KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Olympic gold medallist Tom Ashley has been nominated for the international sailing federation's sailor of the year awards.
Ashley is one of five nominees for the men's ISF award, including five-times world champion Ben Ainslie (Great Britain), an Olympic gold medallist in 2000 (Laser), 2004 (Finn) and Beijing (Finn).
Boardsailor Ashley pipped Frenchman Julien Bontemps by a solitary point on the final day of racing at the Beijing Games to win gold.
The other nominees are Frenchman Francis Joyon, who holds the solo round-the-world sailing record; Farr 40 world champion Vincenzo Onorato of Italy and world match-racing champion Ian Williams (Great Britain).
Last year's winner was Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird, while New Zealander Mike Sanderson - winner of the 2006 Volvo Ocean Race with ABN Amro One - took the award two years ago.
The qualifying period is the year up until September 1, 2008 and all achievements during that time are taken into consideration.
The women's nominees are Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (Great Britain), who won gold in the Yngling class at Beijing; French match-racer Claire Leroy; 470 Beijing gold medallists Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson (Australia); veteran Italian sailor Alessandra Sensini and Beijing Laser Radial gold medallist Anna Tunnicliffe (USA).
The winners will be selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who are now invited to vote for the one male and one female nomination who they believe most deserves the Award.
The winners will be announced on November 11.
- NZPA
