In just one week from today, on Tuesday 9 November, Greece will play host to a spectacular ceremony and presentation where the male and female winners of the 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards will be announced.
The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Trophy - Photo credit Carlo Borlenghi Rolex
The Zappeion in Athens, Greece will be the venue for the 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dinner and Presentation. It is a night to celebrate sailing, for sailors and by sailors. The evening will be hosted by Rolex Testimonee and gold medallist Sofia Bekatorou-Kosmatopoulos and renowned sailing presenter Richard Simmonds.
His Majesty King Constantine will announce the winners of this years Awards and present the unique marble and silver World Sailor Trophy and a personalized Rolex timepiece with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Denmark and Arnaud Boetsch of Rolex SA.
This year four female and six male nominees have been shortlisted for the Award, based on their achievements during the qualifying period of 1 September 2009 to 31 August 2010.
The 2010 nominees are:
Female:
Kristin Boese(GER) – Nine-time Kitesurf World Champion
Siripon Kaewduang-Ngam(THA) – Youth Olympic Games gold medallist
Blanca Manchón (ESP) – RS:X World Champion & Double World Cup Winner
Lisa Westerhof & Lobke Berkhout (NED) – 470 World Champions
Male
Antoine Albeau(FRA) – Professional Windsurfing Association & Formula World Champion
Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) – 470 World Champions and World Cup winners
Lorenzo Bressani (ITA) – Melges 24 and 32 Champion
Franck Cammas (FRA) – Record breaking offshore racer
Tom Slingsby (AUS) – Laser & Etchells World Champion
Ed Wright (GBR) – Finn World Champion and double World Cup Winner
The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award is the highest award a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements. The Awards are presented annually based on a worldwide selection process that incorporates an open invitation to nominations, followed by a vote amongst the 130 member nations of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
The Awards have been held every year since 1994 and past winners include Peter Blake (NZL), Ellen MacArthur (GBR), Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Russell Coutts (SUI). In 2009 the Awards were presented to Torben Grael (BRA) and Anna Tunnicliffe (USA).
Visit the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards microsite at: www.sailing.org/worldsailor
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing. ISAF celebrated its Centenary year in 2007.
ISAF is made up of over 130 Member National Authorities (MNAs), who are its principal members, and is responsible for the decision making process that governs the sailing world.
There are currently more than 100 ISAF International, Recognized and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from the small dinghy classes for young people to 60-foot ocean racers.
Sailing
Sailing is a lifetime sport enjoyed right across the world.
The sport encompasses a massive range of disciplines and events including Olympic sailing, offshore sailing, windsurfing, match racing, team racing, fleet racing and disabled sailing.
Sailing first joined the Olympic programme at the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. Sailing was back on the Olympic programme for the London 1908 Olympic Games and has been a part of every Olympic Games since
