rolex yachtsman of the year list

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2023 Rolex Yachtsman/Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

Right on schedule, it’s that time again. Yesterday, US Sailing announced the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award winners.

Charlie Enright (Barrington, RI) and West Coast sailor Christina Wolfe (Orcas Island, WA) were awarded the 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award and were celebrated along with fellow 2023 award finalists Betsy Alison, Erika Reineke, Steve Hunt, and Allan Terhune Jr.

The winners were presented with the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.

As skipper, Charlie Enright led the 11th Hour Racing Team to become the first American-flagged team to ever win The Ocean Race, in 2023. In his third shot at the elusive Ocean Race Trophy, the win had been over 10 years in the making for his team, and over six years in the making for 11th Hour Racing.

Of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award, Charlie Enright said, “It’s iconic. It makes me think of all the people who have come before all of us. I’ve done a lot of sailing with some of the other finalists who were nominated, and I’ve certainly learned a lot from all of them. This is an individual award in theory, but it takes a village no matter what you’re doing, and I can’t say enough about all the teammates that we had in this endeavor.”

Christina Wolfe is an accomplished offshore sailor, having put thousands of offshore miles under her belt. Pacific Northwest sailor Christina is best known for her doublehanded sailing, often with her husband Justin Wolfe as crew, aboard their J/111 Raku and J/70 Mossy . They now have a Jeanneau Sunfast 3300, Red Ruby . In 2023, Christina achieved First Overall ORC, Second Overall IRC, and Doublehanded Line Honors in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, first female skipper overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and first in IRC 2 at the De Guingand Bowl, all achieved doublehanded.

“Never in a million years did I expect to be standing on this stage, let alone in the room with all of you,” Christina said. “This is an incredible honor for me to be up here on this stage. I don’t sail for a living, but when I do sail, it’s the most alive that I feel, and I know many of you feel that as well. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do this, to see these iconic races, and to meet inspiring people.”

Three men and three women were chosen as finalists for US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards in January 2024. The annual rundown of the year’s “best in the US” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. All nominees are highly distinguished and talented, and the nomination panel was especially impressed by their growth and depth of achievements.

Yachtsman and Yachtswoman finalists earned their spots on this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. All six of these sailors represent their own unique pathways in the sport, have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, and have brought global recognition to sailing while representing the United States.

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Finalists for 2022 Honors

Published on January 11th, 2023 by Editor -->

Three men and three women have been chosen as finalists for US Sailing’s 2022 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. The annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers.

Yachtsman and Yachtswoman finalists earned their spot on this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments.

All six of these sailors represent their own unique pathway to the sport, having demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events bringing global recognition to sailing in while representing the United States.

Some of these sailors were selected based on their consistent exceptional performances throughout the 2022 season and some were chosen for their signature win(s) at major international or national events.

Finalists in alphabetical order by first name:

US Sailing’s 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award • Daniela Moroz – A three-time winner of the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award, Moroz is back on the shortlist again and looking for her 4th Rolex. In 2022, Moroz won gold at the Princesa Sofia Olympic regatta and captured her 6th Kite Foil World Championship title. Moroz also placed first at the French Olympic Week Regatta, held at the 2024 Olympic venue. • Laura Grondin – Grondin’s success as a skipper in the J/70 class earned her a spot as one of this year’s finalists. Grondin helmed her way to first place at the J/70 East Coast Championships and Davis Island J/70 Regatta, as well as the top female helm at the J/70 European Championship. Grondin also had success in the Melges 24 class, placing fourth at the Melges 24 World Championship. • Sara Stone – Breaking into the predominantly male world of offshore sailing, Sara Stone is in the running for her first Rolex. Stone took first place in the inaugural Bermuda to Newport Doublehanded event as the only all-female entry and won the Ida Lewis Distance Race with co-skipper with Ken Read. Stone also took line honors in the youth division of the Newport to Bermuda Race, breaking the youth race record as a coach with the MudRatz youth team on board ‘Spitfire.’

