Most Improved – Theo Davies
This sailor has shown fantastic improvement throughout the season. A standout highlight of his season was finishing 2nd overall in the Opti Open fleet at our Summer Series, reflecting the progress he has made and his ability to perform consistently across a series.
Academy Values – Ethan France
This sailor has been recognized with the Academy Values award for consistently demonstrating the core values of the academy throughout the season. Whether it’s helping coaches by putting tillers in the water or showing a positive approach to learning, Ethan is always ready to step in and help without being asked.
Learn-to-Sail Sailor of the Year – James Wilkinson
This sailor has been awarded Learn-to-Sail Sailor of the Year for finishing his Learn-to-Sail levels at the end of 2025 to now taking first steps in racing, James has shown fantastic progression in a short space of time.
Green Fleet Sailor of the Year – Alexa Woolford
This sailor has been awarded Green Fleet Sailor of the Year for an outstanding season. She has shown awesome progression over the season, achieving strong results in club racing along with race wins at the Girls’ Championships.
White Fleet Sailor of the Year – Tommy O’Connor
This sailor has been awarded White Fleet Sailor of the Year for showing excellent progression throughout the year. He was the highest ranked 10-year-old at the Optimist Nationals this season, where he placed 5th overall in White Fleet.
Opti Sailor of the Year – Ben Radich
This sailor has been awarded Optimist Sailor of the Year for an outstanding season. He has shown excellent progression throughout the year, consistently developing his racing skills and confidence in a competitive fleet. A standout achievement includes finishing 7th overall in Silver Fleet at the Optimist Nationals, along with gaining selection into the NZIODA Senior Boys Development Team.
Starling Sailor of the Year – Stavro Purdie
Stavro Purdie has been awarded Starling Sailor of the Year for a second season. A highlight of his season includes finishing 26th overall at the Starling Nationals, along with multiple top ten race results in a tough fleet.
RS Feva Sailors of the Year – Alice Simpson and Catherine Copeland
These girls have been awarded RS Feva Sailors of the Year. They have shown excellent teamwork and steady progression during their season together, consistently improving their sailing, finishing with competing at the 2026 National Championships at Wakatere.
ILCA Sailor of the Year – Finn Murray
This sailor has been awarded ILCA Sailor of the Year for demonstrating an excellent attitude towards training, always approaching sessions with focus and consistently racing in the club series.
29er Sailors of the Year – Blake Batten and Hugo Smith
These boys have been awarded this for their performance this season, winning Junior Sail Auckland, Oceanbridge & placing 3rd at the 29er Nationals at the club this year. They are both overseas in Germany about to begin racing and representing RAYC at Kiel Week, along with the rest of the team.
Teams Racing Sailors of the Year – Beau Utting & James Davies
These boys have been given this award for being in the youngest team to win the Open Team Racing Nationals, beating out previous national champions and ex-professional sailors.
Junior Volunteer of the Year – Jemma Oh
Jemma has given a lot of time to the Learn-to-Coach program this summer, upskilling herself in preparation for joining the coaching team in the future and helping whenever she has been free. She is continuing to volunteer over the winter months, showing her commitment to helping the club.
Senior Volunteer of the Year – Martin Keenan
Martin has been one of AP’s most loyal returnees, assisting Paul for almost all of the major regattas that the club has hosted this year and in Paul’s words: “Martin does everything anyway”.
Junior Sailor of the Year – Michael Schierhout
This sailor has had an exceptional season, showing growth and commitment across all areas of his sailing. Competing in Open Fleet at Nationals for the first time, he took a good placing in silver fleet at the nationals – earning selection to the National Junior Development Team, one of the first RAYC sailors to take up a place in this team. He has also aimed to broaden his sailing by training in the P Class, RS Feva & recently convinced his parents to let him even buy a Cherub…
Junior Female Sailor of the Year – Felicity Lovegrove
Felicity has had an outstanding season and has taken the Green Fleet scene by storm. After completing her Learn to Sail pathway at the end of 2025, she has quickly established herself as one of the top sailors in the green fleet, winning our green fleet club championships overall and having multiple race wins across other series.
Throughout the season, she has shown incredible commitment to both training and racing, always bringing a positive, can-do attitude, and refusing to give up even when things got tough. Her enthusiasm, determination, and willingness to keep learning have seen her make huge strides this year, making her a deserving recipient of the Wendy Price Memorial Trophy.
Junior International Sailors of the Year – Zofia Wells and Charlotte Handley
These sailors over the last calendar year have taken out the RS Feva Girls world championships, as well as one of them retaining the schools team racing interdominions for the third-year running, looking to take it a 4th time when we host the regatta in October this year. The two girls are currently racing in Kiel Week in their 420, already finishing on the podium on the world stage.
Offshore Sailor of the Year – Ella Arnold
This sailor was on the crew for the record-breaking Clockwork Three Kings race, received a Yachting NZ excellence award for winning the SSANZ Northern Triangle race last year & helming the Akarana Youth Team at the recent Keelboat Nationals.
Club Sailor of the Year – Alex ‘Ginge’ Vallings
Racing the C-Tech 12 footer, Ginge has won every 12 weekend of racing this season, including the Auckland Champs, the Interdom Trials & the Club Champs. He also placed second in January at the 12 foot skiff Interdominions, raced on Sydney harbour.
International Sailor of the Year – Sally Garrett
This sailor was the highest ranked female skipper at the most recent Flying Fifteen World Championships, raced in Weymouth last year & has previously been recognised as a life member of Akarana for her contributions to club activity.
