Burling crowned world’s best sailor
Team New Zealand’s Peter Burling has won the world sailor of the year award.
He beat team mate and skipper Glenn Ashby who was one of four nominees for the prestigious award.
Burling’s win was confirmed at a glitzy World Sailing ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Wednesday (NZT).
Burling couldn’t attend the evening as he contested the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race where he is aboard Dutch entry Team Nobel, rcing from Lisbon to Cape Town.
‘‘It’s a massive honour again and it’s been an amazing year for the sport,’’ the humble Burling said via a video link.
Burling won the award for helming the foiling catamaran that won the America’s Cup in Bermuda in June as Emirates Team New Zealand dominated holders Oracle Team USA in the final wioth Burling blitzing his experienced rival Jimmy Spithill.
It is the sixth time that a New Zealander has won one of the men’s or women’s awards since they started in 1994.
It is the second time Burling has won the award after he and 49er team mate Blair Tuke took the 2015 honours.
Marit Bouwmeester (NED), the 2017 Laser Radial world champion was named women’s sailor of the year.
France’s Thomas Coville, the singlehanded round the world record holder, and fellow Frenchman Armel Le Cleac’h, the 2016-2017 Vende´e Globe winner, were the other men’s finalists.