Many thanks to the multitude of Afloat.ie followers who have made an input into the voting - concluded on Sunday (January 30th) - which is an integral part of the selection process for the annual Afloat.ie "Irish Sailor of the Year".
This is now being worked through to a final decision by the adjudicators, and the Afloat.ie "Sailor of the Year 2021" will be announced this Saturday, February 5th.
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Created in 1996, the Afloat Sailor of the Year Awards represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene.
Since it began 25 years ago, the awards have recognised over 500 monthly award winners in the pages of Ireland's sailing magazine Afloat, and these have been made to both amateur and professional sailors. The first-ever Sailor of the Year was dinghy sailor Mark Lyttle, a race winner at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
And since then it's gone on to read like a who's who of Irish sailing.
The national award is specially designed to salute the achievements of Ireland's sailing's elite. After two decades the awards has developed into a premier awards ceremony for water sports.
The overall national award will be announced each January to the person who, in the judges' opinion, achieved the most notable results in, or made the most significant contribution to, Irish sailing in the previous year.
A review of the first 25 years of the Irish Sailor the Year Awards is here
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..
The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards began in 1996.
The awards are administered by Afloat, Ireland's boating magazine.
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.
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.
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.
Annually, generally in January or February of the following year.
In 2003 Her Royal Highness Princess Anne presented the Awards.
©Afloat 2020
Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
