Tom Slingsby, Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2023

In the framework of the World Sailing Annual Conference, last Wednesday night the World Sailing Awards were held, in which, among other awards, the winners of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2023 were unveiled:

The only Spanish nomination of the year was that of the CV Ballena Alegre al 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award for the sustainability program developed during the World Cup of Optimist 2023. Finally, the winner was the Magenta Project that advocates gender diversity in the sailing sector.

Tom Slingsby was appointed a Regist of the Year 2023 for the third time as the patron of the Australian team of SailGP, winner of three consecutive titles on the circuit. He has also been the patron of the American Magic, winner of the American's Cup 2024 inaugural test.

The title of the Year's Regatist was in the South African Kirsten Neuschäfer after becoming the first woman to have finished the Golden Globe Race alone, regaining alone around the world without support from any modern technology.

The President for Development Award was for the Andrew Simpson Foundation, created in memory of the Olympic gold medalist and the American's Cup Andrew "Bart" Simpson MBE, tragically deceased in 2013. The foundation strives to transform lives through sailing and has worked for more than a decade to build a connected, accessible and inclusive community of world-wide regatists.

The 11th Hour Racing Team, patronized by Charlie Enright and winner of the Ocean Race 2022-23, was worthy of the Team of the Year award by having demonstrated all the qualities necessary to succeed in one of the most demanding tests of this sport. The team has also supported a number of initiatives to improve ocean health and has used its platform to create the Sustainability Toolbox, a set of guides and templates that can help any team or organization implement its own sustainability programme.

As Boat of the Year, AC 40 was won, an innovative and technologically advanced sailboat. It is designed to move the performance of the American's Cup's foils to other race fields, with self-reliant bow candles and an automatic pilot control system that keeps a stable flight. It incorporates an advanced hydraulic system, electrical assistance and electronic on-board systems to control various aspects of the sailboat, such as the firearms, the control of candles and the stability of the volley.It serves as a platform to test different foils, flaps, candles and masts for American's Cup equipment, which highlights its potential for successful designs and technological advances.

The Beppe Croce Trophy went to Dick Rose, whose contribution to our sport dates back more than three decades. It is the person responsible for keeping the changes to the Rules organized.