Please select your home edition
Edition
Noble Marine 2022 YY - LEADERBOARD

Public voting opens for 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year

by World Sailing 15 Oct 2018 12:35 BST
2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year © World Sailing

World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, and Rolex, the leading name in prestige watches that includes watches engineered specifically for sailing, are now inviting the public to vote for one male and one female who they think should receive the 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year title.

Public voting is open now through to 12:00 UTC on Monday 29 October, one day before the announcement at the World Sailing Awards in Sarasota, Florida, USA.

Visit www.sailing.org/news/2018vote.php for the online voting form.

The eleven nominated sailors personify excellence and represent the best of the best in international sailing over the last twelve months with kiteboarders, offshore racers and Olympic class specialists all shortlisted.

The names vying for the coveted and prestigious 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are:

Female:
Caterina Banti (ITA) – 2018 Nacra 17 World Champion
Carolijn Brouwer (NED) / Marie Riou (FRA) – Volvo Ocean Race winners
Daniela Moroz (USA) – 2018 Formula Kiteboarding World Champion
Wendy Tuck (AUS) – Clipper Round the World Race winning skipper

Male:
Charles Caudrelier (FRA) – Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper
Sime and Mihovil Fantela (CRO) – 2018 49er World Champions
Pavlos Kontides (CYP) – 2018 Laser World Champion
Dorian van Rijsselberghe (NED) – 2018 Men's RS:X World Champion
Ruggero Tita (ITA) – 2018 Nacra 17 World Champion

The public vote will contribute 30% of the overall vote with World Sailing's Member National Authorities making up the final 70%.

Each winner will be presented with the unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a Rolex timepiece.

The Awards night is the social highlight of the World Sailing Annual Conference and 2018 is set to be a ground breaking edition with the introduction of the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award, the Team of the Year and the Boat of the Year.

Alongside Rolex World Sailor of the Year and the new Awards, the Beppe Croce Trophy, President Development Award and eSailing World Championship Trophy will be presented.

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, Sir Robin Knox Johnston and Teresa Zabell (ESP), the inaugural winners, the trophy reads like the definitive who's who in sailing.

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

2017 Peter Burling (NZL), Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
2016 Santiago Lange (ARG), Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark (GBR).
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)

Related Articles

World Sailing appoints Jim Morris CB DSO
As new Director of Events World Sailing is delighted to announce the appointment of Jim Morris CB DSO as its new Director of Events. Posted on 23 Apr
Formula Kite winner claims overall trophy in Palma
Breiana Whitehead top competitor at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca Australian kiteboarder Breiana Whitehead has been awarded the trophy for overall winner of the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar at the World Cup Series event in Palma. Posted on 6 Apr
Welsh wizard claims Sofia hat-trick
As Italian duo also dominate at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar Great Britain's Micky Beckett has won ILCA 7 gold with a day to spare, on day five of the World Cup Series at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar. Posted on 5 Apr
Olympic selection pressure has Aussie at top
Australia's Mara Stransky has responded to the pressure of selection battle in Palma Australia's Mara Stransky has responded to the pressure of a close Olympic selection battle by moving to the top of the ILCA 6 dinghy leaderboard after a sunny, sea breeze day three of the World Cup Series at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca. Posted on 3 Apr
Beckett takes ILCA 7 dinghy lead
After dramatic changes in Palma World Cup Series event Great Britain's Olympic hopeful Micky Beckett took advantage of a dramatic change of conditions at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar on the second day of the World Cup Series event. Posted on 2 Apr
Team USA star thrives in “nuclear” conditions
On opening day of World Cup Series in Palma Olympics-bound Daniela Moroz declared the conditions at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar to be "nuclear" as she claimed two Formula Kite bullets on the opening day of the World Cup Series event in Palma. Posted on 2 Apr
Courses for women coaches and officials
Applications are being invited by World Sailing World Sailing is once again opening applications for Member National Authorities (MNAs), events, Class Associations and sailing clubs to develop women coaches or race officials. Posted on 19 Mar
World Sailing celebrates International Women's Day
With videos celebrating Olympic sailing heroes To mark this year's International Women's Day, on 8 March, World Sailing is releasing a series of videos celebrating female Olympic sailing heroes. Posted on 7 Mar
Steering the Course celebrates Olympic role models
The fourth edition of World Sailing's global women's sailing festival The fourth edition of Steering the Course will take on a special focus in this Olympic year by celebrating the pathway many of the sport's role models have taken to the Olympic Games, whether in coaching, officiating or sports administration. Posted on 5 Mar
World Sailing publishes Olympic Vision
To steer the sport through to Brisbane 2032 World Sailing has published its Olympic Vision strategy which is aimed at strengthening the sport's contribution to the Olympic Movement. Posted on 27 Feb