New Zealand sailor Peter Burling has been announced as the 2020 winner of the prestigious Magnus Olsson Prize.

Awarded annually by the Mange Olsson Foundation to an individual who has made an indelible contribution to the world of sailing, the prize’s previous recipients include Torben Grael, Sir Ben Ainslie, Stan Honey, Santiago Lange, Grant Dalton and Carolijn Brouwer.

Peter Burling, from Tauranga in New Zealand, is by far the youngest winner of the prize. Despite his young age (29), Burling has an impressive CV, with an Olympic gold and silver medal and nine World Championship titles to his name.

Burling stood out as watch captain and helmsman with Team Brunel in the 2017–18 edition of The Ocean Race, finishing third overall.

The America’s Cup winner has also twice been named as ISAF World Sailor of the Year, most recently in 2017.

“It’s a great honor to be acknowledged by the Mange Olsson Memorial Foundation for this award,” Burling said of the news.

“Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet Magnus but his epic race in Ericssonc 3 in the 2008-09 edition of the Ocean Race definitely inspired my Round the World path.”

Burling is currently preparing to defend the America’s Cup on home waters in March 2021 with teammates Emirates Team New Zealand, quickly followed by the launch of his NZ SailGP team in April and the Tokyo Olympics in August.

This Thursday 26 November, Burling will receive the Magnus Olsson Prize 2020 via a virtual prize-giving event. The ceremony starts at 7pm CET.

#WorldSailor - America’s Cup winner Peter Burling has been named ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year — only the second Kiwi sailor to take the prize more than once.

The New Zealander, who previously shared the honour with compatriot Blair Tuke in 2015, was confirmed as the 2017 winner at a ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last night (Tuesday 7 November).

But Burling was unable to be there in person, as he’s currently busy on the deck of Team Brunel off the coast of North West Africa as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet slogs it out in the trade winds on their run south towards the doldrums.

Their first big strategic hurdle looms large in the first of several climate zone transitions the fleet will have to make on the way to Cape Town.

As of Wednesday afternoon (8 November), just four nautical miles separates first-placed Vestas 11th Hour Racing from Team AkzoNobel in fourth, with Burling’s Brunel boat losing some ground another 50 miles behind in fifth.

Mark Chisnell reviews their options for the Volvo Ocean Race website HERE.