Rolex World Sailor of the Year
The Rolex World Sailor of the Year is the highest award a sailor can receive in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the world of sailing. The Awards are presented every November to one male and one female winner.
Nominations
Anyone may make nominations for sailors – the national governing bodies for the sport of sailing, class associations, World Sailing Committee Members, sailors and any other interested parties. A shortlist is then determined from all of those sailors nominated, and these select few become the ‘Nominees’. It is then over to the World Sailing Member National Authorities to determine the winners.
Public voting to help determinee the winners will be open from 16-27 October 2023.
About the Award
Launched in 1994, the World Sailor of the Year are recognised as the highest award a sailor can receive in recognition of their outstanding achievements by the world of sailing.
The Awards are presented to sailors by sailors. Two Awards, one for a female sailor/crew and one for a male sailor/crew, are presented each year during the World Sailing Annual Conference in November. Sailors selected as nominees for the awards may represent any aspect of the sport.
Awards Ceremony
The winners are not announced until the night of the presentation when they receive the prestigious award and a Rolex timepiece. In past years the Award has been presented by the World Sailing Presidents of Honour, HM King Harald of Norway, HM King Constantine, HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and other renowned sailors.
The Awards Presentation is attended by the worlds top sailors, the leaders in the sport around the world, sponsors and other eminent guests.
2001 saw the announcement of Rolex as the title sponsor, joining World Sailing in support of this award.