Envelope, please: World Sailing Awards

The World Sailing Awards winners were revealed during the organization’s annual conference which was held in 2025 on November 5 in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. The finalists in six categories were previously revealed on October 17.

Voting for these World Sailing Awards combined a public vote which made up 50% of the final decisions with 50% contributed by World Sailing’s expert panels.

Additionally, the President’s Development Award, Beppe Croce Trophy, and the World Sailing Technology Award recipients were determined by World Sailing.

Click here for the World Sailing report. Below are the winners as they were announced:

• Bernard Bonneau was recognized for his contributions in the field of race officiating and governance.
• Jevan Tan led an initiative that integrates sailing as an educational platform to promote sustainability, resilience, interdependence, and responsible action in Singapore.
• Vakaros has transformed water-based event management for all levels, from club races to world championships.

Emirates Team New Zealand won the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona in October 2024, making history with the team’s third win in succession.

Details on the finalists: https://www.sailing.org/awards/team-of-the-year/team-of-the-year-finalists/

At 20 years old, Marta won the 470 mixed World and European Championships, while 13-year-old Nikolaos won the 2025 Optimist World Championship against 213 athletes.

Details on the finalists: https://www.sailing.org/awards/young-world-sailor-of-the-year/young-world-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/

Details on the finalists: https://www.sailing.org/awards/sustainability-award/11th-hour-racing-impact-award-finalists/

Previous recipients of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award:
2025 Charlie Dalin (FRA) and Justine Mettraux (SUI)
2024 Diego Botin and Florian Trittel (ESP), Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
2023 Tom Slingsby (AUS), Kirsten Neuschäfer (RSA)
2022 Ruggero Tita (ITA), Caterina Banti (ITA)
2021 Hannah Mills MBE (GBR) & Eilidh McIntyre (GBR), Tom Slingsby (AUS)
2020 Not awarded
2019 Marco Gradoni (ITA), Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN)
2018 Pavlos Kontides (CYP), Carolijn Brouwer (NED) / Marie Riou (FRA)
2017 Peter Burling (NZL), Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
2016 Santiago Lange (ARG), Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark (GBR).
2015 Peter Burling & Blair Tuke (NZL), Sarah Ayton (GBR)
2014 James Spithill (AUS), Martine Grael & Kahena Kunze (BRA)
2013 Mat Belcher (AUS), Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie (NZL)
2012 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Lijia Xu (CHN)
2011 Iker Martinez & Xabier Fernandez (ESP), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2010 Tom Slingsby (AUS), Blanca Manchon (ESP)
2009 Torben Grael (BRA), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
2007 Ed Baird (USA), Claire Leroy (FRA)
2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL), Paige Railey (USA)
2005 Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz (ESP), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2003 Russell Coutts (SUI), Siren Sundby (NOR)
2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA), Shirley Robertson (GBR)
1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL), Margriet Matthijse (NED)
1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
1997 Pete Goss (GBR), Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
1996 Jochen Schümann (GER), Lai Shan Lee (HKG)
1995 Russell Coutts (NZL), Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), Theresa Zabell (ESP)

Justine Mettraux of Switzerland became the fastest female to take part in the Vendee Globe, finishing eighth and setting a record for the fastest single-handed, non-stop, monohull circumnavigation by a woman, with a time of 76 days, 1 hour and 36 minutes.

Charlie Dalin of France placed first in the 10th edition of the quadrennial Vendée Globe race around the world that took place in 2024–2025 completing the race within a time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds, smashing the previous record by 9 days, 8 hours, 12 minutes and 57 seconds.

Details on the finalists: https://www.sailing.org/awards/rolex-world-sailor-of-the-year/rolex-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/