Radio Sailing across the world is mourning the loss of one of the true giants of our sport. Ian Vickers passed quietly in Auckland on Monday 4 May, with his family around him. Ian fought a brave but short battle with melanoma.
Thanks to Ian's good long-time friend Phillip Pride for providing us with a story of Ian's life.
Ian Vickers
19th May 1969 --- 4th May 2026
Ian at the age of 57 had committed a large part of his life to sailing. Born in Howick East, Auckland his natural sailing skills came to fore early in his life, sailing in school regattas.
From there into Youth classes where he represented his country at the Youth Worlds in Sydney 1987, then moving to an Olympic 470 campaign competing in the Goodwill games in 1990.
Sailing was truly in his blood, Ian completed a boat building apprenticeship with Maten Marine in Auckland and went on to build a series of race boats culminating in the Volvo 70 “News Corp”
From there Ian moved into the Americas Cup first working for Swedish Victory before moving to Oracle. All along Ian fostered his love for radio control sailing via the IOM class, his early boats the V3 were noticed back then by many.
Ian sailed in 7 IOM world championship beginning in Wellington NZ in 1997, never far from the front Ian scored a second place at the 2025 Gladstone World Championship.
Ian established his own RC business “Vickers RC Sailing” in 2013 in San Francisco, before moving his family back to Auckland 2014 where he set up in Auckland producing his own designs. Over the next decade Ian developed a world leading RC design, development and building business, a testament to his tenacity, skills, perseverance and dedication.
Ian lived a simple life, never seeking the limelight, nor grandeur, a reluctant hero, he held strong values and beliefs around right and wrong, Money wasn’t Ian’s god, nor fame, he was a genuine good person, he was a man keenly looking forward to the second part of his life.
Ian survived by his daughter Maddy, gave so much and asked for very little in return, he will be sadly missed by us all.
The New Zealand Radio Yachting Association have set up a "Book of Rememberance" on their facebook page. If you wish, you may leave your memories and thoughts in the book and those messages will get to his loved ones.
RIP Ian.