There are two categories - male and female - and sailors may represent any discipline of the sport. 

Nominees feature sailors drawn from the America's Cup, Vendée Globe, windsurfing, offshore and Olympic class racing, highlighting the breadth and depth of the sport.

Those nominated must have performed an "outstanding achievement in the sport of sailing between September 19, 2016 and August 31 this year".

The Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards is the most prestigious award of recognition in the dynamic sport of sailing. 

Since the awards' inception in 1994, the trophy has proudly accumulated the names of those who have demonstrated unparalleled performance, endurance and accomplishment in sailing.

Dutch laser radial world champion Marit Bouwmeester is nominated for the female award, along with 2014 winners Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze of Brazil, who are the reigning 49erFX World Cup Series champions.

The shortlist is completed by Aruba's Sarah-Quita Offringa, who is the 2017 Pro Windsurfers Association World Tour Freestyle world champion and Spain's Tara Pacheco, helmed by Fernando Echavarri, the Nacra 17 World Cup Series champion.

The male shortlist features Glenn Ashby, of Australia,  the America's Cup winning skipper; Peter Burling, of New Zealand, the America's Cup winning helmsman; Thomas Coville, of France, the singlehanded round the world record holder; and compatriot Armel Le Cleac'h, the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe winner.

Ashby and rising stars Natasha Bryant and Annie Wilmot have been named Australia's top sailors for 2017 at the Australian Sailing Awards. 

Ashby was crowned Male Sailor of the Year and Bryant and Wilmot won Female Sailor of the Year during awards which were held in conjunction with Australian Sailing’s inaugural Hall of Fame inductions.

Ashby was rewarded for his expertise in guiding Emirates Team New Zealand to a comprehensive 7-1 series win over Oracle Team USA in the 35th America’s Cup, in Bermuda in June. 

It was the latest and perhaps greatest of Ashby’s illustrious achievements, which include a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and 15 World Championships across three multi-hull classes.

“It’s been a fantastic evening here in Sydney and I’m very humbled and honoured to receive the Australian Sailing Male Sailor of the Year,” Ashby said.

“There was a fantastic array of nominees.

"It’s been a big year in Australian sailing and it’s been very nice to catch up with a lot of friends and our sailing community.”

Members of the public have another 48 hours to vote for one male and one female who they think should be crowned 2017 Rolex World Sailor of the Year.

The winners will then be announced at Tuesday's (November 7) inaugural World Sailing Awards in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

To vote click here.

Alongside the public vote, World Sailing's Member National Authorities and an on-night vote will decide who will receive the unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a Rolex timepiece.

For the first time, the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards is incorporated into the inaugural World Sailing Awards. 

Ahead of the presentation, the recipients of the President's Development Award and Beppe Croce Trophy will be announced.

Argentina's Santiago Lange and Great Britain's Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark won the Sailor of the Year titles last year.