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The Bermuda Sailing Association has teamed up with the OMEGA to honor their sailors. OMEGA has agreed to present OMEGA time pieces to each of the recipients. With these awards we are able to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of our local sailors here and abroad. Somers COOPER, President of the BSA, and Norbert SIMONS, Director of Youth and Sport each said a few words about the tradition and role sailing has played in the heritage of Bermuda. Presenting the awards, beautiful OMEGA time pieces, was Mr. Gregory SWIFT, President of Omega USA, during a ceremony hosted by Bacardi Limited at its world headquarters on Pitts Bay Road on the evening of 6 March.

Back Row: The Managing Director of Bacardi Limited, Gaston TANO; President of OMEGA Watches USA, Gregory SWIFT; President of the Bermuda Sailing Association, Somers COOPER Front Row: Kelly WILLIAMS, accepting for Katrina WILLIAMS, Joshua GREENSLADE, Blythe WALKER © Bermuda Sailing Association

OMEGA Male Sailor of the Year - Nominated for the first annual 2006 OMEGA Male Sailor of the Year, Blythe WALKER was recognized for his amazing win of the Petite Final in the 2006 King Edward VII Gold Cup. The competition included the top ranked match racing sailors from around the world. According to BLYTHE '(2006) was actually supposed to be my 'year off' from sailing with a house renovation and second child. Never-the-less, I couldn't hold back from competing in the match racing.' So he did, in style! He also competed in the Anna-Roed Bell IOD Match Racing, the Bacardi Nationals winning both events.

Most impressive about BLYTHE'S third place finish in the 2006 Gold Cup is the fact that only two Bermudians have placed this high in over 20 years, the other being Peter BROMBY in 2002. Another interesting fact is that his father, Jordy WALKER won the event, under a different format, in 1977.

Born and raised in Bermuda, BLYTHE attended Saltus and now resides in Southampton, Bermuda. Blythe grew up in a family of sailors and began competing at an early age. He represented Bermuda in the 1992 Olympic Games, sailing the 470. His focus turned to match racing and he has competed in numerous Gold Cups as well as other international match racing events.

OMEGA Female Sailor of the Year - The first time recipient of the 2006 OMEGA Female Sailor of the Year Award is Katrina WILLIAMS. Katrina should have represented Bermuda in the 2006 ISAF Youth World's this past summer, but due to a motorbike injury she was unable to participate. She didn't let the accident hold her back. In August she went to Kingston, Ontario and competed in the 2006 CORK Regatta, sailing the Laser Radial in a fleet of 167 international boats she placed 15. This past fall, as a freshman, she qualified for the ICSA College Single-Handed Championships, something rarely done by a first year college sailor. She then went on to compete in the championships and placed sixth out of a very competitive 18 boats from around the USA.

Katrina was born and raised in Bermuda. Her brother Gareth is also a very competitive skiff sailor, beginning to compete in the Olympic class 49'er. Katrina now attends Old Dominion University. She is a freshman member of the Varsity Sailing team. They train Tuesday through Friday for an average of 13 hours per week and travel to sailing regattas most every weekend.

OMEGA Youth Sailor of the Year - The 2006 OMEGA Youth Sailor of the year is Joshua GREENSLADE. 2006 was a great year for Joshua, not only did he win most every youth Opti regatta in Bermuda, he also competed overseas in many large international events. In 2006, Joshua was the first Bermudian to win the XL Regatta, competing against 42 local and international junior sailors. He made first place on the World's Team and placed 38 out of 228 boats in Uruguay this past December. Other notable events for him were the Danish Nationals, placing seventh of 177 boats, the US Nationals, again placing sevent out of nearly 300 boats, then a third in the New Englands, with a 336 boat fleet.

Joshua began sailing Optimist Dinghies when he was 8 years old. He is in the eleventh grade at Saltus Grammar School and lives in Smiths, Bermuda. Joshua is currently helping to coach other Opti sailors and will be going to school at Christ Church, in Virginia, where he will be a member of their sailing team, competing against other US high schools.