Posted: 13 December 2006
Whāngārei man Northland Sailor of the Year
An internationally-recognised Whāngārei yachtsman has today (Weds 13 December) been named this year’s ‘Northland Sailor of the Year’.
35-year-old Mike Sanderson is one of the world's leading all-round yachtsmen.
Northland Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says Mike Sanderson was nominated for the annually presented Council award by the Northland Yachting Association.
The 35-year-old’s huge contribution to sailing was recognised internationally last month when he was named male ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2006 at an awards ceremony in Helsinki, Finland.
Mr Farnsworth says Mr Sanderson developed a love of sailing in Whāngārei as a five-year-old when he began sailing an Optimist he built with his father.
“His ensuing 30-year passion for the sport has never faltered and he has been sailing competitively since. It is this, along with 15 years experience as a sail maker, which has given him the grounding behind his present expertise in total boat performance.”
The many highlights in Mr Sanderson’s sailing career include:
June 2006 - winning the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 aboard ABN AMRO ONE, his first Volvo Ocean Race / Whitbread round the world race as skipper.
Mainsheet trimmer for two America’s Cup campaigns – 2003 with Oracle BMW and 1995 with Tag Heuer
Two Sydney to Hobart races (in 1993 and 1999, the latter earning him a place as current passage record holder)
Second place with Grant Dalton’s Merit Cup in the 1995/1996 Whitbread Round The World Race as watch captain and sail co-ordinator
Being trimmer on board New Zealand Endeavour, skippered by Grant Dalton in 1993 and 1994
Mr Farnsworth says it is no exaggeration to describe Mr Sanderson as one of the world’s leading all-round yachtsmen.
Mr Sanderson’s latest nautical adventure will see him fly out of New Zealand tomorrow (Thurs 14 December) to compete in this year’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
The Northland Sailor of the Year trophy he received at a ceremony in Whāngārei today (Weds 13 December) was first presented by the Whangarei Harbour Board in 1964 and was then known as the “Northland Blue Water Trophy”. It was rededicated in 1995 by the Northland Regional Council as the Northland Sailor of the Year trophy.
Mr Farnsworth says the award can be made “for all or any acts or services, which either directly or indirectly have the effect of promotion, advancement or betterment of the sport of yachting”.
These include:
- Design and building of boats.
- Administrative services to the sport on a regular basis.
- Outstanding examples of seamanship or sailing ability in both competitive and non-competitive spheres.
- Outstanding examples of sportsmanship.
- Services in the promotion and encouragement of active participation in the sport of yachting.