US awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards

US Sailing is now accepting nominations for the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. These prestigious awards are presented annually to the individual yachtsman and yachtswoman who demonstrate excellence through outstanding on-the-water achievement during the current year. They are considered the highest individual honours in sailing in the United States. Members of US Sailing can now nominate their favorite male and female sailors on the organization's website at www.ussailing.org.

Nominations will be accepted up until 30 November, 2003, after which they will be presented to a panel of noted sailing journalists. This panel will discuss the merits of each nominee and vote by secret ballot to determine the award winners. The winners will be presented with a Rolex timepiece and a trophy.

Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex Watch USA since 1980, the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year are among US Sailing’s most prestigious distinctions. Previous winners of the awards include John Kostecki and Liz Baylis in 2002, as well as Betsy Alison, Ed Baird, Paul Cayard, Steve Fossett, Dawn Riley, Cory Sertl, and Ted Turner in earlier years.

The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organisation's mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the US. US Sailing offers training and education programs, develops and supports a wide range of sailing organisations, associations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country.