Shortlist Announced for US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing, 401.683.0800 x614 or
Jan Harley, Media Pro Int’l for Rolex Watch U.S.A., 401.849.0220
The Best in the U.S. for 2012
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (December 19, 2012) – With the record books about to close on another year of racing, US Sailing is celebrating the most outstanding performances of the year with the release of its shortlist of nominees for the 2012 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Those making the 2012 shortlist represent the diversity of the sport from kite boarders to one-design champions.
Nominees shortlisted for US Sailing's 2012 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award: Audi Melges 32 European Champion Jason Carroll (New York, N.Y. ); SKUD-18 Paralympic Silver Medalist JP Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.); IKA Speed Sailing World Champion Rob Douglas (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.); Kiteboarding World Champion Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.); Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Bill Hardesty (San Diego, Calif.); Melges 32 World Champion John Kilroy (Los Angeles, Calif. ); J/24 North American Champion John Mollicone (Newport, R.I.); and Delta Lloyd Regatta Finn Champion Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.).
Nominees shortlisted for US Sailing’s 2012 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award: ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship Bronze Medalist Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.); Skandia Sail for Gold Silver Medalist Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.); Farr 30 World Champion Deneen Demourkas (Santa Barbara, Calif.); SKUD-18 Paralympic Silver Medalist Jen French (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Kiteboard Racing World Champion Erica Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.); and Princess Sofia Trophy Elliott 6m Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.).
The nominees will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each nominee and vote to determine US Sailing's 2012 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The winners will be announced in January and honored on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, during a luncheon at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, when they will be presented with Rolex timepieces.
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 are considered the sport's ultimate recognition of an individual’s outstanding on-the-water achievements for the calendar year. Over its history the coveted award has been presented to 39 men and 32 women, including these distinguished sailors who have claimed the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dennis Conner, JJ Isler, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Jody Swanson and Ted Turner.
For highlights from the year’s racing results for each nominee, please visit: http://about.ussailing.org/Awards/Rolex.htm.
Photo credits to Amory Ross / US Sailing, Mick Anderson / US Sailing, USOC, Rolex, Pixi Vision Productions, Melges 32 Class
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, 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 Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its OYSTER watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the OYSTER, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the PERPETUAL rotor self-winding mechanism, introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic and patronage programs.
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