Created in 1996, the Afloat Sailor of the Year Awards represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene.
This is a national award especially designed to salute the achievements of Ireland's sailing's elite.
Over nearly two decades the awards has developed in to a premier awards ceremony for water sports.
Since it began 17 years ago the awards have recognised over 200 monthly award winners in the pages of Ireland's sailing magazine Afloat and these have been made to both amateur and professional sailors.
The first ever sailor of the year was Dinghy sailor Mark Lyttle.
Now proudly in its 18th year we've already recognised sailors, ex-pat gordon Maguire from Howth for for his dramatic win in January's Sydney-Hobart race became the first monthly winner in 2013 and the account of his exploits are on this website.
As a sport we often grumble that sailing doesn't get the recognition it deserves but through these awards and the support of our sponsors past and present there is a bigger chance of presenting the remarkable achievements of Irish sailors that all too often do not get the media coverage that we all think they deserve.
An online readers poll plus a vote from a panel of sailing journalists and administrators select the annual winner.
