Matt Wearn OAM OLY has been named one of four male finalists for the 2026 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, capping a season in which the two-time Olympic champion stormed back into ILCA 7 competition with a vengeance.
He stands alongside fellow finalist Stacey Jackson, whose crew "The Famous Project" completed the Trophee Jules Verne in 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes in 2025, becoming the first all-female crew to sail non-stop and unassisted around the globe.
Public voting counts for half the final result, with World Sailing's judging panel accounting for the other half. Voting stays open until 2 November.
Wearn had stepped away from the fleet after winning gold at Paris 2024. He returned sharper than before, winning five of the six regattas he entered this season, including three Sailing Grand Slam events, and taking silver at the ILCA 7 World Championship in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.
His comeback began with victory at Sail Melbourne in November 2025, followed by a seventh Australian ILCA 7 National Championship title in January 2026. He then carried that form to Europe, winning the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma and the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, before adding victory at the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta, held on the waters that will host sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
His best result came at the World Championship, where he climbed from ninth overall to silver with an outstanding final day of racing.
"It's an honour to be recognised for this year's performance on such a high level. Some amazing names and achievements to go up against," Wearn said.
He is up against French offshore sailing record-holder Thomas Coville, Singaporean Formula Kite World Champion Max Maeder, and Dutch iQFOiL World Champion Luuc van Opzeeland.
Tom Slingsby has won the award three times, while James Spithill and Mathew Belcher previously took the men's title, in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Qingdao, China, during the World Sailing Annual Conference on Wednesday 18 November.
