Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of Year short list

by US Sailing on 28 Dec 2007
Joining the year-end 'best of' lists is US SAILING's short list of nominees for the 2007 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards.

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 are widely regarded as the sport's ultimate recognition of an individual's outstanding on-the-water achievements for the calendar year. Over its history, the coveted award has been presented to 34 men and 31 women, including these notable sailors who have claimed the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Dennis Conner, Courtenay Dey, JJ Isler, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Lynne Shore, Jody Swanson and Ted Turner.

Nominees for US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award: America's Cup Champion Ed Baird (St. Petersburg, Fla.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Clay Bischoff (Coral Gables, Fla./New York, N.Y.); Pan Am Games Laser Gold Medalist Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.); IFDS Sonar Disabled Sailing World Champion Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.); J/22 North American Champion Greg Fisher (Annapolis, Md./Columbus, Ohio); Snipe World Champion Tomas Hornos (Swampscott, Mass.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Pete Levesque (Portland, Maine/Annapolis, Md.); Lightning World Champion Jeff Linton (Tampa, Fla.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.); Fullpower Melges 24 World Champion Dave Ullman (Santa Ana, Calif.).

Nominees for US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award: Princess Sofia Yngling Champion Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Amanda Callahan (Canton, Mass.); Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Liz Hall (Tiverton, R.I./Washington, D.C.); ISAF Team Race World Champion Lisa Keith (Marblehead, Mass.); Lightning World Champion Amy Linton (Tampa, Fla.); IFDS Skud-18 Disabled Sailing World Champion Karen Mitchell (Deerfield Beach, Fla.); Pan Am Games Laser Radial Gold Medalist Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.); and Good Luck Beijing Laser Radial Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.).

For additional information on the accomplishments of each nominee this year, please visit www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex.

The nominees will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each nominee and vote to determine US SAILING's 2007 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The winners will be announced in January and honored on February 29, 2008, during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in New York City, where they will be presented with Rolex timepieces.

About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Since Rolex Watch U.S.A. first presented timepieces to America's Cup defenders in 1958, the company has consistently recognized and encouraged excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing, including US Sailing Team preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, offshore, one-design and women's events.

About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.