5th February 2021
At the double. Anthony O'Leary of Crosshaven and Annalise Murphy of Dun Laoghaire are the only contenders to be Afloat.ie "Sailors of the Year" twice – himself in 2010 and 2014, and herself in 2012 and 2016
Credit: Robert Bateman and IOC
In these long-lived times, a Silver Jubilee is not what it used to be in an era when Golden Jubilees, Centenaries, Tricentenaries and whatever you're having yourself are cascading around us in an almost continuous nostalgia-fest.
Nevertheless the healthy Quarter Century of the Afloat.ie "Sailor of the Year" contest deserves celebration, as it has evolved since its inception to give a true reflection of Irish sailing in all its historic and extraordinary variety. And it has done this by being based on monthly awards which – at an early stage – weren't found to be enough to truly reflect our sport's exceptional diversity, and so in some months the adjudicators have allocated two or even three awards.