Uruguay's Luis Chiapparro became the first overseas skipper to win the coveted OMEGA Male Sailor of the Year Award at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) last night.

The 41-year-old J-24 skipper beat out strong challenges from the likes of Olympic hopeful Peter Bromby and three-time World Sunfish champion Malcolm Smith to cap off a truly remarkable 2007 season that saw Chiapparro dominate the fleet in a hull seemingly destined for the trash heap after sinking in a hurricane.

Chiapparro, who is the head sailing coach at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (RHADC), won the J-24 Match Racing, J-24 National and Wednesday Night titles last year accompanied onboard by some of the Island's up and coming sailors as crew.

Speaking by phone from his native Uruguay, Chiapparro told The Royal Gazette: "I am very proud and thankful to the sailing community in Bermuda for presenting me with this award. Bermuda is very unique for its sailing and has a lot of very good sailors and to win this award is truly a great achievement. I think it was a very good season racing in a boat that sank in a hurricane."

Chiapparro also acknowledged his youthful crew who without last night's achievement could not have been possible.

The Uruguayan said one of the main objectives of competing with a junior crew onboard is to afford the youngsters an opportunity to gain invaluable experience. "That's why I decided to fix the boat up and sail with junior sailors to help them in their sailing development," Chiapparro added. "Having them onboard provides them with the chance to learn and also participate."

OMEGA Female Sailor of the Year winner Katrina Williams also made history at the RBYC last night by becoming the first repeat winner of the prestigious award.

The 19-year-old Old Dominion student finished third at last year's Inter Collegiate Single-Handed Nationals and eighth at the Pan Am Games in Brazil competing in the Laser Radials to emerge from under the shadow of senior rivals Paula Lewin and Sara Lane Adderley who were also in the running for this year's award.

"It was a bit of surprise because Paula and Sarah are two well respected sailors who have been around for a long time. So it was kind of hard going up against two of the big names here - but fun to get the award again," Williams smiled.

"I have been working so hard for so long I guess I'm finally receiving reward. I've been sailing and training at lot in college and it seems to be paying off."

There were, however, no surprises in the youth category as 15-year-old Optimist sailor James Anfossi was always a clear-cut favorite to walk off with top honours following his truly outstanding 2007 season on the world stage.

The Saltus Grammar School student placed 30th at the South American Optimists Championships in Brazil, second at the North American Optimists Championships in Mexico and an amazing fifth at the World Championships in Italy.

Anfossi also placed runner-up in the RenRe Junior Gold Cup and first in the Winter Series on home surf to finish his last year of eligibility in the Opti class with a bang.

Anfossi attributed last year's success to the experience he has gained sailing abroad among quality fleets. "Travelling, getting experience sailing abroad and training hard has helped me a lot," he added. Each of last night's winner's received OMEGA timepieces.