Leroy and Baird are ISAF Sailors of the Year

by Richard Gladwell on 7 Nov 2007
It has just been announced in Portugal that Claire Leroy (FRA) has been named Female Sailor of the Year, and Ed Baird (USA) the Male Sailor of the Year.

Leroy is the pre-eminent womens matchracer and along with her Ideactor Team, she has been the # 1 skipper on the ISAF Women’s World Match Race Rankings since May 2005 .

Leroy kicked off the nomination period in September 2006 representing France and winning the ISAF Nations Cup at the Grand Final in Ireland. Since then she has finished on the podium at all of the women’s events she has entered and also taken on the open fleet at three events, the first of which she won.

The nomination period concluded on a high for Leroy when, on her home waters in St Quay Portrieux, France she claimed the gold medal at the Grade W ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Leroy finished the Round Robin stage without losing a single flight, marched through the quarter-finals before making a well earned come back in the semi-finals to advance to the final. Fresh from claiming her first World title, Leroy went to the the European Championships in Spain and once again topped the podium.

Skippered by Claire Leroy, Team Ideactor are: Morgane Gautier, Ingrid Cerrato, Ophélie Theron, Dorothéé Martin and Elodie Bertrand.

1 - ISAF Nations Cup, Crosshaven, IRL - ISAF Grade 1 - Sep 2006
3 - European Championship MR 555, Lauria, ITA - ISAF Grade 2 - Sep 2006
3 - Rolex Osprey Cup, St Petersburg, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2006
1 - JP Morgan Asset Management Winter Challenge 5, Staines, GBR - ISAF Grade 3 - Jan 2007 (open)
2 - JP Morgan Asset Management Women's Winter Challenge, Staines, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2007
10 - JP Morgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Final, Staines, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2007 (open)
1 - Spring Cup in St Quay, St Quay Portrieux, FRA - ISAF Grade 3 - Apr 2007
1 - IX International Women's Match Race Criterium, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2007
2 - Boat US Santa Maria Cup, Annapolis, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2007
14 - GKSS Match Cup, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade W - Jul 2007 (open)
3 - Portugal Women's Cup, Troia, POR - ISAF Grade 1 - Jul 2007
1 - ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, St Quay, France - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2007
1 - Women's Match Race European Championships, Punta Lagoa, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 – Aug 2007

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (22 August 2007) – # 1

In accepting award, Leroy commented: 'Sailing is a wonderful team sport. 'This year has been incredible- thank you so much for your support, it will contribute greatly to our time in the Olympics.'

Baird was announced as the helmsman of Alinghi, winners of the 32nd America’s Cup, just one day before the first match.

Clinching victory at both of the UBS Defender Trials in Dubai, UAE, Baird staked his claim on the position early in 2007. He was selected again for the Louis Vuitton Act 13 in April, the last time Alinghi would face any of the Challengers before the America’s Cup and duly picked up another victory for the team. A truly professional sportsman, Baird is an America’s Cup veteran and a formidable match racer who always strives to improve. Baird’s focus and exceptional talent on the helm steered Alinghi to an outstanding victory in some incredibly close racing against Louis Vuitton Cup winners, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ).

The first match went to Alinghi but with ETNZ picking up the next two, Alinghi dug deep to win three on the bounce bringing the score to four-two and needing just one more win.

The seventh, potentially deciding, match was another nail biter. ETNZ spent much of the race ahead but never quite gained a solid advantage. With just a few metres separating the two as they approached the final upwind mark, the crucial position of Alinghi and a perfect dial down from Baird forced Emirates Team New Zealand to concede a penalty.

It looked like Alinghi had secured the win but an enormous wind shift put the finish line upwind leaving ETNZ able to lay it and Alinghi struggling to drop their spinnaker. Down on speed as they completed their penalty, ETNZ could only watch as Baird steered Alinghi across the line just one second ahead and winning the America’s Cup.

2 - Allianz Cup, San Francisco, USA - ISAF Grade WC - Oct 2006
1 - UBS Defender Trials, Dubai, UAE - Jan-Feb 2007
1 - UBS Defender Trials, Dubai, UAE - Feb 2007
1 - Louis Vuitton Act 13, Valencia, ESP - Apr 2007
1 - 32nd America’s Cup, Valencia, ESP - Jun-Jul 2007

Ed Baird took to the stage and in a voice that showed true emotion he said, 'this has been a massive effort by a big, big team. The America's Cup is a dream for us all, but our sport is so much more than that. I would really like to acknowledge all of you who are here in support. Thank you.'

Voting on the awards is done by each of the MNA's (Member National Autorities) from around the world, and not by a Selection Panel.