Singapore’s Max Maeder has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious 2026 Rolex World Sailor of the Year award, World Sailing’s highest individual honour. The announcement on 28 October 2026 confirmed Maeder as one of four male sailors in contention for the coveted title.
The shortlist recognises outstanding achievements between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. During that window, Maeder secured two Formula Kite World Championship medals and maintained what World Sailing described as an unbeaten run across the major international circuit in 2026. He also topped the field at the 2026 Formula Kite Open European Championship.
The three other male finalists are Thomas Coville of France, Luuc van Opzeeland of the Netherlands, and Matt Wearn of Australia.
Stanley Chan, President of the Singapore Sailing Federation, urged fans to rally behind Maeder. “Max has given Singapore so much to cheer about this season. Now it’s our turn to cheer for him. Please vote before Monday’s deadline,” Chan said.
The public vote carries significant weight, making up 50 percent of the final result. A panel of World Sailing judges determines the remaining 50 percent. Anyone can cast a vote, and the deadline is 8pm Singapore time on Monday, 2 November 2026, which corresponds to 12:00 UTC.
The winners will be revealed at the World Sailing Awards ceremony in Qingdao, China, on Wednesday, 18 November 2026. It promises to be a landmark evening for the sport, with sailors from across the globe gathering to celebrate the season’s finest performances.
