Tauranga sailor Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, of Kerikeri, have jointly won New Zealand's top sailing honour for two years running – the House of Travel Sailor of the Year Award.

Awarded the accolade at last night's ceremony in Auckland, the 23-year-old says 'it's a big honour” to be jointly named 2014's House of Travel Sailor of the Year.

House of Travel Sailor of the Year Peter Burling, of Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, and Kerikeri Cruising Club's Blair Tuke. Photo: Supplied.

'We had a great year last year, so to do it all again, to build on that is just brilliant,” says the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club member.

Burling and Tuke have remained unbeaten at all major Olympic 49er regattas worldwide, notching up notable accomplishments in the Extreme 40, A-Class catamaran and offshore keelboat racing.

Securing the 2014 49er World crown in Santander, Spain at the ISAF Sailing World Championships meant back-to-back 2013 and 2014 world titles in the Olympic skiff – an enviable feat given long-time rival and four-time world champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Nathan Outteridge of Australia is still competing.

The world champions also won the 2014 49er European Championship, 2014 South American Championship, two ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas (Palma and Hyeres) as well as taking victory at the 2014 Rio Olympic Test Event.

Sailing independently at the single-handed A-Class catamaran World Championship held off Takapuna in January, both were on the podium. Tuke won silver, Burling won bronze.

In their new roles with Emirates Team New Zealand Burling and Tuke went to Extreme Sailing Series Regattas in St Petersburg, Russia and Qingdao, China placing third in both events.

Other Tauranga sailors to pick up awards include Jason Saunders, Molly Meech and Sam Meech, who all won Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards.

Plus, Sam Barnett and Zak Merton, and Trent Rippey wn Yachting New Zealand Youth Performance Awards.

The full list of Awardees from tonight's 2014 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards:

• House of Travel Sailor of the Year: Peter Burling (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Blair Tuke (Kerikeri Cruising Club)
• Volvo Young Sailor of the Year: Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie, Wakatere Boating Club
• Aon Emerging Talent Award: Kate Stewart, Wakatere Boating Club
• Comworth Coach the Year: Jim Maloney
• Isotak Official of the Year: John Grace, Paremata Boating Club
• Yachting New Zealand President's Award supported by Fuji Xerox: The NZ Multihull Yacht Club for the Coastal Classic Race

Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards:

• Jones and Jason Saunders – 2014 Nacra World Championships 5^th place (Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
• Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – Consistent podium finishes in the 49erFX class (Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
• Sam Meech – 2014 Laser World Championship 9^th place (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
• Andrew Murdoch - 2014 Finn World Championships 6^th place (Kerikeri Cruising Club)
• Waka Racing – Winners of the 2013 Monsoon Cup and 3^rd overall in the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour (RNZYS - Phil Robertson, Nick Catley, Garth Ellingham, James Willliamson and Adam Martin)

Yachting New Zealand Service Awards

• Shirley Closey (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
• Dean Coleman (Wakatere Boating Club)
• Dr Rob Ebert (Hamilton Yacht Club)
• John Grant (Russell Boating Club)
• Martin Hannon (RNZYS)
• Margaret Harvey (Richmond Yacht Club)
• Gay Noyer (Sandspit Yacht Club and NZTSA)
• Murray Walls (Waimakariri Sailing & Powerboat Club)

Yachting New Zealand Youth Performance Awards

• Sam Barnett and Zak Merton – International results in the 420 class (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
• Abigail Goodwin and Olivia Mackay – Consistent podium finishes in the 420 class (Napier Sailing Club)
• Patrick Haybittle – 2014 RYA British Youth National Championship 7^th place (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
• Trent Rippey – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships 8^th place (Boy's Laser Radial) (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
• Jack Rogers and Micah Wilkinson – International results in the 29er and SL16 classes (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
• Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships Bronze Medal (29er skiff) (Wakatere Boating Club)
• Kate Stewart – Winner of the 2014 Tauranga Cup (Wakatere Boating Club)

Yachting New Zealand Cruising Awards

• Tom and Vicky Jackson (Tasman Bay Cruising Club)
• Jim and Karin Lott (RNZYS)