US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award: Selection Procedures

by

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. US Sailing will begin accepting nominations in the spring of each year. The nomination period will close on a date to be published by US Sailing.
  2. 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.

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 December 31 will not be considered for the Award.

All Nominees will be listed on US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award webpage.

Selection of Finalists.

  1. US Sailing will establish a 10 member US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award Finalist Selection Committee (the “Finalist Selection Committee”). The Finalist Selection 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”).
  2. The Finalist Selection Committee will be composed of the following individuals, all of whom shall have extensive knowledge and experience regarding international high-performance sailing:
    1. The US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award Chair, who shall preside over the selection process in accordance with the procedures contained herein.
    2. Two US Sailing staff members.

Two US Sailing Board members.

  1. Two representatives of prominent sailing media outlets.
  2. Two past winners of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year or Yachtswoman of the Year Award.
  3. One judge/umpire/race officer.
  1. The US Sailing Board of Directors shall approve all members of the Finalist Selection Committee. The members of the Finalist Selection Committee.
  2. The Finalist Selection Committee shall consider the following criteria when evaluating each Nominee’s resume and in determining the Finalists:
    1. Results within a calendar year only.
    2. Caliber of events on a Nominee’s resume.

Fleet depth.

  1. Weight of competition.
  2. Position on boat.
  3. Crew members.

Personal integrity.

Amateur v Pro.

Each member of the Finalist Selection 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.

Once the Finalists are determined, US Sailing will notify all Finalists of their selection and will announce the list of Finalists publicly.

 

Selection of Winners.

    1. 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:
      1. 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
      2. Past winners of the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award (hereinafter “Past Winners”).
    2. Voting process.
      1. Media Voters and Past Winners will not be provided any information regarding the Finalist Selection Committee’s ranking of Finalists.
      2. 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.
    • 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.