Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nominations open

by Jake Fish on 9 Oct 2014 US Sailing has announced that it is now accepting nominations for its 2014 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards, widely acknowledged as the foremost individual sailing honors in the nation. Through November 30, 2014, 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 2014 calendar year.

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. For the 2013 competitive season, Sperry-Top Sider Melges 24 World Champion Brian Porter (Fontana, Wisc.) and Lightning Atlantic Coast Champion Jody Starck (Amherst, N.Y.) were awarded the prestigious distinction. For Stark, it was the third time she earned the honor; Porter, a first-time winner, joins 73 previous recipients, including those who have earned the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dennis Conner, JJ Fetter (Isler), Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Anna Tunnicliffe and Ted Turner.

At the conclusion of the nomination period (October 1-November 30, 2014), 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 on Thursday, February 26, 2015, during a luncheon at New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces.

Who is your choice for US Sailing’s 2014 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year? Submit your nomination here.