Nominations open

News of US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards

As the sailing season winds down in northern parts of the country, numerous major regattas are yet to be held, and the time is just right to start thinking of nominees for US Sailing's 2005 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. Peers, heroes, prodigies--anyone from the U.S. can be nominated if they have turned in a notable performance in 2005. Nominations open in three weeks, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and close Wednesday, November 30.

The awards are presented annually to the individual U.S. sailors who demonstrate excellence through outstanding on-the-water achievement during the year at national and/or international events. For 2004, Olympic Gold medalists Paul Foerster and Kevin Burnham as well as Jody Swanson won this prestigious distinction to join a long list of sailing luminaries and legends, including Betsy Alison, Liz Baylis, Ed Baird, Paul Cayard, Dennis Conner, Steve Fossett, JJ Isler, John Kostecki, Dawn Riley, Cory Sertl and Ted Turner.

After the nomination period ends on November 30, a shortlist of nominees is presented to a panel of noted sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each and vote by secret ballot to determine the award winners. The winners each will be presented with a specially-engraved Rolex timepiece and the perpetual Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Trophy: a Steuben crystal interpretation of the yacht America.

US Sailing members will be able to nominate their favorite outstanding male and female sailors for the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards through the web site http://www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex