Mike Sanderson (born 29 May 1971) is a New Zealand sailor. Perhaps best known for being awarded the prestigious ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award for winning the 2005–06 Volvo Ocean Race as skipper of ABN Amro I.[1] At 35 years old, he became the youngest skipper to ever win a Volvo Ocean Race in the 2005–2006 edition of the race. (Lionel Péan had previously won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1986, aged 29).[2]

Mike Sanderson
Personal information
Birth nameMike Sanderson
NicknameMoose
Born (1971-05-29) 29 May 1971 (age 52)
Whangārei, New Zealand
WebsiteMike-Sanderson.com
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportSailing

From 2007 to 2010 he was Team Director of Team Origin, a potential British challenger for the 2013 America's Cup.

He returned to skipper Team Sanya (the Irish-Chinese entry in the race) in the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race. The boat, formerly known as Telefónica Blue in the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race, has been plagued with instrument and hull failures.[3] As of 30 March 2012 the boat is currently being shipped to Miami to be repaired so it can rejoin the race in Leg 7.[4]

Personal life edit

In 2006 he married British round-the-world yachtswoman Emma Richards in Cowes, UK.[5] He also is the current CEO of Doyle Sails NZ

References edit

  1. ^ "Sanderson gets top honour". Television New Zealand. Newstalk ZB. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Archive Volvo Ocean Race". Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 | Latest setback leaves Sanya's Sanderson dumbstruck". www.volvooceanrace.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ "BBC SPORT – Other Sport... – Sailing – Amro One clinches Portsmouth race". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2017.