US Sailing’s 2022 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award • David Starck  – In 2022, David Starck brought years of Lightning and One Design experience to the table winning several important Lightning Class regattas, nationally and internationally. Starck was the 2022 Lightning World Champion, Lighting North American Champion and Lightning Helly Hanson Sailing World Series Champion. He was also winner of the Overall Lightning Southern Circuit and Lightning Winter Championship. This would be Starck’s first Rolex. • Doug DeVos  – A well-known name in the TP52 class and sailing community at large, Doug DeVos was the overall winner of the 2022 TP52 Superseries as the skipper of Quantum Racing. DeVos and team took first place in all four of the series events, including the World Championship, Baiona Sailing Week, Royal Cup Scarlino, and Barcelona Sailing Week. • Ravi Parent  – The youngest man on the list of finalists, Ravi Parent has wasted no time setting records and winning titles across classes. In 2022, Parent became the first sailor to win the A Class Worlds, F18 European Championships, and F18 World Championship in the same year. Adding to that success, Parent won the A Cat Midwinters Championship and the A Class division at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Series. This would be Parent’s first Rolex.

The 2022 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award winners will be announced and presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces at a special presentation at the 2023 Sailing Leadership Forum on February 2 in St. Pete Beach, FL. The event will be held in conjunction with the US Sailing Association Awards at the TradeWinds Grand Resort.

Past Winners: 2021 – Harry Melges IV/Daniela Moroz 2020 – No awards due to pandemic 2019 – Mike Martin and Adam Lowry/Daniela Moroz 2018 – Jud Smith/Carmen and Emma Cowles 2017 – Peter Duncan/Erika Reineke 2016 – Caleb Paine/Daniela Moroz 2015 – Steve Benjamin/Annie Haeger 2014 – Terry Hutchinson/Stephanie Roble 2013 – Brian Porter/Jody Starck 2012 – Johnny Heineken/Jen French 2011 – Bill Hardesty/Anna Tunnicliffe 2010 – Stan Honey/Anna Tunnicliffe 2009 – Bora Gulari/Anna Tunnicliffe 2008 – Terry Hutchinson/Anna Tunnicliffe 2007 – Jeff Linton/Sally Barkow 2006 – Jud Smith/Paige Railey 2005 – Nick Scandone/Sally Barkow 2004 – Paul Foerster & Kevin Burnham/Jody Swanson 2003 – Augie Diaz/Hannah Swett 2002 – John Kostecki/Liz Baylis 2001 – Steve Fossett/Cory Sertl 2000 – Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl/JJ Isler & Pease Glaser 1999 – Eric Doyle/Dawn Riley 1998 – Paul Cayard /Betsy (Gelenitis) Alison 1997 – Chris Larson/JJ Isler 1996 – Dave Ullman/Courtenay (Becker) Dey 1995 – Ed Baird/Cory Sertl 1994 – Ken Read/Danielle Brennan 1993 – Cam Lewis/Betsy (Gelenitis) Alison 1992 – Kevin Mahaney/Julia Trotman 1991 – Ed Adams/JJ Isler 1990 – Jim Brady/Courtenay Becker 1989 – Larry Klein/Jody Swanson 1988 – John Kostecki/Allison Jolly & Lynne Jewell 1987 – Ed Adams/Susan Dierdorff Taylor 1986 – Dennis Conner/JJ Isler 1985 – Ken Read/Kathy Steele & Heidi Backus 1984 – Bill Buchan/Betsy Gelenitis 1983 – Dave Curtis/Wendy Thomson 1982 – Randy Smyth/Betsy Gelenitis 1981 – Dave Curtis/Betsy Gelenitis 1980 – Dennis Conner/Lynne Jewell 1979 – Ted Turner/Nell Taylor 1978 – Buddy Melges/Bonnie Shore 1977 – Ted Turner/Jan O’Malley 1976 – Lowell North/Allison Jolly 1975 – Dennis Conner/Joan Ellis 1974 – Ted Hood/Sally Lindsay 1973 – Ted Turner/Sally Lindsay 1972 – Buddy Melges/Jane Pegel 1971 – Ding Schoonmaker/Jane Pegel 1970 – Ted Turner/Jan O’Malley 1969 – Robert F. Johnson/Jan O’Malley 1968 – Lowell North/June Methot 1967 – Bus Mosbacher/Betty Foulk 1966 – Bill Cox/Jerie Clark 1965 – Dick Tillman/Timothea (Schneider) Larr 1964 – Bob Bavier/Jane Pegel 1963 – Joe Duplin/Leggie Mertz 1962 – Bus Mosbacher/Sue Sinclair 1961 – Buddy Melges/Timothea Schneider

