Sailing: Baltimore Sailing Club's Maria Coleman became the 2001 Sailor of the Year following the Cork Dry Gin awards ceremony in Dublin on Tuesday. The world number-two ranked Europe class sailor was commended for her performance in the class that saw her move to the penultimate position almost one year ago.

Last weekend, the 34-year-old took third overall at the Miami Olympic classes regatta, though her ranking prospects could be compromised by too few nations at the event to meet the grade one requirements.

Coleman is finalising technical adjustments to her rig before embarking on an intensive round of competitions in the coming months in the build-up to Athens 2004.

The short-list of contenders for Tuesday's award was based on the 12 monthly winners published in Afloat magazine. Long-distance cruising, offshore racing and various champions were honoured in addition to three Irish Sailing Association "highly commended" awardees.