and has volunteered with Sailability Wellington as bosun for many years since. Her work as sailing secretary, alongside equipment preparation and safe sailing support for sailors with disabilities, reflects a long, steady record of service.
At Maraetai Sailing Club, Vanessa Robson has spent five years as RS Feva Association president, growing the class to a record 48 crews at the 2024 nationals and 50 crews at SailGP Inspire 2025. Her push for inclusive and female participation has clearly paid off.
Part two of the awards series follows before the Royal Akarana night in November.
