US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards
Think Excellence

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (Sept. 12, 2005) -- 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.

US SAILING's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year 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 US SAILING web site www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex. Check the Sailing News Archives on US SAILING’s website for past U.S. events and top performers, bearing in mind that several regattas--including, in September, US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship--occur within the qualifying time span. The nominees do not have to have sailed specifically in a U.S. championship, but nominations can only be made by US SAILING members for U.S. sailors.

About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Since Rolex Watch U.S.A. first presented timepieces to America's Cup defenders in 1958, the company has consistently recognized and encouraged excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing, including Olympic Games preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, and offshore, one-design and women's events.

The Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards join other prestigious Rolex-sponsored events including US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, International Rolex Regatta, Rolex IMS World Championship, Giraglia Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan American Regatta, Rolex Commodores' Cup and the New York Yacht Club's Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex.

About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization's mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including the US Sailing Teams and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.  

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