More than 80 nominations were received for the awards, which recognise sailors that demonstrated "outstanding achievement in the sport" between September 19, 2016 and August 31, 2017.

Four sailors are in contention for both the men’s and women’s prizes with the winners due to be announced on November 7 at the World Sailing awards ceremony in Mexican city Puerto Vallarta.

Among the men’s nominees is Australian Ashby, who led Emirates Team New Zealand to victory at the 35^th America's Cup in June.

Described as the inspiration behind the team, he worked for four years to build a side to achieve success on the Great Sound in Bermuda.

Emirates Team New Zealand dominated the America's Cup holders, Oracle Team USA, to claim the Auld Mug.

"A formidable sailor, Ashby was not only at the forefront of the sailing team but drove the design team forward, taking innovative calculated risks that culminated in a winning design," a World Sailing statement reads.

Joining Ashby on the list of men's nominees is Peter Burling, the America's Cup-winning helmsman who spearheaded New Zealand's 7-1 victory.

France’s Thomas Coville, the singlehanded round the world record holder, and compatriot Armel Le Cleac'h, the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe winner, are also vying for the accolade.

Coville’s world record had eluded him on his previous attempts, but a rare window of opportunity arose at the end of 2016 when he was able to combine his expertise with favourable weather systems.

The Frenchman set off in his 102-foot trimaran Sodebo Ultim on November 6 and by Christmas Day, 49 days 3 hours 4min and 28sec later, he had obliterated the previous record by eight days.

Le Cleac'h, meanwhile, sailed across the Vendée Globe finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne in a record time of 74 days 3 hours 35min and 46sec.

He held off the challenge of Great Britain’s Alex Thomson in a race that started on November 6 and ended on January 19.

Headlining the women’s nominees is Dutchwoman Bouwmeester, who made an astonishing comeback at last month’s Laser Radial World Championships on home waters in Medemblik and claimed a third world title.

Following her Olympic gold medal-winning performance at Rio 2016, Bouwmeester continued her fine form by securing top honours at the year-ending World Cup Series Final in Australian city Melbourne.

But she was overcome with repetitive injuries, resulting in her being unable to compete at major regattas throughout 2017.

It made her triumph at the World Championships, which came after months without competition, even more remarkable.

Also in contention for the women’s award are 49erFX Olympic champions Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze, who cruised to victory at the 2017 Sailing World Cup Series event in Miami.

The Brazilians followed up their success by winning at the French leg of the World Cup Series in Hyères in France, before sealing another comprehensive win at the World Cup Final in Spanish city Santander.

The only imperfection in their record this year was a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in Matosinhos in Portugal.

Rounding out the list of women’s nominees are Aruba’s Sarah-Quita Offringa, the Pro Windsurfers Association World Tour freestyle and slalom world champion, and the Spanish duo of Tara Pacheco and Fernando Echavarri, who are the reigning Nacra 17 World Cup Series champions.

Offringa won her first freestyle world title in 2008 and made it 10 consecutive crowns this year.

She also won her fourth slalom world title in 2017.

Pacheco and helm Echávarri have been a dominant force in the Nacra 17 this year.

The pair started 2017 with victory on their home waters at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Majorca's capital Palma.

They then moved on to Hyères, where they successfully defended the World Cup Series title they had won in 2016.

Heading back to their home waters, Pacheco and Echávarri claimed the World Cup Series Final crown in Santander.

A silver medal followed at the World Championships, which were held in La Grand Motte in France earlier this month.

The Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards offer the most prestigious form of recognition in sailing.

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

World Sailing claims the 2017 nominees highlight the breadth and depth of the sport.

Each winner will be presented with the unique marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents, together with a Rolex timepiece.