US shortlists

Top names present in the nominees for US Sailing's 2005 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

US Sailing has announced the US sailors who have been shortlisted for its 2005 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Established in 1961 the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognise outstanding on-the-water achievement in the calendar year just concluded. Widely regarded as the sport's ultimate recognition for US sailors, the awards have honoured such sailing standouts as Betsy Alison, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner, Courtenay Dey, JJ Isler, John Kostecki, Jody Swanson and Ted Turner, all of whom have won the coveted award multiple times.

Nominees for US Sailing's 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year are:

- Kiel Week 470 Men's Champion Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Coronado, Calif.)
- Laser North American Champion and World University Games Gold Medalist Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.)
- Snipe World Champion Augie Diaz (Miami, Fla.)
- Kiel Week 470 Men's Champion David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.)
- J/24 and Thistle National Champion Mike Ingham (Rochester, N.Y.)
- Etchells World Champion Jeff Linton (Tampa, Fla.)
- A-Class Catamaran World and North American Champion Pete Melvin (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
- 2.4 Metre World Champion Nick Scandone (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
- Star North American and Snipe National Champion George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.).

Nominees for US Sailing's 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year are:
Yngling Women's World Champion Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.)
Laser Radial World Champion Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.);
Laser Radial World Bronze Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe (Perrysburg, Ohio/Plantation, Fla.).

The nominees will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists, who together will discuss the merits of each nominee and vote by secret ballot to determine US Sailing's 2005 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The winners will be announced in January and honored during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in New York City, on February 24, 2006, where they will be presented with Rolex timepieces.