Ger O'Rourke's clear-cut victory in the Fastnet Race was rewarded on Wednesday 19th March when against stiff professional competition he was presented with the Cork Dry Gin Sailor of the Year award by Emma Donnellan, Brands Director Ireland, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard and William Nixon of Afloat magazine and the Sailing Correspondent of The Irish Independent.

Twenty three leading names from dinghy and offshore circuits, were in the running for the big prize after individual and crew performances that had already earned Cork Dry Gin awards from Irish watersports magazine, Afloat, and the Irish Independent. The presentation ceremony was hosted by the Morrison Hotel.

Cork Dry Gin "Sailor of the Year" for 2006, Ger O'Rourke of Limerick had an even better year in 2007, and in August he crowned it with an overall and clear cut victory in the Fastnet Race with his superbly-campaigned Cookson 50 from Limerick.

O'Rourke's epic win has been hailed as one of the most important offshore results ever achieved by an Irish sailor