Mark Mulcare honoured at YNZ Excellence Awards

Mark Mulcare – a name that immediately brings to mind someone who not only loves sailing, but has poured decades of his life into it with quiet determination and unwavering passion.

Mark lost his eyesight in his early 20s, yet that never slowed him down. Instead, he went on to become a world champion multiple times. His journey began, as he puts it, when he “just decided to buy a boat”, a simple moment that sparked a lifelong commitment to the sport and to the community around it.

His contribution reaches far beyond time spent on the water. Mark developed and maintained the Race Track database for keelboat handicapping, a system used by virtually everyone who has ever lined up for an inshore or offshore race. Here at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, we remain proud and grateful users of the platform he built.

On Friday 28 November, Mark was recognised at the Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards, receiving the inaugural Peter Lester Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sailing.

Yachting New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage said the award recognises volunteer service aligned with the standards Lester set throughout his career.

Lester, who passed away in August, dedicated his life to the sport through coaching, performance management, and broadcasting, and served as Yachting New Zealand’s first high-performance director.

“Peter’s contribution was never just technical or tactical – it was deeply human. He inspired generations with his honesty, his storytelling, and his unwavering commitment to excellence,” Armitage said. “This award honours individuals, clubs, and organisations who have made a significant and lasting impact on sailing in New Zealand, an ethos Peter embodied throughout his life. Our hope is that this tribute not only recognises his extraordinary legacy but continues to inspire those who follow in his wake.”

Mark is, without question, a worthy recipient of this honour – a sailor whose legacy continues to lift the sport he loves.