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Marco Gradoni
becomes youngest Rolex World Sailor of the Year and Anne-Marie Rindom receives
female honour
Italy’s Marco Gradoni was crowned the 2019
male Rolex World Sailor of the Year on Tuesday 29 October in Bermuda, becoming
the youngest ever recipient, at the World Sailing Awards. Anne-Marie Rindom of
Denmark received the female accolade to follow in the footsteps of the all-time
great sailors.
Gradoni, at 15 years old, was crowned Rolex World Sailor of the Year for his
success in the Optimist class, having won three consecutive World Championship
titles, the first sailor to ever achieve this result.
Rindom has dominated the Laser Radial over the last 12 months and found rhythm
that was unrivalled as she secured her second world title, which has
highlighted her as a favourite for Tokyo 2020 gold.
The World Sailing Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional contributions
to the sport of sailing. It is the social highlight of World Sailing’s Annual
Conference and recognises success throughout the sport.
Alongside the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the F50 used in SailGP
received the Goslings Boat of the Year Award, while Wizard won the Hempel Team
of the Year Award following their success in offshore racing.
For setting a benchmark in sustainability, the RYA / The Green Blue received
the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award.
The Beppe Croce Trophy was awarded posthumously to Jeff Martin, who dedicated
his life to sailing through his involvement in the Laser class, and the
President’s Development Award went to Oman Sail, for growing the sport in their
nation and region.
Gradoni becomes the youngest recipient of the Rolex World
Sailor of the Year
Italy’s Marco Gradoni is the most accomplished sailor of his age group and from
September 2018 he won every single Optimist event he participated in, securing
14 gold medals.
He won the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Optimist World Championship and made
history in 2019, winning the largest Optimist World Championship in Antigua.
Facing 250 sailors from 65 nations, he excelled and also spearheaded the
Italian team to the Optimist Team Racing Championship title.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony he commented, “It’s a dream come true to be sat
here in Bermuda with the best sailors of the world. It is something really
amazing for me. The list of previous winners are the most famous people of
sailing and to be with them is unbelievable but I know that I have to stay
focused on my goals because this is important. I’m speechless because this is a
dream come true. It is such an honour for me.
“Since 2017 I have worked a lot and tried to stay focused. Every day I thought
about where I had to improve and study and do things at my best level and it
worked. From 2017 I won a lot and in the last 12 months I have won everything.
I’d like to thank my mum for supporting me.”
Rindom’s dominance recognised with Rolex World Sailor of the
Year honour
The road to an Olympic Games has its ups and downs and regular success is often
hard to come by. Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom has found form at the right time
ahead of Tokyo 2020 and has been the leading Laser Radial sailor in 2019.
She secured her second world title in 2019 and that success has not been
isolated; throughout 2019 she has secured gold medals at four high-profile
events.
Before she headed to Japan for the 2019 World Championship, Rindom secured gold
at the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Regatta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. She
then topped the standings at her second consecutive event after she won in
light and challenging wind conditions at the Hempel World Cup Series event in
Genoa, Italy. Just weeks later she made it three in a row by securing the
European Championship title in Porto, Portugal, moving to World #1 as a result.
On her achievements, Rindom commented, “To become Rolex World Sailor of the
Year and joining a list of legends is truly amazing. I’m so delighted to be on
that list and it’s a great honour for me. It meant a lot to be nominated and I
was very happy and excited to just be here but to win it is amazing. I have got
my sister here with me. She’s come all this way and we’re only here for 50
hours so tonight we will celebrate and fly home tomorrow morning.
“This year has been the best year of my career so far so I’m very pleased with
how it’s going. We are training for next year, the Olympic year, so it’s going
to be an important year.”
RYA / The Green Blue set benchmark to win the World Sailing
11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award
Throughout 2018 and 2019, the RYA / The Green Blue, a joint environmental
programme, upped their sustainability efforts and reached significant numbers
of individual sailors. For this, they secured the World Sailing 11th Hour
Racing Sustainability Award.
The Green Blue’s main objective is to empower boaters to take action on
sustainability through providing clear training and guidance on key issues.
They provide extensive advice to the British boating community in print and
online, train instructors and deliver workshops with clubs and centres
throughout the year.
Through industry events, club conferences and delivery through the RYA’s and
British Marine’s training programmes, they continue to engage sailors within
the nation.
