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Carmel will be formally presented with her award at the ISA National Conference & Awards Dinner (3 and 4 February 2007 at the Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin). At the Awards Dinner Carmel will receive a prize cheque for €1,250, made payable to the club which originally submitted her nomination - the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire.

'We are continually amazed at the time and energy invested by volunteers around the country', explained Harry HERMON, ISA Chief Executive. 'Since 2001 this award allows their work to be acknowledged and we wish we could give a presentation to everyone who toils away in their particular club or class. We are delighted that Carmel Winkelmann is this year's ISA Volunteer of the Year.'

The depth of Carmel's volunteer work is awe inspiring and spans almost 50 years. A woman in what was in the early days very much a male dominated arena, Carmel WINKELMANN continually shows outstanding dedication & commitment to the sport of sailing. As Vice President, Carmel was the first female flag officer of the Irish Yachting Association, as the ISA was formerly known.

In the early days her drive was particularly evident when she focused on junior training. As a key member of the ISA Junior Organiser Committee which helped shape and develop the ISA Training Schemes she was closely involved in promoting the first ISA Junior Training Course in the National Yacht Club way back in 1967. Her passion for the development and promotion of ISA Training Schemes ensures that many of today's hot shots first put their foot in the water via programmes Carmel helped to pioneer.

Carmel's huge contribution to sailing in the early years is matched by her current activities. Carmel is a member of the ISA Race Management Advisory Committee which is responsible for the development of ISA Race Officer Training Programmes. Thus she is instrumental in ensuring that Ireland has a panel of highly professional race management personnel who operate to the highest international standards.

A keen volunteer for Dublin Bay Sailing Club for the past 35 years, Carmel is involved in the management of their racing. Three times a week, during summer months, one of the world's biggest racing series takes place on Dublin Bay with over 350 boats and 1,500 sailors competing.

Carmel Winkelmann is a member of the National Yacht Club, the Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club.

Previous winners of the ISA Volunteer of the Year Award include:
Alan ALGEO, Lough Ree Yacht Club 2005
Gus HENRY, Sligo Yacht Club 2004
Don O'DOWD, Royal St George Yacht Club 2003
Kieran MILNER, Mullingar Sailing Club 2002
Charles SARGENT, Sutton Dinghy Club 2001

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