World Sailing announce three new annual global sailing awards

World Sailing Awards © World Sailing

World Sailing is pleased to announce that three new prestigious, perpetual annual global sailing awards will be introduced at the annual World Sailing Awards from 2018.

The World Sailing Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional contributions to the sport of sailing. The highlight of the annual Awards night is the presentation of the ultimate recognition of excellence - the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.

The Awards night is the social highlight of the World Sailing Annual Conference and 2018 is set to be a ground breaking edition with the introduction of the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award, the Team of the Year and the Boat of the Year.

Alongside Rolex World Sailor of the Year and the new Awards, the Beppe Croce Trophy, President Development Award and eSailing World Championship Trophy will be presented.

The World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly-replicable sustainability initiatives, aligned to the World Sailing Sustainability Agenda 2030.

"It is a great honor to be partnering with World Sailing to recognize entrepreneurship and achievements that are actively contributing to global sustainability. Around the world, the sailing and maritime communities know that our livelihoods and our passions are tied to our oceans - by promoting their work, we can use our reach and influence to create a sustainable future for our sport, while educating, innovating and inspiring people to protect and restore the health of the world's waters," Todd McGuire, 11th Hour Racing Program Director.

Submit an entry for an individual or organisation who you believe should be awarded the inaugural World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award.

The Team of the Year Award will be presented to a crew of two or more sailors from any category of sailing and will celebrate their teams who personify the sporting values of integrity, ambition, resilience and resourcefulness.

Nominations for Team of the Year are open and can be made online.

Outstanding boat design, innovative concepts and ground-breaking technological advancements that are changing the face of sailing, pioneering change across the world will be celebrated with the Boat of the Year Award.

The Award will be presented to a racing sailboat that has been scored in an International race for the first time between 1 January 2017 and 1 September 2017

Make a nomination for the Boat of the Year Award.

Nominations for the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award will open following the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018.

The 2018 World Sailing Awards will take place on 30 October 2018 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida, USA.