The names preceding them are illustrious, but sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are honoured just to be shortlisted for the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Male Sailor of the year.

Named as finalists earlier this month, the Kiwi 49er skiff sailors depart New Zealand on Sunday bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where the winner will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Blair Tuke (left) and Peter Burling after winning their second straight world championship in the 49er class. Photo: Jesusrenedo/Sailingenergy.

The only Kiwis ever to have won award are Sir Peter Blake, Sir Russell Coutts and Mike Sanderson.

'It is a huge honour to make it to the final and have the chance of adding our names to this list,” says Tauranga's Burling.

Tuke, offering the same sentiments, feels very humbled by the nomination.

'There are some amazing sailors, and some of my sailing heroes have won this award before, so just to be nominated is pretty unreal.”

The list of achievements amassed by the NZ pair during the awards time window is quite phenomenal.

The ISAF nomination reads: 'New Zealand's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have been a class above the rest in the 49er, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, athletic prowess and drive that cannot be rivalled.

'Over the nomination period the Kiwis brushed aside their challengers with ease, finding an edge that many can only dream of.”

The nominees are put forward based on achievements made during the qualifying period from September 1, 2013, to September 21, 2014.

They took their first world title in Marseille, France, in 2013 and in their defence of the title at the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds they crushed the opposition, sealing gold with a 46 point margin.

A total of five finalists for were named for 2014 ISAF Rolex Male Sailor of the Year and Burling and Tuke are up against Australian Men's 470 combination Mat Belcher and Will Ryan and Great Britain's Giles Scott after his impressive run in the Finn class.

Accomplished skipper and tactician Bill Hardesty of the USA is in the mix, as is Australia's Jimmy Spithill for his role in the Oracle America's Cup victory last year.