Award Rules
World Sailing Day Awards are open to organisations and individuals working in, or closely connected to, the sailing sector. Entries must be honest, respectful and reflect the spirit of good seamanship.
Launching in 2026, the World Sailing Day Awards (WSDA) shine a spotlight on the people, projects, and organisations that move sailing forward.
From clubs and marinas to innovators, educators, artists and media makers, the Awards recognise those who contribute to the development, promotion and growth of sailing worldwide – on the water and far beyond it.
Who can enter?
The World Sailing Day Awards are open worldwide.
Participants include:
- Individuals
- Clubs & associations
- Companies and shipyards
- Marinas, ports and cities
- Festivals, media platforms and artistic projects
There are:
- no citizenship restrictions,
- no distinction between professional and Corinthian status, and
a clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
To keep entries serious and comparable, every nomination must:
- be submitted through the official online form,
- choose the most appropriate category,
- include a short motivation statement plus supporting evidence (links, images, documents).
Detailed eligibility routes (Process, rules, endorsements, fees and discounts etc) are explained in the Entry Kit and Voting Kit – you don’t need to read the by-laws before you start.
The WSDA are built around six THEMES, covering 32 award categories:
What the Awards cover
Innovation & Technology
– Technology & Software
– Construction
– Equipment
Organisational Excellence
– Sailing clubs & associations
– Expos, trade shows & commercial events
Hosting & Destinations
Marinas and ports that create safe, welcoming, future-ready facilities
Media & Storytelling
– Print & online media
– Social media platforms and campaigns
– Film, documentary and video
Culture & Arts
Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and writing. These all communicate the spirit of sailing.
Individual Contributors to Sailing Types
For each of the sailing types an individual contributor or “Sailing Hero” is singled out for his or her contribution to the growth of sailing.
Together, these categories recognise not only sporting results, but the people, ideas and places that keep sailing vibrant, accessible and culturally relevant.
Learn more about the Categories
Entrants can join more than one category!
What winners receive
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WSDA Trophy
Each category winner receives the World Sailing Day Award trophy, designed by Bas van der Heide – a physical mark of achievement within the global sailing community.
Certificates
All accepted partipants receive a certificate of Participation and the Finalists and Semi-finalists receive an official certificate recognising their contribution. Winners receive the catgeory Winner certificate and trophy.
Sailing Miles Rewards
Winners and finalists receive SailingMiles from SailingMiles.com Ltd., redeemable with partner brands.
All participants receive a package of Standard as well as Premium SailingMiles with extended validity.
Sponsor Prizes
Selected categories may include additional commercial prizes supplied by the category sponsors . All such prizes are confirmed and published before entries close.
Visibility & Recognition
Features across World Sailing Day channels and partner media. A story you can use in pitches, sponsorship decks, membership drives and campaigns.
Above all, a WSDA shortlisting or win signals that your work has been independently reviewed and recognised as a benchmark in its field.
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World sailing day 2026
How winners are chosen
The jury process and winner selection is clearly described in the Awards Rules Handbook.
Evidence-based evaluation
Every eligible entry is reviewed using a detailed scorecard. Judges look at:
– impact on sailing and its community
– innovation and originality
– quality of execution
– long-term value, access and sustainability
The exact criteria and weightings are published in the Evidence & Weighting Matrix.
Independent expert panels
Each award area (technology, clubs, cities & ports, arts, media, etc.) has its own panel of specialists.
j-judges are invited for their expertise and reputation
– all judges sign a code of conduct and declare any conflicts of interest
– no judge scores entries where they have a direct interest
Public voice + final jury decision
For selected awards, the public can vote online. The verified public score in both of the online rounds leads to the final jury selection so that the expert evaluation remains central, and the wider sailing community has a clear voice in selecting the partipants to be scored.
Verification and announcement
Before winners are confirmed, results are checked by the Awards Chair and Audit Group to ensure the rules, criteria and weightings have been applied correctly. Winners are then announced at the World Sailing Day Awards Gala on 28 May.
Apply to become a Judge!
Fair, independent & inclusive
The WSDA selection process is run by an independent Awards Chair and non-executive advisory board, supported (but not controlled) by the World Sailing Day Organisation.
An independent Audit Group oversees compliance with all by-laws and checks that every category is judged fairly.
Committees are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion – celebrating long-term excellence, preserving maritime legacy and building a global, welcoming narrative around sailing.
The Awards Gala – London 2026
The inaugural World Sailing Day Awards Gala will be held in London on 28 May 2026.
The evening begins with a waterfront reception beside the legendary yacht Gipsy Moth IV at St Katharine Docks, followed by a formal prizegiving ceremony and gala dinner hosted at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.
Finalists, partners, media and guests come together for a night that blends maritime heritage with contemporary innovation – celebrating those who are shaping the future of sailing.
See all categories!
We have multiple categories.- more than one may apply to you!
Be part of it!
This Entry Kit explains eligibility, submission requirements, evaluation, and ceremony
details for all WSDA entrants. It ensures transparency, consistency, and fairness
across all award tracks.