Rolex is not just a premium watch manufacturing brand anymore and has been able to transform in to an idea that inspires. Over the many years it’s been around Rolex has partnered several organizations for promoting sporting events and has also created many awards that honour and recognize the brilliance of remarkable individuals who choose to foster on pushing the boundaries of performance. Sailing has been a part of the Rolex portfolio for many decades now and over the years has become into a globally recognized sport that draws a number of world class sailors from all over the world. As a part of its ongoing ambition towards excellence in all spheres, Rolex co-created the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award in collaboration with International Sailing Federation or the ISAF. The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award is a coveted and immensely prestigious award that recognizes the best sailors in the world.

A panel of experts who have been closely involved with competitive regattas around the world along with ex- sailors come together to evaluate the performances of the sailors from around the world and determine the nominees of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award. Illustrious sailors who have performed exceptionally well through out the year are nominated to be a part of this competition. Due to the increasing level of competition and the surging talent o the seas it has become incredibly difficult to determine sailors for the Rolex World Sailor award. The Rolex award has been divided into two categories one for women sailors and the other for men sailors. In a bid to promote and recognize both the divisions, Rolex split the award into ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year for Women and ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year award for men.

The 2009 awards are around the corner and the nominees for this year have been announced a few days go by the organizing body. According to reports the nominees this year have three skilled sailors from Great Britain. Two women from Great Britain are a part of the female category of the Rolex award while one skilled man in part of the male category for the award. In the women category the incredibly talented Sam Davis and Hilary Lister are representing Great Britain while in the men category the adept sailor and champion competitor Paul Goodison is representing the country.

Out of the total nine nominees in both the categories of the ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year award, three are from Great Britain which is also the highest number from any one particular country. Hoping to make a clean sweep at the Rolex award citizens of Great Britain are putting their hopes onto the three illustrious sailors who have been nominated. The Rolex World Sailor award is an eminent award in the sport of sailing and sailors around the world try and lay a claim on this coveted honour. This year it seems like it is Great Britain’s year with three top notch sailors in the race of the world sailor award.

The masterful art of sailing combines control, determination and freedom together into world class regattas that not only give you the opportunity of propelling your ambition but also form a standard that people try an adhere to. Rolex the number one watch manufacturing company in the world has been known for its unhindered and total support it provides to a number of global sporting events. Sailing forms a part of Rolex’s global portfolio and with its support several sailing championships have become famous on the world stage and now draw top class sailors and large crowds. The Rolex Farr 40 is one of the world class regattas Rolex supports and through this partnership it has been able to increase the awareness about sailing and provide added opportunity for professional sailing.

Rolex in collaboration with Yacht Costa Esmeralda brings forward the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships. This regatta attracts the top most sailors from Europe and the rest of the world. Over the churning waters illustrious teams onboard their yachts compete for the top spot. Speckling the coasts are a large number of people who come to witness some of the most superlative techniques in sailing and watch teams try and harness the winds to move ahead. Rolex Farr 40 World Championships offers some of the most breathtaking sights as the sun, climbs to high noon. Sailors representing various countries from around the world come together in this regatta challenge. Sailors from around ten different countries came together at the Rolex Farr 40 this year. On June 27^th this year yachts left the docking area and headed towards the finish line putting every ounce of strength and technique in order to stay ahead of the pack.

In a single moment of remarkable determination man and the heart come together to form a stunning representation of the level man can achieve. The Rolex Far 40 almost becomes a proving ground for sailors who want to move ahead and claim the throne of the most competent and brilliant sailor in the world. Apart from the tremendous level of competition offered at the event, the remarkable organization of such an illustrious event by the Yacht Costa Esmeralda is recognized for its top rate professionalism. Among the countries participating this year was the Great Britain Team that was represented by Hughes Lepic and his skilled crew. Racing aboard the Aleph, Hughes Lepic and his crew fought the onslaught of waves, shifting winds and the tremendous world class competition as they made there way towards the finish line. Sometimes mere talent is not enough and an added ounce of fortune is necessary. Even though the sailors aboard the Aleph bravely sailed and battled for victory, destiny had other plans for this incredible sailing team from Great Britain.

Coming in at the 21^st spot Aleph could not clinch the crown and although the Great Britain team had performed rather well in a few of the total 10 races victory was not to be. The disappointing end to a promising race was soon dispelled as the crew emphatically stated they would be back again the next time around and would surely put up an even better fight to claim the title of the Rolex Farr 40 challenge.

Anxiously awaiting their Rolex Baltic Week champion, thousands of spectators trained their eyes to the horizon hoping for their favourite sailing team sails ahead of the others. Co-created by Rolex the illustrious Rolex Baltic Week attracts several world class sailors from all over Europe and the rest of the world. A number of star sailors have already won a number of continental and world titles come together to compete at the Rolex Baltic Week.

