US Sailing is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards, widely acknowledged as the foremost individual sailing honors in the nation. Through November 30, 2016, each member of US Sailing may nominate the one male and one female sailor they believe has turned in the most outstanding on-the-water performance during the 2016 calendar year. Nominations can be made online through US Sailing’s website at rolex.ussailing.org.

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. sailor who has demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and/or national events to earn their place in the history of the sport.

For the 2015 competitive season, first-time winners Steve Benjamin of Norwalk, CT and Anne Haeger of East Troy, WI were awarded the prestigious distinction. Previous recipients who have earned the honor multiple times include, Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner, JJ Fetter, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Lowell North, Jan O’Malley, Jane Pegel, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Jody Starck, Anna Tunnicliffe and Ted Turner.

At the conclusion of the nomination period, a shortlist of nominees will be presented to a panel of accomplished sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each and vote by secret ballot to determine the individual award winners. The winners will be honored in late February during a luncheon at New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces.

These prestigious awards are viewed by the sail-racing industry as among the nation’s top sailing distinctions. A slate of nominees, determined by the membership of US Sailing, is presented to a panel of accomplished sailing journalists, who together discuss the merits of each nominee and then vote to determine the ultimate winners.

US Sailing is now accepting nominations through November 30, 2016. Each member of US Sailing may nominate the one male and one female sailor they believe has turned in the most outstanding on-the-water performance during the 2016 calendar year.

Who is your choice for US Sailing’s 2016 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year? Submit your nomination(s) at rolex.ussailing.org.

Source : http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2016/10/05/nominations-open-2016-rolex-yachtsman-yachtswoman-year/