Claire Leroy has been the # 1 skipper on the ISAF Women's World Match Race Rankings since May 2005. Like many professionals, sailing has been a consistent part of Leroy's life since her childhood.
Leroy, skipper of "Team Ideactor", has taken her love of the elements and dominated the match racing circuit both this year and last, winning the 2006 ISAF Nations Cup, the IX International Women's Match Race Criterium, the 2007 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships in her hometown of St Quay Portrieux, France, and the 2007 Women's Match Race European Championship.
2007 marks the second time that Leroy has been a candidate for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, as she was also previously nominated in 2005.
American Ed Baird took home the male 2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award for his incredible achievements as helmsman aboard Alinghi, winner of the 32nd America's Cup.
Baird has a long history of triumphs in the world of international match racing both in and outside of the America's Cup. Baird is the only American to have ever won the ISAF Match RacingWorld Championship - in 1995, 2003 and 2004. He is the only American ever to have ranked number one on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings list and in 1995 was honoured by his countrymen as the USA's Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.
All but one nominee was present last night for the Award Ceremony at the Penha Longa and no one knew ahead of time who the winners would be, making for justified anticipation from all corners. The well-rounded list of nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award also included:
Female Sailor/Crew
Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb & Pippa Wilson (GBR)
Marcelien De Koning & Lobke Berkhout (NED)
Evi Van Acker (Bel)
Male Sailor/Crew
Franck Cammas (FRA)
Vincenzo Onorato (ITA)
Robert Scheidt & Bruno Prada (BRA)
Rohan Veal (AUS)
http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor
The Awards are recognized as one of the highest honours a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements and this year's official award ceremony took place last night, November 6th in Estoril, Portugal at the Penha Longa monastery. Out of all of this year's fantastic nominees only two could walk away with the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year titles, and the exceptional winners for 2007 are Claire Leroy (FRA) and Ed Baird (USA), making this night a true tribute to match racing.