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The criteria for nomination for the World Sailor of the Year Awards was "outstanding achievement" in the period 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002, and the sailors shortlisted embody the diversity and spread of the sport, both geographically and in the sailing disciplines they represent.

It is difficult to imagine the demands on one's body - whether physically, mentally or emotionally - that these sailors have gone through to get to the elite level at which they perform, and in some cases have performed over a considerable number of years, dominating in their disciplines. And there is no doubt that all these sailors deserve accolade for their accomplishments.

Nominations were openly invited, with sailing clubs, classes, individual sailors and ISAF National Authorities proposing sailors. A Shortlist Panel, chaired by ISAF President of Honour, HM King Constantine, and including last year's winners Ellen MacArthur (GBR) and Robert Scheidt (BRA), geographic and media representatives, determined the final shortlisted sailors in the male and female categories.

When it comes to determining the winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2002, it will be the ISAF Member National Authorities - the national sailing federations of the world - who will vote for the winners. Voting will close on 28 October 2002. The Awards will be presented on 12 November 2002 at a prestigious dinner and Awards Presentation which will honour the sport and these sailors' achievements. The Awards Presentation will be hosted by Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece, the 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist in the Mistral Class.

The winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards will be presented with a marble and silver trophy, consisting of a solid marble sphere depicting the world which is crowned by five silver spinnakers representing the continents. A Rolex timepiece will also be placed on the wrists of the male and female sailors accorded the honour ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2002.

The shortlisted sailors are as follows. Click on the sailors name to link to their complete biography.

Male

Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Having jumped from the Laser to America's Cup sailing, Ben returned to the Olympic circuit at the beginning of the year with his sights set on the men's single-handed event in the Finn Class. After only six months in the class Ben had won the Finn Europeans, to be followed by the Finn Gold Cup and then the 2002 Athens Test Event leaving the more experienced Finn sailors in his wake. He is currently placed at 20 on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings.

1st - Athens Test Event, August 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Finn Gold Cup, July 2002 - Grade W
1st - Finn Europeans, July 2002 - Grade 1
3rd - Laureus World Sports Awards Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 3
4th - SPA Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 1
5th - Semaine Olympique Francaise, April 2002 - Grade 1
4th - XXXIII Princess Sofia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2

John Kostecki (USA)
The winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, John and the illbruck team did not finish below 4th in any of the 9 legs of the 32,700 nautical mile circumnavigation. With bullets in 4 of the 9 legs, John's consistency, experience and strong leadership combined with excellent team preparation ensured illbruck dominated the Volvo Ocean Race from day one. To top it off the team smashed the EDS 24 hour Monohull World Speed Record during Leg 7 from Annapolis to La Rochelle.

1st - Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002
1st - Leg 1 (by 2 hours 1 minute and 7 seconds) Southampton (GBR) to Cape Town (RSA)
1st - Leg 2 (by 1 hour 13 minutes and 19 seconds) Cape Town (RSA) to Sydney (AUS)
4th - Leg 3 Sydney (AUS) via Hobart to Auckland (NZL)
1st - Leg 4 (by 5 hours and 52 minutes) Auckland (NZL) to Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
2nd - Leg 5 Rio de Janeiro (BRA) to Miami (USA)
4th - Leg 6 Miami (USA) to Baltimore (USA)
1st - Leg 7 (by 2 hours 55 minutes and 10 seconds) Baltimore (USA) to La Rochelle (FRA)
4th - Leg 8 La Rochelle (FRA) to Göteborg (SWE)
2nd - Leg 9 Göteborg (SWE) to Kiel (GER)
April 2002 - EDS 24 hour Monohull World Speed Record, a distance of 484 nautical miles at an average speed of 20.16 knots, breaking the previous record by 6 nautical miles

Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez (ESP)
With an impressive string of first place finishes at ISAF Grade 1 and Grade 2 events over the last twelve months, including claiming the World and European Championship titles, Iker and Xabier are clearly making their presence known in the 49er class. With top two results at every event they have participated in, except one, they have steadily worked their way up the World Sailing Rankings to sit at their current position of world ranked number three.

