Annalise Murphy was awarded the prize for Sailing Achievement of the Year at the sports Annual Awards Ball in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday night.
She fought off stiff competition from Volvo Ocean Racer Damian Foxall and fellow Olympians Peter O’Leary and David Burrows to win the award for a second successive year.
The evening was sponsored by BHP Insurance which has become a major supporter across a range of sports.  It is the official insurance broker for the Federation of Irish sports, sponsors the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in support of specific equine insurance, and has provided the substantial financial backing that has brought many sporting festivals into the limelight this year as part of the Gathering.
Other sponsors at the Awards ceremony in the Royal Marine Hotel included the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Honda Marine, Parasol Sun Care and A Stitch in Time.
Mitsubishi Motors sponsored the first year of an award for club of the year which went to the Royal St George Yacht Club for its hosting of the 350 boat Irish Youth World Championships in 2012.
ISA President Niamh McCutcheon remarked “The ISA Awards Ball is the occasion for us to reminisce and celebrate 12 months of successes and also launch the new season in style. Last year was an incredibly successful year for Irish sailing. 11 sailors represented Ireland at both the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, dozens of medals were claimed at events around the world and we played host to such high profile events as the ISAF Youth Worlds, Volvo Ocean Race Finale and Tall Ships.”