Peter Burling, left and Blair Tuke. Photo supplied to Bay of Plenty Times.
Kiwi sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have picked up a nomination for world sailing's top honour for the second straight year.
The pair were this morning named among a group of five sailors for the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award. The two-time 49er world champions,
who have not been beaten in the class since picking up the silver medal at the London Olympics, were pipped for the title last year by Australian Jimmy Spithill, who was recognised for his heroics as skipper of Oracle's 9-8 America's Cup win in 2013.
This year the New Zealanders are up against Frenchman Loick Peyron (offshore multihull racer) and three Brits including Giles Scott (Finn campaigner and member of Ben Ainslie Racing Team), Ian Walker (Skipper of Abu Dhabi, Volvo Ocean Race winner) and Ian Williams (Match Racing).
A run of 20 consecutive 49er regatta wins spearheads Burling and Tuke's nomination, including victories at the 2015 Aquece Rio, Olympic Test event, ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres and Weymouth and Portland as well as Trofeo Princesa Sofia.
Alongside their Olympic campaign the pair have become the leading lights of Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup World Series. A second at the first leg in Portsmouth, Great Britain turned into victory a few weeks in Gothenburg, Sweden to give them the overall advantage heading into the final regatta of the year in Bermuda this weekend.