2nd - Athens Test Event, August 2002 - Grade 2
1st - 49er Europeans, July 2002 - Grade 1
1st - 49er World Championships, June 2002 - Grade W
1st - SPA Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 1
1st - Semaine Olympique Francaise, April 2002 - Grade 1
1st - XXXIII Princess Sophia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2
1st - VIII Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week, March 2002 - Grade 2
8th - Athens Eurolymp Week, February 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Christmas Race, December 2001 - Grade 2
2nd - 49er World Championships, September 2001 - Grade W

Iain Percy (GBR)
After jumping into the Star Class from the Finn a mere ten months ago, Iain, with crew Steve Mitchell, has charged his way up the World Sailing Rankings to place 5th in the world, compared to when he first entered the rankings in February 2002 placed 156th. Since then his grit, determination and sheer talent have led him to victory in one of the most hotly contested events in the Star calendar, the Star Class World Championship. Iain has also been transferring his skills to 'big boat' racing, including guiding 'Struntje Light' (GER) to 2nd place at the Farr 40 Europeans ahead of fellow nominee John Kostecki on 'Nela' (GER).

1st - Star Class World Championships, August 2002 - Grade W
2nd - Farr 40 Europeans (tactician), July 2002
1st - SPA Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 1
2nd - Star Spring Championships of the Western Hemisphere, April 2002 - Grade 1
3rd - Star European Spring Championships, April 2002 - Grade 1
4th - XXXIII Princess Sofia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2
4th - Bacardi Cup, March 2002 - Grade 1
5th - Rolex Miami OCR, January 2002 - Grade 1

Bruno Peyron (FRA)
The fastest skipper to sail non-stop around the world, Bruno smashed the Jules Verne Trophy Record by covering 28,035 nautical miles in 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds on the maxi-catamaran "Orange", breaking the record held by Olivier de Kersauson on "Sport Elec" by 7 days. Back in 1993, onboard "Commodore Explorer", Bruno became the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe in under 80 day and is understandably delighted to have reclaimed his title. "Orange" also claimed seven other records during her circumnavigation.

Jules Verne Trophy - 64 Days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds, March - May 2002
Ushant - Cape of Good Hope in 18 days, 18 hours and 40 minutes
Ushant - Cape Leeuwin in 29 days, 7 hours and 22 minutes
Cape Leeuwin - Cape Horn in 12 days, 19 hours and 30 minutes
Ushant - Cape Horn in 42 days, 2 hours and 52 minutes
Ushant - Equator in 53 days, 4 hours and 49 minutes
Equator - Ushant in 11 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes
Cape Horn - Ushant in 22 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes


Female

Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
With wins at every ISAF Grade 1 and Grade 2 event in the women's double-handed event in the 470 Class they have entered in the past 12 months, with the one exception of the ISAF World Sailing Games, Sofia and Emilia have again dominated the class. They sat firmly at the top of the ISAF World Rankings for most of the period of nomination, from September 2001 until the end of July 2002. They successfully defended both their World Champion title in September 2001 and again in September 2002 (although September 2002 was outside the period of nomination) and their European title in July 2002, retaining both titles for the third successive year.

1st - Athens Test Event, August 2002 - Grade 2
1st - 470 European Championship, July 2002 - Grade 1
16th - ISAF World Sailing Games, July 2002 - Grade 1
1st - Semaine Olympique Francaise, April 2002 - Grade 1
1st - SPA Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 1
1st - XXXIII Princess Sophia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week, March 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Athens Eurolymp Week, February 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Tzeni Gramalidou Cup, October 2001 - Grade 3
1st - 470 World Championships, September 2001 - Grade W

Christine Briand (FRA)
An all round talent from dinghies to offshore yacht racing, fleet to match racing, Christine has demonstrated her skill at a variety of events over the last 12 months, including winning for the second time the women's keelboat event at the ISAF World Sailing Games in July 2002, the first being in 1994. She raced on Amer Sports Too for the final 2 Legs of the Volvo Ocean Race as tactician with the team utilising her skill for these tactically demanding legs. On the match racing circuit, she is currently ranked 26th in the world.

