World Sailing and Rolex open World Sailor of the Year Nominations for 2016

Rolex World Sailor of the Year prizes © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

World Sailing and Rolex are inviting nominations for the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2016.

The Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards is the most prestigious award of recognition in the dynamic sport of sailing. Since the awards inception in 1994, the trophy has proudly accumulated the names of those who have demonstrated unparalleled endurance, performance and accomplishment in sailing.

Beginning with Sir Peter Blake and Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the inaugural winners, the trophy reads like the definitive who's who in sailing.

Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists from New Zealand, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke won the 2015 male Rolex World Sailor of the Year title for their dominance in the 49er and the golden girl of British sailing, Sarah Ayton, was awarded the female title.

Sailor nominations can be made by any one with the only criterion being an "outstanding achievement in the sport of sailing between 1 September 2015 and 18 September 2016."

World Sailing must receive nominations no later than 19:00 UTC on 18 September 2016. The Official Nomination Form can be found here.

World Sailing will draw up a shortlist of nominations with the highest and most inspirational achievers going on to become the Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2016 Nominees.

The announcement of the 2016 female and male Rolex World Sailors of the Year will be made on Tuesday 8 November in Barcelona, Spain, the host city of the World Sailing's 2016 Annual Conference. Winners will be presented with a unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a Rolex timepiece.

Previous recipients of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award include:

• 2015 Peter Burling & Blair Tuke (NZL), Sarah Ayton (GBR)
• 2014 James Spithill (AUS), Martine Grael & Kahena Kunze (BRA)
• 2013 Mat Belcher (AUS), Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie (NZL)
• 2012 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Lijia Xu (CHN)
• 2011 Iker Martinez & Xabier Fernandez (ESP), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
• 2010 Tom Slingsby (AUS), Blanca Manchon (ESP)
• 2009 Torben Grael (BRA), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
• 2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
• 2007 Ed Baird (USA), Claire Leroy (FRA)
• 2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL), Paige Railey (USA)
• 2005 Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz (ESP), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
• 2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
• 2003 Russell Coutts (SUI), Siren Sundby (NOR)
• 2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
• 2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
• 2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA), Shirley Robertson (GBR)
• 1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL), Margriet Matthijse (NED)
• 1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
• 1997 Pete Goss (GBR), Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
• 1996 Jochen Schümann (GER), Lai Shan Lee (HKG)
• 1995 Russell Coutts (NZL), Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
• 1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), Theresa Zabell (ESP)