There’s one more Sailor of the Year in 2016: the award for the best Young, here are the “hopefuls”

So many young people! Never more so than this year, the top-rated list of Sailor of the Year is packed with Under-20 athletes. This is for two reasons: first, because they represent the “social” generation and thus have been good at hammering away on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the like to get voted in; second, because 2015-16 was a really good year for Italian youth sailing, with fine results on international race courses by the little blues.

A NEW AWARD FOR THE “YOUNG”
One can look forward to the future with the utmost optimism. For our part, we decided to add an award, in addition to the other four (Sailor of the Year, TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year Performance, TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year Passion, TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year Innovation), the TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Young”, just to meet this – pleasant – phenomenon. And watch out: it is not out of the question that a very young person could win the Sailor of the Year as well!

A TOP TEN FULL OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Among the 25 candidates who are left in the race, and whom you will be able to re-vote starting March 31 (below are the rules), we said, there are a lot of young people. In the top ten of the highest rated, we find Edoardo Ferraro and Francesco Orlando, capable of racking up more than 1,500 votes in the first two stages: the two won in Castle Bay Karatsu, Japan, the 420 Under17 rainbow title: from San Remo, they represent a future hope and continue to win, both nationally and in Europe. Then there is Riccardo Sepe, winner of the world’s busiest Optimist regatta, the Garda Meeting. What a satisfaction to get behind a thousand boats for the Latian, who thus crowned a season full of successes! Matteo Pilati and Francesco Rubagotti, on the other hand, embody the world of “new” sailing, foiling. They won the Red Bull Foiling Generation in Malcesine aboard the Flying Phantom and will represent Italy at the World event. And then again the Hobie Cat performers Alessandro Cesarini and Diana Rogge, 470ists Giacomo Ferrari and Giulio Calabrò, and the very strong Gaia Bergonzini, who was able to win the Italian Optimist Absolute, putting all the “tomboys” behind her (but not only that, for her also the silver medal at the Women’s World Championship!). These are the most likely candidates for the Young award (although there are other worthy young athletes among the 25, who, if they are voted into the third round, could put the jury in serious trouble!).

HOW THE 2016 SAILOR OF THE YEAR VOTING WORKS
On Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m., the Sailor of the Year award ceremony will take place at the VELAFestival in Santa Margherita Ligure (Genoa) during the Evening of Champions. But how does one come to award the most prestigious prize in Italian sailing? With a long and “hard” online selection process where your input is crucial. We explain it in detail, step by step.

– FIRST STAGE (WINNING VOTE – CONCLUDED) – FROM 100 to 52 CANDIDATES.
– 100 CANDIDATES to vote online on our website from Jan. 29 (from 1 p.m.) to Feb. 16 (closing at 12 p.m.)
– 20 CANDIDATES INDICATED BY YOU (you can send us names and motivation from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 to email speciali@panamaeditore.it) voted online on our website from Feb. 5 (from 1 p.m.) to Feb. 16 (close at 12 p.m.)
– The 50 most voted and the 2 most voted among those indicated by you pass the round
– SECOND STAGE (WINNING VOTE – CONCLUDED) – 52 to 25 CANDIDATES.
– 52 CANDIDATES to vote online from March 4 (from 1 p.m.) to March 15 (closing at 12 noon)
– The 25 highest vote-getters pass the round
– THIRD STAGE (CONSULTATIVE VOTE) – 25 to 5 CANDIDATES.
– 25 CANDIDATES to be voted for online from March 31 (from 1 p.m.) to April 15 (closing time 12 noon). The online public vote has advisory value: taking into account your preferences, a jury selects the 5 who pass the round
– FOURTH PHASE – CHOOSING THE SAILOR OF THE YEAR (AND OTHER AWARDS)
-THE 5 CANDIDATES make up the shortlist of “papabili” for Sailor of the Year. These will compete, based on the jury’s decisions, for the Sailor of the Year award and the others: TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Passion,” TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Innovation,” TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Performance,” and TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Performance.” Each of the winners will be awarded a TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 high-precision waterproof chronograph (pictured opposite), capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 meters. Who the winners are you will only know on the evening of May 6 in Santa Margherita. You are all invited!

For any information regarding the Sailor of the Year, please write to us at speciali@panamaeditore.it

FIND OUT WHAT IS SAILOR OF THE YEAR

AT THIS LINK FIND OUT IN DETAIL THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING OF THE MAGNIFICENT “52”

AT THIS LINK FIND OUT IN DETAIL THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR THE MAGNIFICENT “100”

DISCOVER ALL 100 INITIAL CANDIDATES FOR SAILOR OF THE YEAR, FROM A TO Z

FIND OUT THE STORIES OF THE “CHOSEN BY YOU” NOMINEES AND THE REASONS FOR THE NOMINATIONS