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Sarah Ayton, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke named ISAF Rolex
World Sailors of the Year
A night under the stars in
Sanya, China set the scene for the 2015 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Awards. Determination, persistence and the pursuit of excellence were
clearly shared among the impressive list of nominees for this year's
awards.
Beginning with Sir Peter Blake and Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the winners
back in 1994 when the World Sailor Awards were initiated, the trophy reads
like the definitive who's who in yachting.
The accolades have continued over the years and it was with great
anticipation that Carlo Croce, President of the International Sailing
Federation announced the winners this evening crowning Sarah Ayton, Peter
Burling and Blair Tuke as the 2015 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year.
Addressing the 500 guests in attendance, the President of the world
governing body of sailing said, "This award is truly a special
recognition for an individual or pair of sailors that has stood out during
the year. It is a culmination of hard work and endeavor, combined
perhaps with a bit of good fortune. Most nominees are here tonight, and if
they are not, they are doing what they do best – sailing.”
This year's winners of the male ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award
are the talented duo from New Zealand campaigning in the 49er for the 2016
Olympic Games in Rio. Burling and Tuke have dominated the sailing
scene over the last year, winning ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas, Aquece
Rio - International Sailing Regatta and the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, while
also competing in the America's Cup World Series with Emirates Team New
Zealand.
Currently preparing for the 49er Worlds, the pair could not attend the
ceremony but commenting on their win from Buenos Aires, Tuke said,
"It is a really big honour for us to win this award. We don't
sail and race to win these awards, but it is really nice to get these accolades
for all the hard work we put in. We are really proud to have won.
"All the nominees have achieved some awesome things this year in
our sport, especially Ian Walker for winning the Volvo Ocean Race.
We've been working hard all year and the results have come our way, not
only in the 49er, but also in the other boats we sail. So we are
looking ahead and keeping the hammer down towards the Olympics and then
towards bringing the Cup back to New Zealand.”
Double Olympic gold medalist and the only female competing on the Extreme
Sailing Series, Ayton was awarded the female ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the
Year Award.
After commending her fellow nominees, the golden girl of British sailing,
Sarah Ayton commented, "It means such a lot to me to have won the Rolex
World Sailor of the Year Award. I'm truly touched and proud. I
hope to continue being an inspiration to women, young children and
individuals who enjoy the sport that we love so much.”
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards took place during the ISAF
Annual Conference, the most important gathering of the year for the top
athletes, leaders and decision makers in the sport of sailing.
These prestigious Awards, sponsored by Rolex since 2001, are the highest
recognition a sailor can achieve and are based on a sailor's results over a
twelve-month period (eg. from September 2014 to the end of September 2015).
Competition for the 2015 Awards was remarkable, with five outstanding
female and five equally exceptional male candidates short-listed from a
list of nominations made by the public at large.
The Member National Authorities (MNAs) votes were tallied earlier in the
day and then each guest at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
ceremony had the opportunity to cast one vote. It was an evening of
intense suspense and anticipation, for both the nominees and guests in
attendance.
The winners were presented with a Rolex timepiece and the ISAF Rolex World
Sailor of the Year trophy.
The nominees for the 2015 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards were
as follows:
Male
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke (NZL)
Loick Peyron (FRA)
Giles Scott (GBR)
Ian Walker (GBR)
Ian Williams (GBR)
Female
Sarah Ayton (GBR)
Sam Davies (GBR)
Elena Kalinina (RUS)
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN)
Charline Picon (FRA)
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