Two of the past four winners of the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards for women have been match racers (Claire Leroy (FRA - 2007) and Anna Tunnicliffe (USA - 2009). Tunnicliffe is again nominated this year for her achievements in match racing.

In just one week ISAF and Rolex will welcome sailors and guests to the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2011 in Puerto Rico. The ceremony will be held in the historic Cuartel de Ballaja, a former military barracks in the mid-19th century, and an impressive backdrop to a night that welcomes some of the best sailing talent the world has seen.

The 2011 nominees are:

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
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) - ISAF Sailing World Cup Champion (women’s match racing)

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
Iker Martinez & Xabier Fernandez (ESP) - IMOCA60 and 49er Success
Nathan Outteridge (AUS) - International Moth World Champion and 49er Champion

For more information and to view all of the nominees’ profiles, please visit:
http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor