Mike Sanderson

{{short description|New Zealand sailor}}

{{for|the Darlington footballer|Mike Sanderson (footballer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{Update|date=June 2017}}

{{BLP sources|date=March 2011}}}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Mike Sanderson

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| birth_name = Mike Sanderson

| fullname =

| nickname = Moose

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|5|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Whangārei, New Zealand

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| website = {{URL|www.mike-sanderson.com|Mike-Sanderson.com}}

| country = New Zealand

| sport = Sailing

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Mike Sanderson (born 29 May 1971) is a New Zealand sailor. Perhaps best known for being awarded the prestigious ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award for winning the 2005–06 Volvo Ocean Race as skipper of ABN Amro I.{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/883823 |title=Sanderson gets top honour |date=8 November 2006 |agency=Newstalk ZB |work=Television New Zealand |accessdate=25 October 2011}}{{Cite web |date=2013-08-07 |title=Volvo Race winner Mike Sanderson adds New York Yacht Club Challenge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/sailing/volvo-race-winner-mike-sanderson-adds-new-york-yacht-club-challenge-cup-in-cowes-aboard-bella-mente-8750706.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=The Independent |language=en}} At the age of 35, he became the youngest skipper to ever win a Volvo Ocean Race in the 2005–2006 edition of the race. (Lionel Péan had previously won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1986, aged 29).{{Cite news|url=https://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/history/1985-86.html |title=Archive Volvo Ocean Race|access-date=2019-03-16}}{{Cite web |date=2006-12-08 |title=Sports Leaders of the year: Mike Sanderson |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/isports-leaders-of-the-yeari-mike-sanderson/A3PDLL7NBXXJ36GJ3BIX4WLLNM/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

From 2007 to 2010, he was Team Director of Team Origin, a potential British challenger for the 2013 America's Cup.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Stuart |title=Sanderson sacked as Origin team director |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/sailing/sanderson-sacked-as-origin-team-director-1976249.html |website=The Independent}}

He returned to skipper Team Sanya (the Irish-Chinese entry in the race) in the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race. The boat, formerly known as Telefónica Blue in the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race, has been plagued with instrument and hull failures.{{cite web |url=http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/5577_Latest-setback-leaves-Sanya-s-Sanderson-dumbstruck.html |title=Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 | Latest setback leaves Sanya's Sanderson dumbstruck |website=www.volvooceanrace.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209015155/http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/5577_Latest-setback-leaves-Sanya-s-Sanderson-dumbstruck.html |archive-date=9 February 2013 |url-status=dead}} As of 30 March 2012 the boat is currently being shipped to Miami to be repaired so it can rejoin the race in Leg 7.[http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/5639_Sanya-dockside-after-reaching-New-Zealand.html]{{dead link|date=July 2017}}