Kate Fortnam, RYA Campaigns Manager at the RYA, received the Award from World
Sailing Vice-President Jan Dawson and Jill Savery, Sustainability Director,
11th Hour Racing.
Savery commented, "Congratulations to the Royal Yachting Association / The
Green Blue for rising to the top of a great pool of candidates for the 2019
World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award.
“I applaud their commitment to developing practical tools and resources to help
the sailing community adopt sustainable solutions and operations. This work
directly supports the World Sailing Agenda 2030 goals, and our mission at 11th
Hour Racing to protect and restore the health of our ocean."
Wizard claim Hempel Team of the Year
David and Peter Askew’s team on Wizard received the Hempel Team of the Year
Award after a highly successful 2019 where they dominated the offshore circuit.
Wizard took the Award ahead of Alinghi, the Australian SailGP Team and Wild Oats
XI.
Skippered by Charlie Enright, the team featured offshore veterans such as Will
Oxley, Richard Clarke and Mark Towill and won the 2019 RORC Caribbean 600
Trophy, the West to East Transat Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2019.
Stan Honey, leading oceanic sailor, received the award from World Sailing
Vice-President Yann Rocherieux on behalf of the Askew brothers.
Supercharged F50 secures Goslings Boat of the Year Award
For its cutting-edge technology that has been carefully developed over the past
ten years, the F50 beat the Sunfast 3300 and Ichi Ban to the Goslings Boat of
the Year Award.
Launched for SailGP, the fan-centric grand prix racing circuit, the F50 is a
high-tech, one design class and is powered by a 24-metre wingsail and flies above
the water on hydrofoils which has produced a 15% performance gain in comparison
to its predecessor, the AC50.
SailGP features a fleet of six F50s, three of which are complete new builds.
Compared to the AC50, they have been extensively modified with new foils and
board cases, new rudders and elevators, new hydraulics and electronics, a new
cockpit layout for five crew, a new steering system, and a new flight control
system operated by a joystick.
Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP, attended to receive the Award from World
Sailing Vice-President Torben Grael on behalf of the F50.
Jeff Martin posthumously awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy
Jeff Martin was posthumously awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy after he sadly
passed away in January this year. Angie Martin, Jeff’s wife, received the
trophy from World Sailing President Kim Andersen and Vice-President, Gary
Jobson.
Martin dedicated his life to sailing and more specifically, the Laser class.
His engagement with sailors and members worldwide undoubtedly enabled more
countries to compete internationally. This subsequently enabled more nations to
participate in the Olympic Games and established a legacy for these nations
from elite sailing to the grassroots.
In 1981, Jeff became an International Judge and an International Race Officer
and Measurer in November 1998. His involvement in World Sailing started in 1991
and he served as Vice Chairman of the Classes Committee from 1991 to 1994 and
again from 1999 to 2000. In 2001 he became Chairman of the Classes Committee
and a Council representative and held the post through to 2016.
His work worldwide through the Laser saw friendships form with sailors, race
officials and global sports administrators. He has left a true legacy to
sailing and to all those who were lucky enough to cross his path.
Oman Sail’s development recognised
The President’s Development Award is awarded to those who strive to develop and
grow the sport on a national or international basis.
World Sailing President Kim Andersen handed the award to Oman Sail in 2019 with
CEO, David Graham, receiving the accolade on behalf of the organisation.
Commenting at the ceremony on Oman Sail, Andersen expressed, “Over the last ten
year’s Oman Sail has taken a huge step forward in in growing the sport. They
have grown from nothing to 200 people tirelessly working across multiple
pillars of our sport including coaching, officiating, media, governance and
event management.
“Their youth program has enabled youth sailors to move through the ranks and their
sailors now have realistic goals of reaching Tokyo 2020. Furthermore, barriers
to participation have been shattered and mixed sailing has become the norm in a
previously passive nation.”
Graham thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for creating the vision for
Oman Sail and enabling citizens to make a greater contribution as well as the
staff delivering the programme of work.
Velista71 receives 2019 eSailing World Championship Trophy
Having won the eSailing World Championship Final earlier on in the day, Italy’s
Velista71 received the 2019 eSailing World Championship Trophy from World
Sailing President Kim Andersen.
Read more on the eSailing World Championship here and watch the live final back here.
By Daniel Smith - World Sailing
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