11th Hour Navigator Wins Magnus Olsson Prize

Simon Fisher, who has twice stood on the winner’s podium for the world’s premiere professional crewed round-the-world race, has earned the Magnus Olsson Prize, awarded to a sailor who has made a powerful impact on the sport of sailing.

The Ocean Race veteran and father of two, affectionately known to the sailing world as SiFi, has competed in six editions of The Ocean Race/The Volvo Ocean Race including aboard two winning campaigns. In 2014-2015 aboard Abu Dhabi, he achieved a lifelong dream of winning the race. He again made it to the top of the podium in 2023 as the navigator of the American 11th Hour Racing Team campaign. He also competed with ABN Amro Two, Telefonica Blue, and Vestas 11th Hour Racing.

With this year’s sustainability-focused campaign, Fisher embraced the onboard scientific data program and was a leader on and off the boat.

The Magnus Olsson Prize is awarded annually to an individual who has made a powerful impact on and contribution to the sport of sailing. Olsson, who passed away in 2013, competed in six Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Races, including a 1997–98 victory with the EF Language campaign.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized by the Magnus Olsson Memorial Foundation for this award,” Fisher said. “I had the opportunity to cross paths with [Magnus] a few times early in my career at The Ocean Race, and he never failed to make an impact with his positivity, enthusiasm, and pure joy at the prospect of going to sea and racing around the world. His attitude was infectious—you couldn’t help but smile when you were around Magnus.”

The prize will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm on August 22. Previous recipients of this honor include Volvo Ocean Race winners Torben Grael, Grant Dalton, Carolijn Brouwer, and Stan Honey, along with Olympic sailing legends like Sir Ben Ainslie, Peter Burling, and Martine Grael.

For more, click here.