Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards taking nominations

by Kirsten Ferguson on 2 Oct 2013 Beginning Tuesday, October 1, 2013, US Sailing will accept nominations for its 2013 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards, widely acknowledged as the foremost individual sailing honors in the nation.

Through November 30, 2013, each member of US Sailing may nominate the one male and one female sailor they believe has turned in the most outstanding on-the-water performance during the 2013 calendar year. Nominations can be made online through US Sailing’s website.

Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex Watch, U.S.A. since 1980, the annual presentation of US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognize the individual male and female U.S. sailor who has demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and/or national events to earn their place in the history of the sport. SKUD-18 Paralympic Silver Medalist Jen French and Kiteboarding World Champion Johnny Heineken, winners of the prestigious distinction for 2012, joined a list of legendary winners, including these notable sailors who have earned the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dennis Conner, JJ Isler, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Jody Swanson, Anna Tunnicliffe and Ted Turner.

At the conclusion of the nomination period (October 1-November 30, 2013), a shortlist of nominees will be presented to a panel of accomplished sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each and vote by secret ballot to determine the individual award winners. The winners will be honored in February, 2014, during a luncheon at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, when they will be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces.

Who is your choice for US Sailing’s 2013 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year? Submit your nomination here!