1st - ISAF World Sailing Games (Women's Keelboat Event sailing a J22), August 2002
4th - Volvo Ocean Race on Amer Sports Too, Leg 9 Göteborg (SWE) to Kiel (GER), June 2002
8th - Volvo Ocean Race on Amer Sports Too - Leg 8 La Rochelle (FRA) to Göteborg (SWE), May 2002
1st - Semaine de la Rochelle (sailing a Surprise - 'Primagaz'), May 2002
1st - Grand Prix du Crouesty (sailing a J/22 - 'Primagaz'), May 2002
7th - Spi Ouest (sailing aJ/22 - 'Primagaz'), March 2002
7th - ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships, September 2001 - Grade W

Adrienne Cahalan (AUS) and Helena Darvelid (SWE)
This world renowned female navigator and skipper duo have proved to be a record-breaking success. As preparation for a Jules Verne Trophy attempt early next year on board the maxi-catamaran "Maiden II" (formerly Club Med), Adrienne and Helena have over the last 12 months been integral members of the crew and smashed record after record. Prior to their Maiden II successes they were record breaking on "Playstation". In addition to those successes listed below, but outside the achievement period, they have also demolished the Round Britain and Ireland Record and the Cowes - Dinard, St Malo Record on Maiden II.

24 hour Distance Record - 694.78nm - Maiden II (Cahalan Navigator, Darvelid Skipper), June 2002
Line Honours - Round the Island Race - Maiden II (Cahalan Navigator, Darvelid Skipper), June 2002
Antigua to Newport Record - 3 days 22 hours and 31 minutes - Maiden II (Cahalan Navigator, Darvelid Skipper), May 2002
Fastnet Course Record - 35 hours, 17 minutes and 14 seconds - Playstation (Cahalan Navigator, Darvelid Crew), March 2002
Cowes - St Malo Record - 6 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds - Playstation (Darvelid crew), December 2001
Round the Island Record - 2 hours, 33 minutes and 55 seconds - Playstation (Darvelid Crew), November 2001

Sari Multala (FIN)
Aside from a brief dip to number 2 on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, Sari has been ranked as the world's number 1 Europe sailor throughout the past year. Has topped the Europe World Rankings throughout the last 12 months except for a brief spell at number 2 in February 2002. She took the European title in July and has not finished outside the top 4 in any of the graded events she has entered.

2nd - Europe Class International Open Week, July 2002 - Grade 2
1st - Europe Class European Championships, July 2002 - Grade 1
2nd - Kieler Woche, June 2002 - Grade 2
1st - SPA Regatta, May 2002 - Grade 1
3rd - Semaine Olympique Francaise, April 2002 - Grade 1
2nd - XXXII Princess Sofia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2

Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
An outstanding twelve months for Alessandra was epitomised by her taking a bullet at every single race at the ISAF World Sailing Games in June, to be followed by an excellent start to her Athens 2004 campaign with a win at the 2002 Athens Test event in August. Most recently (although outside the achievement period) she won the Mistral European Championship in Austria.

1st - Athens Test Event, August 2002 - Grade 2 (Mistral)
1st - ISAF World Sailing Games, June 2002 - Grade 1 (Bic Techno)
1st - Semaine Olympique Francaise, April 2002 - Grade 1 (Mistral)
2nd - XXXIII Princess Sofia Trophy, March 2002 - Grade 2 (Mistral)


Full biographies, information on the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, and a fantastic downloadable screensaver are available on the Awards Website.