US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards
Save the Dates!
Rolex & US Sailing: Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence
Click to Watch on The Starboard Portal – Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
Rolex Yachtsman of the Year: March 18, 2021 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
BRISTOL, R.I. (February 23, 2021) – Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. since 1980, the annual presentation of US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognize the individual male and female U.S. sailors who have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events.
Due to the global pandemic’s impact on international and national competitive racing events, US Sailing made the difficult decision not to present the awards in 2020. US Sailing and Rolex plan on re-activating the awards in 2021.
The 2020 annual presentation would have marked the 40th Anniversary of the Rolex sponsorship of these prestigious awards. To properly celebrate the milestone and recognize these great sailors, US Sailing and Rolex have invited four past winners of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and four past winners of the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year to The Starboard Portal for two LIVE program panel discussions moderated by National Sailing Hall of Famer and long-time Master of Ceremonies for the awards, Gary Jobson.
Jobson and the past winners will share stories, discuss what the future holds for competitive sailing in the United States, talk about what they are doing now, and the impact they have had on the sailing world since winning the awards.
Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year: March 4, 2021 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT – Click to WATCH!
- Betsy Alison (1998, 1993, 1984, 1982, 1981)
- JJ Fetter (2000, 1997, 1991, 1986)
- Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)
- Daniela Moroz (2019, 2016)
Rolex Yachtsman of the Year: March 18, 2021 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
- Paul Cayard (1998)
- Ed Baird (1995)
- Stan Honey (2010)
- Johnny Heineken (2012)
Save the Dates and Tune in LIVE to The Starboard Portal: https://www.ussailing.org/starboard-portal/
US Sailing Communications: Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Rolex and Yachting
A Natural and Supportive Partner
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the New York Yacht Club, St Francis Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Yacht Club Italiano among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.