Source: US Sailing

Tags: Daniela Moroz , David Starck , Doug DeVos , Laura Grondin , Ravi Parent , Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year , Sara Stone , US Sailing

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On Thursday, February 1, 2024, as part of US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium, the best U.S. sailor athletes of 2023 were honored among family, friends, peers, competitors, and contributors to the sport of sailing.

Charlie Enright (Barrington, RI) and Christina Wolfe (Orcas, WA) were awarded the 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award and were celebrated along with fellow 2023 award finalists Betsy Alison, Erika Reineke, Steve Hunt, and Allan Terhune, Jr.

The winners were presented with the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.

As Skipper, Charlie Enright led the 11th Hour Racing Team to become the first American flagged team to ever win The Ocean Race in 2023. In his third shot at the elusive Ocean Race Trophy, the win had been over 10 years in the making for his team, and over 6 years in the making for 11th Hour Racing.

Of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award, Charlie Enright said “It’s iconic. It makes me think of all the people who have come before all of us. I’ve done a lot of sailing with some of the other finalists who were nominated, and I’ve certainly learned a lot from all of them. This is an individual award in theory, but it takes a village no matter what you’re doing, and I can’t say enough about all the teammates that we had in this endeavor.”

Christina Wolfe is an accomplished offshore sailor, having put thousands of offshore miles under her belt. Wolfe is best known for her doublehanded sailing, which she does often with her husband, Justin. In 2023, Wolfe achieved 1st Overall ORC, 2nd Overall IRC, and Double-handed Line Honors in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, first female skipper overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and first in IRC 2 at the De Guingand Bowl, all achieved doublehanded.

“Never in a million years did I expect to be standing on this stage, let alone in the room with all of you,” said Christina Wolfe. “This is an incredible honor for me to be up here on this stage. I don’t sail for a living, but when I do sail, it’s the most alive that I feel, and I know many of you feel that as well. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do this, to see these iconic races, and to meet inspiring people.”

In January, three men and three women were chosen as finalists for US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. The annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. All nominees are highly distinguished and talented, and the nomination panel was especially impressed by their growth and depth of achievements. Yachtsman and Yachtswoman finalists earned their spot on this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. All six of these sailors represent their own unique pathway in the sport, have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, and have brought global recognition to sailing while representing the United States.

• Charlie Enright
• Christina Wolfe
• Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year

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Daniela Moroz, Ravi Parent selected as US Sailing's 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman and Yachtsman of the Year

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Rolex Yachtsman and Yatchswoman of the Year

• By Dave Reed
• Updated: January 15, 2016

Steve Benjamin and Annie Haeger today were named US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. These two sailors, at different stages of their sailing careers, amassed a year to remember and will be recognized as the best of 2015.

A total of 12 men and six women had been shortlisted for the 2015 honors based on nominations submitted by members of US Sailing, with these two sailors then selected for the noteworthy distinction by a diverse panel of sailing journalists.

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 considered the sport’s ultimate recognition of an individual’s outstanding on-the-water achievements for the calendar year. The winners will be honored on Thursday, March 3, 2016, during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces.

Rolex Yachtsman of the Year – Steve Benjamin (Norwalk, Conn.) has been named the 2015 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in recognition of a year that featured 10 wins, including the Etchells North American Championship in Rye, NY. Benjamin skippered his team to victory in the 35-boat fleet, aboard Terrapin. Benjamin, along with crew George Peet, Luke Lawrence and Julian Sudofsky, won the championship by 15 points through eight races.

Benjamin’s dominance in the Etchells went beyond the North American Championship. He placed second out of 43 boats at the World Championship in Hong Kong. His teams won at the Piana Cup, Long Island Sound Championship and Coral Reef Cup, among others.