Held at Kiel-Schilksee in Germany from the 4 to 11 of July this year the sixth Rolex Baltic Week presented by Rolex took place between world class Farr 40 teams from various parts of the world. The number of teams that were expected to be competing at the Rolex Baltic Week prior to its commencement was exceeded. A total of 89 teams on board their various yachts set sail towards the finish line. The 2009 edition of the Rolex Baltic Week featured 11 out of the top 12 teams in sailing as ranked by the ISAF competing in the regatta. Unpredictability of the shifting winds, Cloudy skies and drizzle greeted the sailors and was the cause for the race being postponed three times.

However battling the odds and striving to clinch the honours of being pronounced the Rolex champion, sailors fused their grit with craving and sailed towards the finish line. Sailing with the aid of 18 knot winds, the competitors fought a close contested battle to the finish. Representing Brazil the world number one ranked star sailors Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada were declared the champions and were awarded the top honours for the 2009 Star European Championships title on the 11^th of July this year. The riveting final day of the Rolex Baltic Week saw a very close battle between the rival teams and some spectacular display of techniques. Heading towards the final day of the competition with only a one point lead over the champion sailors and Olympic gold medallists Iain Percy along with team mate Andrew Simpson representing Great Britain, the Brazilian duo Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada put forward some of their best moves and championed over the other teams. But in what turned out to be a dramatic last moment, the Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada team finally clinched the crown beating out the British team and the Swedish team represented by Fredrik Loof and Johan Tillander with a total of four points.

Taking full advantage of the winds, the Brazilian duo propelled their vessel to the front of the 88 competing teams and led the way to the finish line. The British team led by Iain Percy along with team mate Andrew Simpson dominated the Rolex Baltic Week initially, however missing a few opportunities on the final day led to them securing the second place behind the Brazilian team. In the fourth place was the team from Switzerland who were followed by Germany and United States. Apart from being a well known regatta itself the Rolex Baltic Week partnered by Rolex turns into an important training ground for the World Championships that are this year being held in Varberg in Sweden. The British team will not be a part of the tremendous action in the World Championships that are to be held later this year in the month of August.

On one particular day, almost a thousand years ago when the sun shone down on the glassy sea, man set forth on his rudimentary vessel trying to manoeuvre over the unpredictable sea. From that day till present the tide of evolution has led to many changes in the functioning of the human race. As a proud bearer of man’s progressive nature and instinctive adaptability, the world renowned leader in premium watches, Rolex has been constantly involved in sponsoring numerous regattas around the planet. Abiding with its rich ongoing heritage of promoting excellence, Rolex endeavours to inspire individuals to pursue perfection and attain the highest levels of human triumph. Associating with the most prominent yachting clubs around the world, Rolex co-creates and organizes world class regattas that test the very limit of competence and determination.

Continually bringing to the world a multitude of prestigious regatta challenges that draw the top most sailors from around the world, Rolex tries to give the exceptionally talented athletes a platform for developing their talent and a host of opportunities that would enable the racers to take up competitive sailing as a profession. As a part of Rolex’s global vision the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is another effort that tries to take the sport of sailing to greater heights. Competitive Sailing is one event that Rolex has been associated with for almost four decades now and over this period it has perfected the art of organizing flawlessly remarkable events. Held amidst the startlingly picturesque settings of Costa Smeralda, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one of the highlights of the Mediterranean racing season. The first Maxi World Championship took place in 1980 as the sailors set sail from the shores of Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Italy. Held in September each year the Maxi racing challenge was created by the Yachting Club Costa Smeralda along with its president Aga Khan two decades ago. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is known around the world for the scope of competition and the variety of challenging conditions its presents. Even though the wind is probably the most elusive of all elements at Porto Cervo the wind conditions are more improbable. The 2008 edition of this eminent regatta challenge saw a tremendous display of skill and ability, however the week long regatta came to an unfortunate end when the winds decided to dart all over the place, consequently halting the competitive event.

According to reports by the authorities placed with the responsibility of holding the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup challenge the turn out for this year’s event that is to be held from the 6^th to the 12^th of September this year, a large number of illustrious teams from around the world will be competing and their numbers are probably going to surpass the turnout last year. The Great Britain Team that performed remarkably well last year will definitely improve their performance and try clinching the title this year.

Rolex sponsored sailing events are known for attracting a large number of world class sailors as well as numerous spectators. This congregation of people that come to be a part of the event fulfil the core ambition of Rolex which is to celebrate the achievement of the human race and collectively move towards a potentially brighter future.