Some couples spend their weekends at dinner dates. Others, like Sheryl and Mike Lanigan, spend them planting more than 7,000 native trees. Their dedication to environmental stewardship and their sailing community is precisely why they have been awarded the 2025 Richard McCrystal Trophy for Sustainable Action.
A Lifelong Commitment to the Squadron
Mike has been part of the Squadron for 44 years, while Sheryl has contributed for 31. The pair first met sailing 1020s in 1997 and will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next month. Sailing has always been at the heart of their journey — not only as a pastime but as a shared foundation for community service and sustainability.
Sheryl has been a force on the General Committee for eight years, leading the Sustainability Committee with tireless energy. She continues her role today and has already committed to the next term. Ironically, she was the driving force behind creating the very award she now receives — a fitting twist that underscores just how deeply she embodies its spirit.
Champions of Kawau Island
The Lanigans’ most visible legacy is their commitment to the Squadron’s Kawau property. Sailing their boat Shear Delight from Gulf Harbour to Kawau for countless working bees, they have poured their weekends into maintaining the land and buildings. From welcoming sponsors and overseeing volunteers to pulling weeds, fixing infrastructure, and even managing wallaby control, their contribution has been immeasurable.
For five years, they’ve been the backbone of the Kawau reforestation project. Overseeing the planting of more than 7,000 trees, Sheryl and Mike have battled invasive species ranging from woolly nightshade to Canadian pine. As one Squadron member noted, “If there’s a weed on that hillside, Sheryl has catalogued it, and Mike has pulled it out by the roots.”
Driving Sustainable Standards
Sheryl’s passion for conservation stems from her upbringing on Matakana Island, and she has applied that knowledge to lift the Squadron’s environmental credentials. She led the effort to secure the club’s three-star Clean Club accreditation from Yachting New Zealand and ensured that national regattas met Clean Regatta certification standards from Sailors for the Sea. She also spearheaded multiple beach clean-ups, weaving sustainability into the very fabric of Squadron events.
Mike, meanwhile, brings a personal connection to Kawau that dates back to his childhood, when he sailed P-classes and visited Lidgard House. He remains a stalwart defender of Squadron traditions, never failing to hoist the burgee outside Lidgard House — no matter the weather or the morning after.
A Shared Legacy
Together, the Lanigans have transformed sustainability from an aspiration into a living value at the Squadron. They’ve not only given their time and skills but also created a culture where protecting the environment is fun, meaningful, and deeply rewarding.
The Squadron community now honours them with the Richard McCrystal Trophy for Sustainable Action, a recognition that feels both inevitable and richly deserved.
Congratulations to Sheryl and Mike Lanigan — a couple whose roots run as deep as the trees they’ve planted.
In addition to this, Sheryl also received this years Service Award.
Sheryl Lanigan with Past Commodore Andrew Aitken
By Marguerite Delbet
