The public will decide half of every award as voting opens across six categories ahead of the ceremony in Qingdao on 18 November.
World Sailing has announced the finalists for the 2026 World Sailing Awards, and for the next week the outcome rests partly with the sailing public. Public votes will count for half of each final decision, with World Sailing’s expert judging panel deciding the other half.
Voting opened on 26 October and closes at 12:00 UTC on Monday 2 November. Votes can be cast at worldsailing.awardsplatform.com after signing up or logging in with an email address.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Qingdao, China, on Wednesday 18 November, where the President’s Development Award and the Beppe Croce Trophy will also be presented.
Rolex World Sailor of the Year: Female
Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero (Spain)
Maria Giubilei (Italy)
Lauriane Nolot (France)
Charlotte Rose (United States)
Rolex World Sailor of the Year: Male
Thomas Coville (France)
Max Maeder (Singapore)
Luuc van Opzeeland (Netherlands)
Matt Wearn (Australia)
The Rolex World Sailor of the Year has been awarded since 1994.
Young World Sailor of the Year: Female
Medea Falcioni (Italy)
Vaina Picot (France)
Catalina Turienzo (Argentina)
Tamar Steinberg (Israel)
Young World Sailor of the Year: Male
Manuel Bragança (Brazil)
Paul Loiseau (France)
Gian Andrea Stragiotti (Switzerland)
Federico Pilloni (Italy)
Team of the Year
Diego Botin and Florian Trittel (Spain)
Luna Rossa Team (Italy)
Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris (Great Britain)
Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush (New Zealand)
The Famous Project CIC (France)
World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award
The Little Optimist Trust (South Africa)
Shake-A-Leg Miami (United States)
Turning Point Foundation (Germany)
The Yacht Club Hyderabad (India)
The Impact Award was launched in 2018 as the Sustainability Award and was expanded in 2025. Its winner receives a trophy and a prize of US$10,000.
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