One week left to nominate for 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year

Ben Ainslie (GBR), male winner and Lijia Xu (CHN) female winner of the 2012 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

Just one week remains for nominations for the 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the most prestigious award of recognition in the sport of sailing.

Nominations can be made by anyone and the only criterion is "outstanding achievement in the sport of sailing" during the qualifying period of 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2013.

Some of the highest achievers from all disciplines of the sport have been nominated for the Award since it was first presented in 1994 with the modern day greats etching their name on the coveted trophy.

The accomplishments of the sailors nominated each year are an inspiration - from windsurfers, kiteboarders and dinghy sailors to offshore specialists, a nominee's achievements may be an exceptional series of regatta wins, a record breaking passage or a triumph against the odds.

Nominations should be sent to ISAF by 12:00 UTC on Wednesday 4 September 2013 using the Official Nomination Form, available at www.sailing.org/35253.php.

ISAF will draw up a shortlist of nominations received and those selected will go on to become the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2013 Nominees.

The 138 ISAF Member National Authorities will then have the responsibility to vote for one male and one female sailor who they believe should win the Award.

On Tuesday 12 November in Muscat, Oman, host city for the ISAF Annual Conference, the winners will be announced at the Awards dinner. They will be presented with the unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a Rolex timepiece.

Who will join the list of winners?

• 2012 Ben Ainslie (GBR, Lijia Xu (CHN)
• 2011 Iker Martinez & Xabier Fernandez (ESP), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
• 2010 Tom Slingsby (AUS), Blanca Manchon (ESP)
• 2009 Torben Grael (BRA), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
• 2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
• 2007 Ed Baird (USA), Claire Leroy (FRA)
• 2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL), Paige Railey (USA)
• 2005 Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz (ESP), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
• 2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
• 2003 Russell Coutts (SUI), Siren Sundby (NOR)
• 2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
• 2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
• 2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA), Shirley Robertson (GBR)
• 1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL), Margriet Matthijse (NED)
• 1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
• 1997 Pete Goss (GBR), Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
• 1996 Jochen Schümann (GER), Lai Shan Lee (HKG)
• 1995 Russell Coutts (NZL), Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
• 1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), Theresa Zabell (ESP)