ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Updated: November 14, 2011, 07:34
Anna Tunnicliffe, Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez receive awards highly anticipated announcement of the recipients of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards was made last night, Tuesday 8 November, in a ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The winners, selected from an impressive and star-studded gathering of nominees, were Anna Tunnicliffe (USA), who claimed the female award for the second time, and the two-man crew of Iker Martínez and Xabier Fernández (ESP), awarded the male prize.
The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards takes place during the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Annual Conference and gather the cream of the sailing world - top-class international sailors, officials, as well as distinguished guests. The Awards, held each November, are recognised as the highest honour a sailor may receive and celebrate outstanding achievement during the preceding twelve-month period, in this case from 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011.
Anna Tunnicliffe has become only the third female nominee in the 18-year history of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards to be awarded the honour for a second time, following in the footsteps of Ellen MacArthur (GBR) in 2001 and 2005 as well as Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE) in 2002 and 2004. Tunnicliffe's triumph arrives on the back of another year of achievement in which she became the ISAF Sailing World Cup champion in Women's Match Racing.
Away from the match-racing circuit, Tunnicliffe has proved her versatility, notably in becoming the Snipe Women's World Champion. She expressed her delight, and surprise, with the announcement, admitting, "It is so amazing to win the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award again, and I truly did not expect it this year, as I was up against so many great competitors, and so many fine accomplishments. When I first read the bios of all the competitors, it is pretty impressive and then when they showed the videos of everybody it puts it all into a new perspective - you know you are up against great competition."
An intense period awaits Tunnicliffe, with multiple challenges lying ahead in 2012. The most significant of which lies in the form of qualification for the United States team for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The final trials will take place in Weymouth, England in the spring of next year.
Joy at last for Spanish pair
It is a case of third time lucky for Iker Martínez and Xabier Fernández. The world's greatest sailing duo have twice been nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards. In 2002, they missed out to three-time winner Ben Ainslie, before Brazilian Robert Scheidt took the plaudits in 2004. Eleven years on from their first nomination, these sailing legends may now, deservedly, see their name inscribed in the list of the sport's greats. It is the second time a Spanish crew has won the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award following Tornado World Champions Fernando Echavarri and Antón Paz back in 2005.
The Spanish duo were unable to attend the Award ceremony as, fittingly, they are currently at sea competing for Team Telefónica in the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. It is their third Volvo Ocean Race: Martínez is skippering the 10-strong crew, Fernández is the main trimmer. Through a video feed recorded on the Team Telefónica boat, the pair confirmed that they will be celebrating this prestigious achievement despite the immediate distractions of an ocean race, commenting, "The Award is recognition for all the sacrifices and hard work not only throughout the last 12 months, but also during the last 12 years. It's a prize for our families, who have been suffering because of our absences for such a long time without complaining. This is for them."
Offshore sailing has become a recent obsession for the pair and far from limited to the Volvo Ocean Race. On New Year's Eve 2010, they embarked on their first double-handed non-stop round the world race aboard the IMOCA60 MAPFRE having relatively little experience in the class. The Basque duo had to adapt to new, complicated technology and train themselves to be able to handle the inevitable onboard repairs which form part of offshore racing. A far cry from Olympic sailing and races lasting under an hour.
Fourteen boats started the Barcelona World Race and after just ten months of training aboard an IMOCA60, Martínez and Fernández returned to Barcelona in second place. They completed the 25,000 mile course in 94 days, 21 hours, 17 minutes and 35 seconds and picked up the Pacific Trophy for the fastest boat to complete the Cook Strait to Cape Horn section of the race.
The twosome declared before the race that they would happily relinquish overall victory in favour of competing the race without stopping. They were true to their pledge and needed no external assistance on route, despite dwindling food supplies during the final week. The winning boat - Virbac-Paprec 3 - which finished a day earlier, was forced to make an interruption. Poignantly, Martínez and Fernández were the first Spaniards to finish amongst a highly competitive fleet although the physical aspect of the race took its toll, perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that Fernández lost 17kg and Martínez 10kg during the three months at sea.
For over a decade this incredible sailing team has stood at the forefront of the sport and they show no signs of relaxing, with many ambitions still to fulfil.
Proud achievers?In addition to the two winners, the list of nominees for the 2011 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award included:
Female?Dee Caffari (GBR) - Record Breaking Round The World Yachtswoman?Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU) - Double Professional Windsurfing Association World Champion?Alexandra Rickham (GBR) - ISAF Sailing World Cup Champion and IFDS World Champion
Male?Ben Ainslie (GBR) - Match Racing World Champion & ISAF Sailing World Cup Champion?Lorenzo Bressani (ITA) - Melges 24 and 32 World Champion?Rob Douglas (USA) - Outright World Speed Record Holder?Nathan Outteridge (AUS) - International Moth World Champion and 49er Champion
Due to their very active lives on the water, a number of nominees, in addition to Martínez and Fernández, were unable to attend the Awards, including Ben Ainslie, Nathan Outteridge and Alexandra Rickham. Those present at the ceremony, reflected on their successful achievements and pride in being nominated.
Outright world speed record holder Rob Douglas (USA) said, "Looking back today [at his successful record-breaking attempt] it is still very emotional. It is probably one of the biggest moments of my life. In terms of the level of stress it is like taking a car travelling 65 miles per hour and stepping out the door when going down the highway!"
An enthusiastic Professional Windsurfer Association World Champion Women's Freestyle and World Champion Women's Slalom, Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU) commented, "I love windsurfing a lot. It was pretty special when I read I was nominated but then I arrived here and began feeling nervous, it is such a great feeling to be recognised for your achievements."
Dee Caffari, the first woman to sail around the world non-stop three times, added, "I love being out on the ocean. Sailing with somebody else [double-handed at the Barcelona World Race] can be very heightened emotionally as you don't normally spend that intense amount of time with another person. It is quite a test having that other person there for three months non-stop but we really enjoyed it."
Meanwhile, Melges 24 and 32 champion Lorenzo Bressani said, "I am an instinctive sailor who prefers strong conditions. I enjoy both being a tactician and steering the boat."
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards?The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards have been held every year since 1994 and past winners include Peter Blake (NZL), Ellen MacArthur (GBR), Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ben Ainslie (GBR) and Russell Coutts (SUI). In 2010 the Awards were presented to Tom Slingsby (AUS) and Blanca Manchón (ESP).
The next edition of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards will be held in Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland in November 2012.
