Triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie has made history once again by becoming the first sailor ever to be awarded the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award three times.
The 31-year-old Finn star received his award last night (11 November) at a glittering ceremony at the Quinta de Jarama, Madrid, with Italy’s veteran Olympic windsurfer Alessandra Sensini named as the female world sailor of the year after clinching her fourth straight Olympic medal in China this summer.
The Skandia Team GBR trio of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson were in the running for the female award after their dominant display in the Yngling class over the past year in which they won the World and European titles before claiming Olympic gold for Team GB in Beijing.
Great Britain’s World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams was also shortlisted for the men’s prize.
Ainslie, who also won the prestigious award in 1998 and 2002, remains unbeaten in the Finn class since 2004, and during the award nomination period he won Grade 1 events in Sydney and Melbourne, the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma and the European title as well as clinching an unprecedented fifth Finn world title at the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne.
By securing Olympic gold in Qingdao, Ainslie became the greatest ever British Olympic sailor with three golds from the past three Games to add to his silver from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
On receiving his award, Ainslie commented: “I would like to give a big thank you from my heart to everyone who made this happen.”
“China was a massive challenge,” he added. “It was a huge relief to come away with the gold medal, and to be part of a great British team which did so well, not just in sailing but across the board.”
Five male and five female crews were shortlisted for the ISAF Rolex World Sail of the Year award – Ainslie was up against record-breaking round-the-world sailor Francis Joyon (FRA), Olympic gold medal-winning windsurfer Tom Ashley (NZL), and Farr40 world and European Champion Vincenzo Onorato (ITA) as well as Williams (GBR).
Alessandra Sensini won the award over Ayton, Webb and Wilson, 470 Olympic Champions Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson (AUS), match racing World Champion Claire Leroy of France and Laser Radial Olympic Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (USA).