On November 24th members from every committee and group at the CYC collaborated to host a spectacular champagne reception to celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment. Photo's provided by Sandee Pfister, John Hanson & Amanda Fleming.

Watch the video windows media player or quicktime (MP4) player of HM King Constantine presenting Paige with her award.

At the International Sailing Federation Annual Conference in Helsinki, Finland the male and female winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the year award were announced. Nineteen year-old Paige Railey was selected as the Female World Sailor of the year for her outstanding sailing accomplishments during the twelve months ending August 2nd, 2006.

The winners were selected by vote from a shortlist of 11 nominees by the 121 member National Authorities, which make up the International Sailing Federation.

The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dinner and Presentation took place at Wanha Satama, an historic warehouse in the heart of Helsinki. World renowned sailor, television commentator and author Gary Jobson hosted the event dedicated to a year in sailing and the outstanding achievements of the six female and five male sailors nominated for the sailing world’s most prestigious awards. Each winner was presented with the coveted ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a Rolex timepiece.

Paige has been sailing with the Clearwater Yacht Club since she was an eight-year-old green fleet sailor, learning to race in Optimist dinghies. She now competes in the Laser Radial and her goal is to medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Clearwater Yacht Club Commodore, Dr Robert Gunther said how proud he was to hear that Paige Railey had been honored with the world’s highest competitive sailing award. Commodore Gunther commented it was particularly remarkable that this award would be made to such a young athlete and noted this was the first time this award had been made to a USA woman.