Yachting New Zealand CEO to step down after 14 years
Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie has announced his retirement, after more than 14 years in the role.
Abercrombie, who was appointed CEO in 2010, has overseen developments across all levels of the sport, from grassroots initiatives to Olympic sailing. He will step down on 30 June 2025.
“After much reflection, I have decided the time is right for someone else to lead Yachting New Zealand and take the sport into its next exciting phase,” Abercrombie says. “It has been a privilege to serve the sailing community and I am immensely proud of the Yachting New Zealand team and board and the incredible things we have achieved together.”
Abercrombie highlights several key initiatives from his tenure. “What stands out is our work in growing the sport through innovation. This includes the Women and Girls in Sailing strategy we first developed in 2019 and refreshed in 2024, the RŪNĀ school engagement framework aimed at connecting yacht clubs with their local communities, and the Clean Clubs sustainability programme, which has seen nearly 40 yacht clubs around the country adopt more sustainable practices.”
While the number of affiliated yacht clubs has remained stable, economic and environmental challenges have affected membership, meaning retention remains a focus. “The resilience of clubs like Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga and Wairoa Yacht Club, both severely impacted by adverse weather events since 2022, speaks volumes about the spirit of the yachting and boating community,” Abercrombie says. “That will be one of my lasting memories – how our clubs and members, the majority volunteers, were always able to band together in tough times. These people are the heartbeat of our sport.”
The most recent Voice of the Participant survey, conducted last year with Sport New Zealand, indicated that yachting and boating clubs remain highly valued by their members.
During Abercrombie’s tenure, the NZL sailing team has produced several sailing world champions and secured nine Olympic medals, including four at the 2016 Rio Games.
In June last year, Abercrombie led the creation of a high-performance advisory group to replace the Yachting New Zealand Olympic Committee. In August, he initiated an independent evaluation of the organisation’s high-performance programme. Findings from this evaluation, named Project Arotake, were published in December. A transformation oversight group, chaired by former New Zealand Olympic Committee chair Kereyn Smith, will implement these recommendations in the coming months.
Yachting New Zealand board chair Greg Knowles acknowledges Abercrombie’s contribution. “David has brought energy, enthusiasm and passion to support our affiliated clubs and the NZL Sailing Team. He has been instrumental in securing and delivering major events, building enduring relationships with Sport NZ, HPSNZ, the NZOC, community trusts, and developing a strong commercial platform for Yachting New Zealand,” Knowles says.
“He has also built extensive relationships within the world sailing community, which has supported our talented sailors in excelling at world championships and the Olympics.”
“As we look to the future, David has worked closely with the board to appoint Kereyn to lead the evaluation of our Paris Olympic campaign and review our wider high-performance programme. This is the ideal time for David to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership as we build towards the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics.”
Before stepping down, Abercrombie will oversee the Yachting New Zealand club conference in May, assist the transformation oversight group, and continue working with sponsors and funders on ongoing projects and partnerships.
The recruitment process for Yachting New Zealand’s new chief executive will begin soon.
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