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. sailors who have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events to earn their place in the history of the sport. These prestigious awards are widely viewed by the sail-racing industry as the foremost individual competitive sailing honors in the nation.
US Sailing Announces Nominees for 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year
BRISTOL, R.I. (December 16, 2024) – US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport, is pleased to announce nominees for the 2024 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, widely acknowledged as the premier individual sailing honors in the nation. Sailors who are United States citizens and have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at national and international events bringing global recognition to sailing in the United States in the calendar year, are encouraged to apply.
Nominations close Wednesday, December 18. To nominate for Yachtsman of the Year, click HERE. To nominate for Yachtswoman of the Year, click HERE
2024 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Nominees
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- Makani Andrews
- Ian Barrows and Hans Henken
- Conner Blouin
- Justin Callahan
- Howard Hamlin
- Johnny Heineken
- Ford McCann
- Harry Melges IV
- Travis Odenbach
- Chris Poole
- Austin Sperry
- David Starck
- Jeremy Wilmot
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2024 Yachtswoman of the Year Nominees
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- Cole Brauer
- Isabella Mendoza Cabezas
- Catherine Chimney
- Paris Henken
- Evelyn Hull
- Monica Morgan
- Erika Reineke
- Charlotte Rose
- Chelsea Simms
- Annie and Molly Sitzmann
- Hannah Swett
- Fiona Wylde
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Established in 1961 by US Sailing and in partnership with Rolex since 1980, US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award recognizes the individual male and female American sailors who have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, bringing global recognition to sailing in the United States. Previous winners include world champions, offshore record holders, America’s Cup winners, and more.
“The strength of the 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nominee classes is a testament to the dedication, talent, and passion that drives our sport forward in America,” says Henry Brauer, President, US Sailing. “These sailors have shown extraordinary commitment to excellence, and we deeply appreciate the sailing community for recognizing and nominating them. Their achievements inspire us all and demonstrate the vitality of sailing across the country.”
New this year, US Sailing opened the nomination period in the spring, instead of the fall as in past years. This decision was made to enable a larger nomination pool and acknowledge the year-round participation of the sport.
Additionally, US Sailing has published its Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year selection process, which can be found below.
Following closure of the nomination period, US Sailing’s Yachtsman and Yachtswoman nominating committee, approved by the Board of Directors, will select three finalists for both the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award based on the merits of the nominees. The finalists will be posted to a ballot and presented to voting groups of past award winners and sailing media journalists who will vote for the winners. Winners will be announced in a ceremony in February 2025 at US Sailing’s Sailing Leadership Forum in Coronado, California. Details to be announced.
US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award: Selection Procedures
Beacon Statement
Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex Watch, U.S.A. since 1980, the US Sailing Rolex
Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award recognizes the individual male and female U.S. sailors
who have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events bringing global
recognition to sailing in the United States. To earn their place in the history of the sport these sailors are
US citizens who are proven stewards of the sport, demonstrate sportsmanship on and off the water, and
achieve the highest level of success in prominent international, continental, and national championship
sailing competitions in a calendar year.
1. Nomination.
a. US Sailing announce annually the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nomination
period.
b. Any person who wishes to nominate a sailor for the Yachtsman of the Year or Yachtswoman
of the Year awards (hereinafter a “Nominee”) must complete and submit US Sailing’s Rolex
Yachtsman or Yachtswoman of the Year Award Nomination Form not later than the close of
nominations.
c. US Sailing will notify all Nominees of their nomination. Each Nominee will be directed to
complete a detailed Resume Form. Any Nominee who fails to complete a Resume Form prior
to the deadline set by US Sailing will not be considered for the Award.
d. All Nominees will be listed on US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year
Award webpage.
2. Selection of Finalists.
a. US Sailing will establish a 10 member US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the
Year Award Shortlist Selection Committee (the “Shortlist Committee”). The Shortlist
Committee will review and consider all Nominee resumes and be responsible for selecting
three Rolex Yachtsman of the Year finalists and three Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year finalists
(hereinafter the “Finalists”).
b. The Shortlist Committee will be composed of the following members, all of whom shall have
extensive knowledge and experience regarding international high-performance sailing:
i. 3 members of the sailing media.
ii. 3 past Rolex Yachtsman or Yachtswoman of the Year Award winners.
iii. 1 US Sailing staff member.iv. 1 representative from US Sailing’s race official/judge community with experience at
the highest levels of the sport.
v. 2 at large members/key stakeholders with a proven background and expertise in high
performance sailing.
c. The US Sailing Board of Directors shall approve all members of the Shortlist Committee.
d. The Shortlist Committee shall consider the following criteria when evaluating each Nominee’s
resume and in determining the Finalists:
i. Results within a calendar year only.
ii. Caliber of events on a Nominee’s resume.
iii. Fleet depth.
iv. Weight of competition.
v. The Nominee’s position on boat.
vi. Crew members.
vii. Sportsmanship.
viii. Amateur v Pro.
e. Each member of the Shortlist Committee will submit a confidential electronic ballot to US
Sailing containing his/her top three Nominees for the Yachtsman of the Year and
Yachtswoman of the Year in ranked order. Votes will be weighted as follows:
– 1st Place Votes – 3 points.
– 2nd Place Votes – 2 points.
– 3rd Place Votes – 1 point.
US Sailing will calculate each Nominee’s total points received. The three Nominees who
receive the most total points will become the Finalists for the Yachtsman of the Year and
Yachtswoman of the Year award. In the event of a tie between two or more Nominees for the
third highest point totals, the Nominee who received the most total votes will be the Finalist.
If a tie remains, the Nominee who received the most 1st place votes will be the Finalist. If a tie
still remains, the Nominee who received the most 1st and 2nd place votes will be the Finalist.
f. Once the Finalists are determined, US Sailing will notify all Finalists of their selection and will
announce the list of Finalists publicly.
3. Selection of Winners.
a. Voter Composition. The US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Yachtswoman of the Year
will be determined as prescribed under Section 3(b) by two voting groups:
i. Members of the sailing media selected by the US Sailing Board of Directors who possess
extensive knowledge and experience regarding international high-performance sailing
(hereinafter “Media Voters”), and
ii. Past winners of the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award (hereinafter “Past
Winners”).
b. Voting process.
i. Media Voters and Past Winners will not be provided any information regarding the
Shortlist Committee’s ranking of Finalists.
ii. Media Voters and Past Winners will submit a confidential electronic ballot to US Sailing
containing each voter’s top three Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award
winners in ranked order. Votes will be weighted as follows:- 1st Place Votes – 3 points.
– 2nd Place Votes – 2 points.
– 3rd Place Votes – 1 point.
iii. The winners of the US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Yachtswoman of the
Year Awards will be determined by US Sailing as follows:
– Votes cast by Media Voters and Past Winners will be weighted equally between
the two voting groups.
– US Sailing will calculate each Finalist’s total weighted points received. The Finalist
who receives the most total points will be named the US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman
of the Year and Yachtswoman of the Year.
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.
VIEW RECORDING OF THE CEREMONY
Past Winners
2023 – Christina Wolfe / Charlie Enright
2022 – Ravi Parent / Daniela Moroz
2021 – Harry Melges IV / Daniela Moroz
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Mike Martin & Adam Lowry/Daniela Moroz
2018 – Jud Smith/Carmen & 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