In reflecting back on his successes, Benjamin commented on how everything came together for him and his teams in 2015. “It came down to all the quality time we were able to spend on the water together. We raced and practiced so much this year, it really helped us continue to improve from one event to the next, and be better teams.”

“This award goes to all the great sailors and crew I’ve had the opportunity to race with this year,” added Benjamin. “I had some incredible team members to help me every step of the way, and perhaps the biggest supporter of them all is my wife, Heidi.”

Steve and Heidi Benjamin’s Carkeek 40, SPOOKIE, had a clean sweep of overall wins in every offshore race they entered in 2015, including Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Marblehead to Halifax, Ida Lewis Distance Race, and the Vineyard Race.

“I’ve been at this a long time, so this is truly an astonishing honor.”

Benjamin, son of a boatyard owner, started sailing at the age of nine when his parents introduced him to the sport through a junior sailing program at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, NY. Benjamin went on to experience an outstanding college sailing career. He earned College Sailor of the Year honors in 1978 as a member of the Yale University sailing team.

Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year – Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisc.) has been named the 2015 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in recognition of her impressive list of top results in 470 Class competition throughout 2015.

Haeger and crew Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) made their mark on the international stage by winning gold at the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They won the event by seven points through 10 races in a highly competitive fleet featuring the gold and silver medal-winning boats from the London 2012 Games.

“Winning gold at the Olympic Test Event was a major confidence booster, and it reinforced that if we can earn US Olympic Team selection we have a chance to medal at the Games.”

Haeger and Provancha experienced success in other high-caliber women’s 470 events, including the European Championship (3rd place) and the South American Championship (4th place).

“Winning this award was never something I was ever expecting or aiming for, since Briana and I have been totally focused on the Olympics,” said Haeger. “To be on a list with so many amazing sailors, and to win this on behalf of my incredible teammate and the US Sailing Team Sperry, is unbelievable. I am just so honored.”

“In winning this award, I’m not representing myself, but Team Haeger/Provancha as a whole. I am very blessed to have Briana in the front of my boat. I think she is the best crew in the United States.” Haeger also noted that her fellow national team athletes have played a prominent role in her development. “Our US Sailing Team Sperry veterans like Stu McNay, Dave Hughes, and Paige Railey have pushed us to improve. They have been so helpful, and we want to represent them well.”

Haeger started sailing at age eight on Lake Beulah in Wisconsin. Coincidentally, she was in the same “Learn to Sail” junior sailing program as the 2014 Yachtswoman of the Year, Stephanie Roble.

In parallel with the Yachtsman of the Year, Steve Benjamin, Haeger was also a tremendously successful college sailor. She was named College Sailor of Year in 2011 and a three-time ICSA Women’s Singlehanded National Champion as a member of the Boston College sailing team.

Steve Benjamin

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US Sailing Reveals Shortlist for Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award

The release by US Sailing of the annual shortlist for the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award has resulted in a shorter list than in previous years, with just three men and three women being included. This has prompted questions about who didn’t make the cut, emphasizing the influence of the nominating committee, whose basis for decisions is not known. The finalists are presented to voting groups of past award winners and sailing media journalists for final selection.

The reduction of the shortlist for the prestigious award raises questions about the selection process and the influence of the nominating committee, highlighting the subjective nature of the assessment of achievement for the award.

• Shortlist consists of three men and three women
• Finalists are presented to voting groups of past award winners and sailing media journalists for final selection
• US Sailing has released the annual shortlist for the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award
• Final selection of the winners involves past award winners and sailing media journalists

The reduction of the shortlist for the prestigious award has raised questions about the transparency and influence of the nominating committee, underscoring the subjectivity of the assessment of achievement for the award.

The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI

Scuttlebutt Sailing News • Editor

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• Christina Wolfe of Orcas Island Wins Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year!
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48° North contributor, Red Ruby Report columnist, and PNW sailor extraordinaire, Christina Wolfe, has been given an enormous honor, being selected as this year’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

We will be so excited to connect with Chris to congratulate her and hear more from her directly (and offer some more personalized coverage), but we didn’t want to sit on this news! This is an exceptional — and well deserved — recognition given to an awesome sailor and person. Huge congratulations, Chris, you’ve done the Pacific Northwest sailing community so proud in so many ways!

