Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2016
World Sailing, the international governing body for the sport, and Rolex are delighted to announce a golden line up of nominees for the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.
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. There can only be one male and one female winner so who will join the list of sailing royalty in 2016?
The names vying for the coveted and prestigious 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are:
Male
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL)
Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO)
Santiago Lange (ARG)
Giles Scott (GBR)
Damien Seguin (FRA)
Female
Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG)
Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA)
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR)
Charline Picon (FRA)
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.
The male and female winners will be decided by World Sailing Member National Authorities, attendees on the night as well as, for the first time, the public. Public voting will commence at 12:00 UTC on Friday 4 November for a period of 72 hours. Further details on how to vote will follow.
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.
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
8 Nov, 22:47
Once again the stories behind the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mark out sailing as a sport that encourages and rewards determination, precision and passion.
Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
4 Nov, 12:00
The public vote for the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the most prestigious award of recognition in sailing, has opened for a period of 72 hours.
Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
3 Nov, 16:39
Sailors, just like any sports competitors, have faith in their own ability and will aim for a win. Some will even make a prediction of their result. For France's Charline Picon her prediction came from a French saying, 'Jamais deux san trois'. 'Never two without three'. For her, the third would be an Olympic gold medal.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
3 Nov, 10:04
The Olympic Games is the pinnacle event in sailing. Held every four years it takes focus and drive to campaign and makes participation at the biggest event in sport all the more special. However, for those who miss out on their targets, it is a long four year wait to set the record straight.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
2 Nov, 17:50
Picture the scene.
It's the final opportunity to win a medal at the Olympic Sailing Competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flamengo Beach is buzzing with expectant spectators with millions more watching on TV across Brazil. You have the weight of an expectant nation on your shoulders as you head into a four way shoot out for gold.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
2 Nov, 12:50
When you're sailing in a team you have to perform different roles inside and outside of the boat. For Argentina's Cecilia Carranza Saroli she became the ultimate team mate in an Olympic campaign that could have been so different. But you have to go through the bad to savour the good.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
2 Nov, 08:00
The Laser Radial class has seen newcomers progress and Olympic medallists continue on their upward trend throughout the Rio 2016 quadrennial to form a formidable class line up. But it was the Netherlands' Marit Bouwmeester who rose above the fleet and showed she was the most determined and focussed to claim the coveted Olympic gold medal.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
1 Nov, 17:17
Anticipation is high for the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the most prestigious award of recognition in the dynamic sport of sailing, with just one week to go until the ceremony.
Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
1 Nov, 16:28
When the choice is to win a gold medal or inspire the next generation of sailors in your country and you pick the latter, it goes some way to explain the character of a person. Fortunately for France's Damien Seguin he killed two birds with one stone, and it couldn't have been more deserved.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
1 Nov, 09:58
Turning up to an event as favourite always adds that little bit of pressure. When you come from a country that has dominated a class and are following in the footsteps of one of the greatest ever Olympic sailors, it somewhat multiples that pressure.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
31 Oct, 18:05
With age comes experience. He's been there and done it. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. No one would begrudge him the win. He commands respect.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
31 Oct, 13:12
Sports commentators can often be heard using the phrase 'they have peaked at the right time'. When Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic arrived at Rio 2016 you must have been able to hear the famous phrase in hushed tones. Come medal time, it was being shouted as they took the first ever Olympic sailing gold medal for Croatia in the Men's 470.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
31 Oct, 08:00
Pressure effects people in different ways. When current Rolex World Sailors of the Year, New Zealand's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, arrived at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games they were far and away clear favourites to take the 49er gold with a quite astonishing four year run of results.
Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
3 Oct, 08:26
World Sailing, the international governing body for the sport, and Rolex are delighted to announce a golden line up of nominees for the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.
Daniel Smith - World Sailing
