2026 World Sailing Awards finalists

World Sailing has selected the finalists for this year’s male and female Rolex World Sailor of the Year, male and female Young World Sailor of the Year, 11th Hour Racing Impact Award, and Team of the Year.

The winners will be decided by a combined public vote and World Sailing’s judges vote with each group contributing 50% of the decision. There are two finalists from North America for voting consideration.

Charlotte Rose (USA) had a stellar season in the Olympic ILCA 6 Class where she nearly lived on the podium, culminating with the World Championship title.

For the Impact Award, Shake-A-Leg Miami (USA) has made sailing and marine activities accessible to people with disabilities, veterans, and disadvantaged young people while promoting inclusion, independence, and personal development.

Finalists below. Voting closes at 12:00 UTC on November 2. To vote, click here.

Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists – Female
• Charlotte Rose (USA)
• Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero (ESP)
• Maria Giubilei (ITA)
• Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/rolex-world-sailor-of-the-year/rolex-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/

Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists – Male
• Thomas Coville (FRA)
• Max Maeder (SGP)
• Luuc van Opzeeland (NED)
• Matt Wearn (AUS)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/rolex-world-sailor-of-the-year/rolex-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/

Young World Sailor of the Year – Female
• Medea Falcioni (ITA)
• Vaina Picot (FRA)
• Catalina Turienzo (ARG)
• Tamar Steinberg (ISR)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/young-world-sailor-of-the-year/young-world-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/

Young World Sailor of the Year – Male
• Manuel Bragança (BRA)
• Paul Loiseau (FRA)
• Gian Andrea Stragiotti (SUI)
• Federico Pilloni (ITA)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/young-world-sailor-of-the-year/young-world-sailor-of-the-year-finalists/

World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award
• Shake-A-Leg Miami (USA)
• The Little Optimist Trust (RSA)
• Turning Point Foundation (GER)
• The Yacht Club of Hyderabad (IND)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/impact-award/11th-hour-racing-impact-award-finalists/

Team of the Year
• Diego Botin and Florian Trittel (ESP)
• Luna Rossa Team (ITA)
• Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris (GBR)
• Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush (NZL)
• The Famous Project CIC (FRA)
Details: https://sailing.org/awards/team-of-the-year/team-of-the-year-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)