​CLIPPER RACE SKIPPER UP FOR IRISH SAILOR OF THE YEAR

Clipper Race Skipper Conall Morrison has been nominated for the Irish Sailor of the Year Award, following his win in the 73^rd Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Conall, who is from Derry-Londonderry and is the Skipper of HotelPlanner.com, was also recently named the Afloat.ie Sailor of the Month for December, and is now waiting to see if he will be honoured again when the results of the public vote are announced on Friday 9 February in Dublin.

HotelPlanner.com was awarded the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Clipper 70 Class after being granted a 120 minute redress for going to the assistance of a fellow competitor shortly after race start on Boxing Day.

"I have to say that both the first place in class and Rani awards bear testament to the safety culture and hard work of the HotelPlanner.com crew," says Conall.

"I am very proud of their achievements and of how everything just clicked into place during the man overboard recovery. It is not every day you win your class in the Sydney-Hobart race so you have to make the most of it!"

The feet impressed across the 102 strong fleet, with the Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, John Markos, making special mention of the HotelPlanner.com team at the official Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in Hobart, commending them for retrieving the man out of the water within 15 minutes.

Conall was also given a standing ovation when he was given the Rani Trophy for Most Meritorious Performance, which was judged by the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Committee, and awarded by the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM.

"What an honour to receive the Rani Award at the Prize Giving for the most meritorious performance in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. It was a real privilege to go on stage and receive the award from John Markos, the Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, and I have to say the race organisers made all of the Clipper Race Crew and Supporters feel most welcome."

To vote, go to Afloat.ie and vote for Conall Morrison. Voting will close on Friday 26 January, and the judging panel will announce the Sailor of the Year at the RDS in Dublin on Friday 9 February. As well as announcing the overall winner, Conall will also be individually honoured as the Sailor of the Month for December.