Here’s the press release from US Sailing with the announcement about Chris and the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Charlie Enright:

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, as part of US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium, the best U.S. sailor athletes of 2023 were honored among family, friends, peers, competitors, and contributors to the sport of sailing.   Charlie Enright ( Barrington, RI ) and Christina Wolfe ( Orcas, WA ) were awarded the 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award and were celebrated along with fellow 2023 award finalists Betsy Alison, Erika Reineke, Steve Hunt, and Allan Terhune, Jr.   The winners were presented with the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.    As Skipper, Charlie Enright led the 11th Hour Racing Team to become the first American flagged team to ever win The Ocean Race in 2023. In his third shot at the elusive Ocean Race Trophy, the win had been over 10 years in the making for his team, and over 6 years in the making for 11th Hour Racing.      Of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award, Charlie Enright said “It’s iconic. It makes me think of all the people who have come before all of us. I’ve done a lot of sailing with some of the other finalists who were nominated, and I’ve certainly learned a lot from all of them. This is an individual award in theory, but it takes a village no matter what you’re doing, and I can’t say enough about all the teammates that we had in this endeavor.”   Christina Wolfe is an accomplished offshore sailor, having put thousands of offshore miles under her belt. Wolfe is best known for her doublehanded sailing, which she does often with her husband, Justin. In 2023, Wolfe achieved 1st Overall ORC, 2nd Overall IRC, and Double-handed Line Honors in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, first female skipper overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and first in IRC 2 at the De Guingand Bowl, all achieved doublehanded.     “Never in a million years did I expect to be standing on this stage, let alone in the room with all of you,” said Christina Wolfe. “This is an incredible honor for me to be up here on this stage. I don’t sail for a living, but when I do sail, it’s the most alive that I feel, and I know many of you feel that as well. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do this, to see these iconic races, and to meet inspiring people.”   In January, three men and three women were chosen as finalists for US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. The annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. All nominees are highly distinguished and talented, and the nomination panel was especially impressed by their growth and depth of achievements. Yachtsman and Yachtswoman finalists earned their spot on this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. All six of these sailors represent their own unique pathway in the sport, have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, and have brought global recognition to sailing while representing the United States.   A recording of the ceremony is available here .

48° North Editors are committed to telling the best stories from the world of Pacific Northwest boating. We live and breathe this stuff, and share your passion for the boat life. Feel free to keep in touch with tips, stories, photos, and feedback at [email protected].

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Home  News  US Sailing Announces 2019 Rolex Yachtsmen and Yachtswoman of the Year Winners Aboard USS Midway

US Sailing Announces 2019 Rolex Yachtsmen and Yachtswoman of the Year Winners Aboard USS Midway

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (February 7, 2020) – On Thursday night under the stars aboard the historic and storied USS Midway in San Diego at Navy Pier, the best best U.S. sailor athletes of 2019 were honored among family, friends, peers, competitors, and contributors to the sport of sailing.

International 505 World Champions, Mike Martin (Mill Valley, Calif.) and Adam Lowry (Mill Valley, Calif.) and IKA Formula Kite Class World Champion Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, Calif.) earned this year’s special distinction and were celebrated along with the 2019 award finalists who were all participating in the evening program’s festivities.

“I turned 19 last week and today I have a Rolex® from US Sailing and this prestigious honor,” said Daniela Moroz, Yachtswoman of the Year.” I want to congratulate all the other finalists and those that have come before me.”

“Sailing is a team effort and I want to thank Rolex® for supporting our sport,” said Mike Martin, Yachtsman of the Year. Adding to the special evening, his co-award winner and sailing partner Adam Lowry shared, “It is all about business out on the water, but we have fun and it was a great year. I too want to thank Rolex® as well as US Sailing for the honor.”

Moroz also won this award as a 16 year old in 2016 becoming the youngest ever to claim the prize. She was also the first kiteboarder to receive this award.

In February, the top performing U.S. sailors of the year were shortlisted for US Sailing’s 2019 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. The annual determination of this year’s awards represented a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines in the sport.

Martin earns his first Rolex Yachtsman of the Year after being shortlisted for the award six times over the years.

The winners were presented with US Sailing’s Rolex® Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex® timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.

