James (Jim) Young, ONZM, Auckland
For services to boat building. Mr Jim Young has made a significant contribution to yacht and boat design in New Zealand. One of his notable early achievements as a designer and builder was the famous X class 'White Heather' which won the 1949 Sanders Cup, the most prestigious yachting event in New Zealand at that time. As his boat design and building career progressed, he became renowned for his design innovations for power and sailing vessels. He designed and built the first laminated cold moulded keel yacht in New Zealand, and was the first builder to build keel yachts upside down, a practice that has become universally adopted in the boat building industry. He has trained and mentored many boat builders and yacht designers. Since his retirement, Mr Young has participated in mentoring and judging final year Massey University design projects, and has participated as a judge in the annual apprentice boat building competition.