Sailor of the Year Hall of Fame | Roberto Tomasini Grinover / Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (2015)

The most prestigious award in Italian sailing, the Sailor of the Year, now in its 27th edition, returns next Jan. 30. Again in this 2019, you will be the one to choose who will be the biggest (and all the other “category” winners).

In fact, you can start having your say right now: how? Pointing us to your candidate by adding them to the “poll” we created in the new facebook group dedicated to the Sailor of the Year (GDV – The Sailor of the Year). Doing so is super easy, just click “add option” at the bottom of the survey (see side photo) and enter the call sign. We also welcome self-nominations!

But in the meantime, it is time to relive, year by year, the stories of the Sailors of the Year, from 1991 to the present(HERE is the complete roll of honor).

WHEN THESAILORS OF THE YEAR WERE TWO (REALLY, THREE!)
In 2015, for the first time, there was an ex aequo at the Sailor of the Year. The “flying engineers” Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri won, along with Roberto Tomasini Grinover, patron of “Roertissima.” The first were the strongest Italian dinghy sailors of the time, specialists in the Nacra 17 Olympic catamaran, veterans of many international victories. We couldn’t help but reward them

Tomasini, on the other hand, was an incredible success with the public, racking up the votes in all three “election” rounds.The owner of the successful Robertissima series of boats (including the Melges 32 and the Mini Maxi ex-Ran II) had been coming off a banner sailing year. In 2014 Robertissima III participated in the IMA circuit for the first time, achieving a second place in Palmavela, victory in the Volcano Race, Rolex Capri Sailing Week and the Giraglia Rolex Cup. In the second half of the season Robertissima III’s palmares grew again with second place at the Mini Maxi World Championship and another prestigious victory this time at the Le sVoiles de Saint Tropez regattas. In 2014, also in St. Tropez, Robertissima III won the Rothschild Trophy and the Boat of the Week title. Also in 2014, Tomasini won the Melges 32 European Championship in Riva del Garda…

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – ANDREA MURA (2014)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – MAX SIREN (2013)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – MARCO NANNINI (2012)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – ALESSANDRO DI BENEDETTO (2011)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – PIETRO SIBELLO (2010)

THE STORIES OF SAILORS OF THE YEAR MATTEO MICELI (2008)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – VINCENZO ONORATO (2007)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – GABRIO ZANDONA’ (2004)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – FLAVIO FAVINI (2003)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – LORENZO BRESSANI (2002)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – VASCO VASCOTTO (2000)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – PAOLO CIAN (1999)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – TOMMASO CHIEFFI (1998)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – ALESSANDRA SENSINI (1997, 2001, 2005, 2009)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – FRANCESCO DE ANGELIS (1996)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – GIOVANNI SOLDINI (1995)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – ROBERTO FERRARESE (1994)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – PAUL CAYARD (1993)

THE STORIES OF THE SAILORS OF THE YEAR – GIORGIO ZUCCOLI (1991/92)