World Sailing has announced the finalists for this year’s male and female Rolex World Sailor of the Year, male and female Kuehne+Nagel Young World Sailor of the Year, 11th Hour Racing Impact Award, and Team of the Year.
DID YOU LIKE THIS CONTENT? WELL... YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR FULL PROGRAMS HERE!The finalists include The America’s Cup winners, multi-time offshore champions, world champions, trailblazers and organisations committed to making a difference to the global sailing community. Each finalist impressed the judging panel with their achievements over the past year. Amongst these, it is important to highlight the young promise from the Club Nàutic s'Arenal, Marta Cardona.
The young talent from Club Nàutic s’Arenal, Marta Cardona, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by becoming World Champion in the Mixed 470 class at just 20 years old, alongside her teammate Jordi Xammar, with whom she began competing at the start of 2025.
Since then, Marta has accumulated a series of remarkable successes in the Mixed 470 class with her partner: they were crowned champions at the Mallorca Sailing Center Regatta, finished sixth at the prestigious Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Fergus Hotels, won gold at the European Championship in Croatia, became World Champions, and secured silver at Kiel Week at the end of June. They were also honored with the Best Pre-Olympic Team award by the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona during the 40th Trofeo Príncipe de Asturias. Achieving all these milestones at such a young age establishes Marta Cardona as one of the brightest emerging talents in international sailing.
Voting for all World Sailing Awards opens today and everyone who loves sailing is invited to help decide the winners. Voting closes at 23:00 UTC on Sunday 26 October.
The public vote will make up 50% of the final decisions with 50% contributed by World Sailing's expert panels.
This year’s awards will be announced at a live ceremony on Wednesday 5 November in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, where the President’s Development Award, Beppe Croce Trophy and the World Sailing Technology Award will also be presented.
Award Shortlists
Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists - Male
Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists - Female
Kuenhe+Nagel Young World Sailor of the Year – Female
Kuehne+Nagel Young World Sailor of the Year – Male
Launched in 1994, the World Sailor of the Year are recognised as the highest award a sailor can receive in recognition of their outstanding achievements by the world of sailing.
The Awards are presented to sailors by sailors. Two Awards, one for a female sailor/crew and one for a male sailor/crew, are presented each year during the World Sailing Annual Conference in November. Sailors selected as nominees for the awards may represent any aspect of the sport.
Launched in 2018 as the Sustainability Award, the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award was expanded in 2025 to cover positive impact in environmental footprint and social outcomes through sailing, and celebrates significant contributions to sustainability in sailing by individuals and teams.
The 11th Hour Racing Impact Award is the highest recognition of success in marine sustainability. The winners receive an iconic trophy, made from recycled carbon fibre sourced from an America’s Cup boat and infused with bio-resin and a $10,000 USD prize to help further their sustainability activities.
Public voting was introduced in 2020 to engage with the wider international sailing community.
Past winners of the award have all demonstrated a commitment to reducing their environmental impact and raising awareness around conservation.
The Club de Vela Puerto de Andratx launches a cry for helpAGENDA from October 17th to 23rd: Portitxol, national location of moored ships 
