Bouwmeester, Botin, and Trittel Named Sailors of the Year

The prestigious 2024 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards were recently unveiled, honoring the incredible achievements of Marit Bouwmeester, a gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics and recognized as the most successful female sailor in Olympic history. The awards also celebrated the remarkable Spanish duo, Diego Botin and Florian Trittel, who not only secured gold in the men’s skiff at Paris 2024 but also emerged victorious in SailGP season 4. This year’s winners were determined through an impressive tally of 49,964 public votes, alongside the discerning judgments of an expert panel of judges.

In a thrilling new addition, the Young World Sailor of the Year awards were awarded to Poland’s Ewa Lewandowska and local favorite Max Maeder from Singapore.

Competing in the Youth Sailing World Championships, Ewa Lewandowska showcased her exceptional talent, winning a prestigious gold medal in the mixed category of the 29er class. Her successful partnership with Krzysztof Królik began just this February, and the duo has since claimed the European title and a commendable second place in the 29er world championships. Notably, Lewandowska also showcased her skills with a gold medal victory at the youth worlds last December alongside Julia Maria Zmudzinska.

At just 17 years old, Max Maeder has already carved an impressive path in the sporting world, reigning as the Formula Kite World champion, Asian Games winner, and European champion, in addition to bringing home a bronze medal from the Paris 2024 Olympics. His recent accolades include clinching gold at the 2024 Formula Kite World Championships in Hyères, winning the KiteFoil World Series in Austria, taking gold at the KiteFoil Asian Championships, and achieving victory at the Asian Games and the 2023 Youth Sailing World Championship. Max’s consistency in the Formula Kite class is remarkable, with a podium finish at every event, making him the youngest world champion in an Olympic class and Singapore’s youngest Olympic medalist.

The Winds of Change initiative secured the esteemed 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award, while NLcomp made history as the inaugural recipient of the new World Sailing Technology Award. Additionally, the remarkable Olympic duo of Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti was distinguished as the Team of the Year, building upon their previous Rolex World Sailor of the Year title from 2022. Aiko Saito received the Beppe Croce Trophy, a fitting tribute to her lifelong commitment to sailing. Lastly, Hedi Gharbi, a Tunisian Olympian and current President of the Tunisian Sailing Federation, was honored with the President’s Development Award.

Marit Bouwmeester has made history by winning the female 2024 Rolex World Sailor of the Year title for the second time, having previously secured the honor in 2017. With this achievement, she has cemented her position as the most successful female sailor in Olympic history, having claimed gold in the women’s dinghy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With a career total of four Olympic medals—including golds from Paris 2024 and Rio 2016, silver from London 2012, and bronze from Tokyo 2020—Marit’s journey inspires many. Her remarkable return to competition after childbirth, right in time for this year’s Olympics, has further solidified her role as a role model for aspiring athletes.

This past year was nothing short of extraordinary for the Spanish tandem of Diego Botin and Florian Trittel as they celebrated success at both the Paris 2024 Olympics and in the SailGP circuit. They made headlines by securing gold in the men’s skiff after recently guiding the Spain SailGP Team from 10th place to a championship victory in Season 4. Breaking Australia’s stronghold on the SailGP title, Botin and Trittel clinched their Olympic gold in Marseille following a stellar 49er season that also saw them triumph at the Semaine Olympique Francaise and the Princess Sofia Regatta.

The President’s Development Award was awarded to Hedi Gharbi, an influential figure in Tunisian sailing and the current President of the Tunisian Sailing Federation. Gharbi’s lifelong passion for sailing and remarkable track record as an athlete and sports leader has made a significant impact. He began his sailing journey in the Optimist class and quickly ascended to national representation in both windsurfing and catamaran classes. Notably, he participated as an athlete in the Rio Olympic Games while already holding the position of President. Serving his second term in this role, he has been crucial in promoting sailing across Tunisia, from grassroots initiatives all the way to high-performance competitive strategies.

World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award

Founded by the Olympian and IOC Young Leader from Cyprus, Sophia Papamichalopoulos, Winds of Change is dedicated to fostering unity and peace by connecting young people from both sides of Cyprus through the universally comforting medium of sailing. Noteworthy accomplishments of Winds of Change include completing Cyprus’ first circumnavigation in 50 years, kindling youth-led sports-for-peace initiatives, and hosting the inaugural “Olympism for Peace” event in Cyprus, which garnered mention in the UN Secretary General’s report on Cyprus.

Winds of Change has made a direct impact on nearly 2,000 young individuals while reaching an additional 80,000 others indirectly. The initiative was recently honored with the “Peace Award” by the Youth Board of Cyprus in 2024, and its documentary premiered during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

World Sailing Technology Award

Northern Lights Composites (NLcomp) stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation in boat construction, actively addressing the pressing environmental concerns within the industry. The developer of the “ecoracer,” which won accolades in the Italian Sportboat Championship, NLcomp collaborates with renowned shipyards like Grand Soleil and Beneteau to integrate sustainable technologies into emerging boat designs while pioneering patented recyclable composite materials that tactfully address the end-of-life challenges associated with fiberglass boats.

By confronting one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the sailing industry—fiberglass boat waste—Northern Lights Composites is making waves with their innovative recyclable composite material, effectively alleviating disposal issues. Partnering with top-tier shipyards such as Grand Soleil and Beneteau, their groundbreaking technology is propelling industry-wide adoption of eco-friendly construction materials. Their flagship vessel, the “ecoracer,” has already garnered championship titles, proving that sustainable technology can indeed deliver high performance, establishing Northern Lights Composites as a front-runner in the realm of green sailing innovation.

Team of the Year

Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have once again proven their prowess in the Nacra 17 class, successfully securing their Olympic mixed multihull gold medal, further enriching their impressive portfolio of achievements. The Italian pair proudly claimed double Olympic titles, having successfully defended the gold they initially won at the Tokyo 2020 Games, along with winning the 2024 Nacra 17 World Championship and dominating the Princess Sofia Regatta.

Beppe Croce Trophy

Aiko Saito, who represented Japan at the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996, has continued to leave her mark on the sport after retiring from competition. She has taken on the vital role of leading the Japanese Olympic sailing team at the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games. At the Tokyo Games, held at her home club, Enoshima, Aiko exemplified the Olympic spirit by providing unwavering support to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with logistical arrangements during the pandemic, ensuring they were kept up to date on critical developments regarding the Games when travel restrictions were in place.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Aiko further supported World Sailing by facilitating communication between coaches and both the International Federation and the Organizing Committee—insightfully helping these organizations understand the needs and concerns of teams and athletes. She also made significant contributions by consulting on coach technology, ensuring compliance and alignment with both the spirit and letter of the rules.

For the past eight years, Aiko has voluntarily dedicated her time to serving on various World Sailing commissions, committees, and working parties, making sure that the needs and interests of coaches and athletes are prioritized at the highest echelons of the sport. Furthermore, since 2001, she has also dedicated her time to volunteering with the committees and commissions of the Japanese Sailing Federation.

President’s Development Award

Hedi Gharbi is an influential and devoted figure in Tunisian sailing, with an enduring passion for the sport that is complemented by a remarkable breadth of experience both as an athlete and a sports leader. His journey began in the Optimist class at a young age, leading to his rapid ascent to the national level, where he represented Tunisia in both windsurfing and catamaran classes.

Throughout the Rio Olympic Games, he held the unique position of participating as an athlete while simultaneously serving as President. Now in his second term leading the Tunisian Sailing Federation, Gharbi has been instrumental in advancing the sport through comprehensive programs that cater to both grassroots involvement and high-performance competitive frameworks.