The 2019 finalists were listed on a ballot and presented to panels of past award winners and sailing media journalists who voted for the winners. In an exciting twist to this year’s process, the fans had an opportunity to be part of the selection process and vote online for the 2019 winners. Votes from the three voting groups, including the sailing media, past award winners, and the fans counted equally towards determining the winners.

“Being in San Diego for the first time it has brought us the biggest crowds in the history of the awards,” said Gary Jobson, Emcee and Past President US Sailing. “Another first, we introduced the public vote component, which was well received. Everyone should feel proud. It is a great honor and hopefully tonight everyone in attendance will go on and inspire others in the future to strive for this prestigious award.”

“Rolex® has been a partner with US Sailing for 40 years,” said Kyle Younghans, Rolex® Marketing Director. “It is a tremendous event and we at Rolex ® want to congratulate the winners. It is a privilege to support the sport and celebrate the best of the best that embody the values of Rolex® elegance, precision, performance.”

Learn more about the 2019 award winners:

Mike Martin (Mill Valley, Calif.) and Adam Lowry (Mill Valley, Calif.): It was yet another triumphant season on the 505 circuit for Mike Martin and Adam Lowry. The California tandem won the 2019 International 505 World Championships held in Fremantle, Australia in January. They defeated the large fleet of 89 teams with a dominating performance. Martin and Lowry clinched the regatta before the final day of racing and did not race in the final two races of the championship and still won by 14-points over Mike Holt and Carl Smit. The win for Martin marked his fourth 505 World Championship, and for Lowry it was his second.

2019 Sailing Resume Highlights:

International 505 World Championship Fremantle, Australia / January 2-7, 2019 Results: 1/89  

505 North American Championship Ontario, Canada / August 22-26, 2019 Results: 1/39

505 Canadian Championship (CORK) Ontario, Canada / August 16-18, 2019 Results: 1/23

Columbia Gorge One-Design Regatta- 505 Portland, OR / July 26-28, 2019 Results: 1/21

Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, Calif.): Kiting phenom Daniela Moroz makes the shortlist for the fourth consecutive year. In 2016, she became the youngest to ever win the award, female or male, at the age of 15 when she burst onto the kite foiling scene. Moroz once again defended her Formula Kite World Championship with a resounding victory on Lake Garda in Italy, her fourth consecutive World Championship against a growing and increasingly talented women’s fleet of 30 competitors. Moroz continued her dominance by winning five of seven races and placing second in the two races she did not win. She won by three points over Russian challenger Elena Kalinina.

IKA Formula Kite Class World Championship Lake Garda, Italy / May 1-5, 2019 Results: 1/29

European Championship Sardinia, Italy / September 25-29, 2019 Results: 1/30

ANOC World Beach Games Katara Beach, Qatar / October 13-15, 2019 Results: 1/20

Hempel World Cup Series Finale Marseille, France / June 2-9, 2019 Overall Results: 12/20 Women’s Results: 1/4

Kite Foil World Series Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy / October 2-6, 2019 Overall results: 18/64 Women’s results: 1/23

Kite Foil World Series Gizzeria, Italy / July 24-28, 2019 Overall Results: 18/80 Women’s Results: 1/20

Kite Foil World Series Weifang Beihai, China / September 5-9, 2019 Overall Results: 12/35 Women’s Results: 1/9

Kite Foil World Series Pingtan, China / September 12-17, 2019 Overall Results: 12/27 Women’s Results: 1/8

Congratulations to all the 2019 finalists:

Yachtsman Finalists – David and Peter Askew; Mike Martin and Adam Lowry; Willem Van Waay

Yachtswoman Finalists – Nicole Breault; Daniela Moroz; Berta Puig and Bella Casaretto

US Sailing Communications: Jake Fish, [email protected]

About US Sailing The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501© (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org .

A Natural and Supportive Partner Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. It naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and today supports the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas. The brand is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races, such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting new SailGP global championship, where national teams race in supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbors. Rolex’s partnerships with the likes of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Malta Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

About Rolex® An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise.

Rolex®, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex® Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex® to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. Rolex® has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex® designs, develops and produces in-house the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, Rolex® is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.

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