What is the Irish Sailor of the Year Award?

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards is a scheme designed by Afloat magazine to represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene.

When did the Irish Sailor of the Year Awards begin?

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards began in 1996.

Who runs the Irish Sailor of the Year Awards?

The awards are administered by Afloat, Ireland's boating magazine.

Who are the past winners of the Irish Sailors of the Year Award?

1996 Mark Lyttle 1997 Tom Roche 1998 Tom Fitzpatrick & David McHugh 1999 Mark Mansfield 2000 David Burrows 2001 Maria Coleman 2002 Eric Lisson 2003 Noel Butler & Stephen Campion 2004 Eamonn Crosbie 2005 Paddy Barry & Jarlath Cunnane 2006 Justin Slattery 2007 Ger O'Rourke 2008 Damian Foxall 2009 Mark Mills 2010 Anthony O'Leary 2011 George Kenefick 2012 Annalise Murphy 2013 David Kenefick 2014 Anthony O'Leary 2015 Liam Shanahan 2016 Annalise Murphy 2017 Conor Fogerty 2018 Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove 2019 Paul O'Higgins

Is there a public vote in the Sailor of the Year Awards?

Yes. The boating public and maritime community can have their say to help guide judges in deciding who should be crowned Ireland's Sailor of the Year by using an Afloat online poll). The judges welcome the traditional huge level of public interest in helping them make their decision but firmly retain their right to make the ultimate decision for the final choice while taking voting trends into account. By voting for your favourite nominee, you are creating additional awareness of their nomination and highlighting their success.

Has anyone won the Irish Sailor of the Year Award more than once?

Anthony O'Leary of Crosshaven and Annalise Murphy of Dun Laoghaire are the only contenders to be Afloat.ie "Sailors of the Year" twice – himself in 2010 and 2014, and herself in 2012 and 2016

What type of achievements wins the Irish Sailor of the Year Award?

In its 25 year history, there have been wins for 15, offshore or IRC achievements, nine dinghy and one designs accomplishments and one for adventure sailing.

When is the Sailor of the Year Announced?

Annually, generally in January or February of the following year.

Any famous names involved?

In 2003 Her Royal Highness Princess Anne presented the Awards.

Irish Sailor of the Year Award to be Announced at 2023 Irish Sailing Awards in Howth

13th March 2024

Afloat.ie Team

Class of 2023 - The Irish Sailors of the Year of 2023 (clockwise from top left): Adrienne Cahalane, Paul O'Higgins, Chris Bateman, Pamela Lee, Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey, Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt, Niall and Ronan O'Briain, Rocco Wright, Anthony O'Leary, Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain, Justin Slattery, Tiernan Roe, Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberg, Tom Nolan, Nigel Young and Will Byrne, Andy Thompson, Duncan Sclare, Barry Cunningham, Jame and David Dwyer, Eve McMahon, Ron O'Hanley, Gary McMahon, Cillian Dickson, John Minnis, Sienna Wright, Aongus O Cualain, David Beattie, Cian Guilfoyle, Russell Bolger, Jack Fahy and UCD team, Rory Whyte, Tom Higgins, Micheal O'Suilleabhain, Ann Kirwan, Johnny Murphy, Don O'Dowd, Harry Dunne, Finn Lynch, Lawrie Smith, Dave O'Shea, Seamus O’Connor, Tom Dolan and Dave Kenefick

The Irish Sailor of the Year Award will be presented on Friday, March 22nd, at the Irish Sailing Awards in Howth Yacht Club, Co. Dublin.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the announcement of the 2023 winner, chosen from a pool of nominees representing all fields of sailing that have already won Sailor of the Month Awards from Afloat, Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine.

The Awards Night recognises both the young talent representing Ireland on the international stage and the clubs, volunteers and training centres that are setting standards in leadership and teaching, according to the Irish Sailing Association.

As always, the range of talent is impressive with the annual battle for Irish Sailor of the Year including Olympic hopefuls Finn Lynch, Eve McMahon and Robert Dickson, Offshore legends Pamela Lee and Tom Dolan, UCD’s 1st Team who took a historic win at the British Team Racing Varsities, Wicklow rowers Tom Nolan, Shane Culleton, Derek McMullen, and brothers Diarmuid and Gearoid O Briain who were all part of the ‘Row Hard or Go Home’ crew who set an east-west record from the Canaries during their Atlantic crossing.

This year will also see three new Awards up for grabs, including Class of the Year – representing the different classes of sail racing, Secondary School of the Year and the inaugural Woman on the Water Award, a special award celebrating female success and contribution to the sport of sailing.

