Birrell and Rickham (pictured top) picked up the inaugural Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Paralympic Classes Athlete of the Year trophy, and the overall Skandia Team GBR Athlete of the Year title following their Paralympic bronze medal-winning performance, a fourth consecutive World Championship title, and one gold and two silver medals on the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup circuit during 2012.

Meanwhile, Ainslie, who this summer became the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, claimed the British Olympic Association's (BOA) Athlete of the Year Trophy for sailing, for the third time and the second consecutive year.

In addition to his fourth Olympic gold, Ainslie also claimed the Finn Gold Cup for a record sixth time on his home waters in Falmouth this year, as well as a gold and a silver on the World Cup circuit.

Britain's sailors, coaches, support staff, sponsors and special guests congregated at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard to celebrate the successes of the British sailing team during 2012 and throughout the four-year cycle.

Hosted by record-breaking round the world yachtswoman Dee Caffari, both team sailors and support staff were honoured at the black tie event, with the first awards of the evening going to the winners of the Accenture Rewards and Recognition Programme for 2012.

Ben Ainslie won British Olympic Association's (BOA) Athlete of the Year Trophy

Now in its seventh year, this incentive scheme, backed by team silver sponsor Accenture, encourages Britain's sailors and support staff to vote to decide which among them had this year best displayed one of three of the team's core values – committment to excellence, passion and gold driven.

Cash awards of £1,500 ($2,400/€1,800) were up for grabs for the each of the category winners, and £500 ($800/€600) each for the runners-up and the top-voted development squad sailor in each category.

RYA Olympic manager Stephen Park picked up the overall prize for Committed to Excellence, while Steve Gent, Britain's strength and conditioning coach was awarded the overall prize for Passion – both winners for the second year running.

Olympic laser radial sailor Alison Young was voted as the most Gold Driven of the team, while 470 European Champion Sophie Ainsworth swept the board with the Development Squad prizes in all three categories, plus the honour of being voted by her peers as the overall Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Sailor of the Year.

The Golden Funnel award for coaching excellence was presented to SKUD coach Marcus Lynch, and the evening also saw performance bonus cheques handed out to numerous sailors who had achieved podium success at major regattas during 2012.

Sophie Ainsworth picks up the Development Squad Sailor of the Year Award 

Park commented: "This year's Skandia Team GBR annual awards dinner was a little bigger than usual, as we're celebrating not only our achievements in 2012 but also across this Olympic cycle and so many people have played a part in those successes.

"2012 was a fantastic year for British sport which will live long in the memory, so it's important for us as a team to take the time to celebrate together, to look back on what was achieved while also hopefully inspiring and motivating some of our younger sailors towards Rio and beyond, and to them achieving their dreams as well."

Ben Ainslie added: "The awards evening's a great way to bring the whole team together.

"I think what people don't see is all the hard work that goes on in the background making it happen – all the support staff, coaches and administrative staff.

"It's a huge team and this evening's a great way to really celebrate that and say thank you to everyone for all the support."

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