There are six sailors nominated in the Youth Sailor category, including Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club, who took home bronze at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Brazil last year, Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey, European 29er Female Champions; Ben O’ Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain of the National Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club respectively, Irish National Champions, European Overall Champions who then also took Bronze in their class in Brazil, David Evans of Sligo Yacht Club, u19 winner at the Mirror Worlds, Clemintine and Nathan Van Steenberge, 29er World Champions from National Yacht Club and 4.2 Topper World Champion Rory Wright of Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Of the new categories, Irish Sailing is particularly proud to present the Woman on the Water Award, which boasts three nominees, all of whom continue to inspire and promote Irish sailing on domestic and international platforms.

Tim Bourke, CEO of Irish Sailing said, “2023 has been a terrific year for Irish Sailing. We are particularly looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our youth sailors who continue to punch well above their weight on the international stage as well as acknowledging the hard, important work done by Clubs, Training Centres, instructors, coaches and volunteers throughout the country. With an Olympic year beckoning, we look forward with ambition and optimism at the future of Irish Sailing.”

The categories and nominations for 2023 are as follows:

Irish Sailor of the Year

Anthony O’Leary - Cape 31
Chris Bateman – 29er&49er
David Beattie
Russell Bolger – Junior Champion
Lucia Cullen & Alana Twomey - 29er
Barry Cunningham – J109 National Champion
Rob Dickson & Sean Waddilove – Olympic Qualification 49er
Tom Dolan - Figaro
Harry Dunne - Opti
Jame Dwyer - Swuzzlebubble
Cian Guilfoyle – Cara (Rolex Fastnet Race Winner)
Jack Fahy & UCD Sailing 1st – Oxford Top gun Winner’s and British Varsities winners
David Kenefick - 1720
Pamela Lee – Transat Jacque Vabre
Finn Lynch – Olympic Qualification ILCA 7
Gary McMahon
Cian McCarthy & Sam Hunt
Eve McMahon - Olympic Qualification ILCA 7
Micheal O’Suilleabhain & UCC Sailing – Student Yachting Nationals and Varsities Champions
John Minnis
John Murphy
Aongus O’Cualain
Niall & Ronan O’Brian
Seamus O’Connor
Don O’Dowd
Ron O’Hanley - Privateer
Paul O’Higgins - J109
Ben O’Shaughnessy & Ethan Spain – 29er European Champions
David O’Shea
Tiernan Roe
Duncan Sclare
Lawrie Smith
Tom Higgins, UCD Sailing – Match Racing
Clementine & Nathan Van Steenberge – 29er World Champions
Rory Whyte - Topper
Rocco Wright – ILCA 7
Sienna Wright – Bronze at ILCA 6 Youth Worlds
Ann Kirwin – Service to Sailing
Nigel Young & Will Byrne - offshore
Cillian Dickson & Headcase
Wicklow Rowers, Go Hard Or Go Home

Irish Youth Sailor of the Year
Ben O'Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain, National Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club
Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberge, National Yacht Club
Lucia Cullen & Alana Twomey, Royal Saint George Yacht Club & Royal Cork Yacht Club
Rory Whyte, WHSC, Royal Cork Yacht Club
Sienna, Wright, Howth Yacht Club
David Evans, Sligo Yacht Club

Irish Sailing Cruising Award
Cormac McDonnacha, Galway Bay Sailing Club
Catherine O'Brien, Howth Yacht Club
Trish and Justin McDonough, Crosshaven Cork

Irish Sailing Club of the Year
Bantry Sailing Club
Howth Yacht Club
Galway Bay Sailing Club

Irish Sailing Training Centre of the Year
PowerBoat West
Heir Island Sailing School
Irish Offshore Sailing

Irish Sailing Class of the Year (New)
Fireball
Ruffian
ILCA

Irish Sailing Volunteer of the Year
Margaret Hynes, Cullaun Sailing Club
Maurice Collins, Royal Cork Yacht Club
Kathryn Kingston, Bantry Bay Sailing Club
Fintan Cairns, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Aisling Gillen, Sligo Yacht Club
Kevin Doyle, Royal Saint George Yacht Club

Irish Sailing School of the Year (New)
St.Andrews College
Schull Community College
Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin an Cheathru Rua

Irish Sailing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award
Leonie Conway, Sailing into Wellness
Joanne Murphy, Irish Sailing
Noel Conlon, Mayo Sailing Club

Irish Sailing Senior Instructor of the Year
Sophie Crosbie, Royal Cork Yacht Club
Adam Roche, Killaloe Sailing & UL Adventure
Cian Lynch, Royal St George Yacht Club

Woman on the Water Award (New)
Pamela Lee, Offshore Sailing
Katy Mullins, Sailing into Wellness
Aideen Kilkelly, Galway Hookers Sailing Club

Irish Sailing President’s Award
This is a special award in recognition of outstanding achievement Irish sailing.

Published in Sailor of the Year, Howth YC, ISA

Published in Sailor of the Year

Tagged under

Irish Sailor of the Year Award

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