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Charlie Enright and Christina Wolfe Named US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year

BRISTON, R.I.— The celebration of excellence in American sailing took center stage on Feb. 1, as US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium included recognition of the top U.S. sailor athletes of 2023. Among a gathering of family, friends, peers, competitors and sailing enthusiasts, Charlie Enright of Barrington, R.I., and Christina Wolfe of Orcas, Wash., stood out as recipients of the prestigious 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award.

They were joined in celebration by fellow 2023 award finalists Betsy Alison, Erika Reineke, Steve Hunt and Allan Terhune, Jr.

Enright and Wolfe were presented with the coveted trophy, accompanied by specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces, marking their induction into an esteemed group of national sailing luminaries.

For Enright, skipper of the 11th Hour Racing Team, the honor was a culmination of years of dedication and perseverance. After leading his team to a historic victory as the first American-flagged team to triumph in the Ocean Race in 2023, Enright reflected on the collective effort behind the achievement, acknowledging the contributions of his teammates and competitors.

Wolfe’s accomplishments as an offshore sailor garnered well-deserved recognition. With numerous accolades to her name, including notable achievements in double-handed sailing alongside her husband, Justin, Wolfe’s passion for the sport was evident as she expressed gratitude for the unexpected honor.

The selection process for the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year commenced in January, with three men and three women vying for the prestigious titles. The finalists represented a diverse array of sailing disciplines and career stages.

The annual awards not only recognize individual excellence, but also highlight the collective achievements of the sailing community, showcasing the breadth and depth of talent within the sport. The winners’ and finalists’ journeys serve as inspirations, embodying the spirit of sailing while bringing acclaim to the U.S. on the global stage.

To view a recording of the ceremony, please visit https://vimeo.com/event/4060970. Charlie Enright and Christina Wolfe Named US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year

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Daniela Moroz, Ravi Parent selected as US Sailing's 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman and Yachtsman of the Year

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• Christina Wolfe of Orcas Island Wins Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year!
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48° North contributor, Red Ruby Report columnist, and PNW sailor extraordinaire, Christina Wolfe, has been given an enormous honor, being selected as this year’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

We will be so excited to connect with Chris to congratulate her and hear more from her directly (and offer some more personalized coverage), but we didn’t want to sit on this news! This is an exceptional — and well deserved — recognition given to an awesome sailor and person. Huge congratulations, Chris, you’ve done the Pacific Northwest sailing community so proud in so many ways!

Here’s the press release from US Sailing with the announcement about Chris and the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Charlie Enright:

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, as part of US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium, the best U.S. sailor athletes of 2023 were honored among family, friends, peers, competitors, and contributors to the sport of sailing.   Charlie Enright ( Barrington, RI ) and Christina Wolfe ( Orcas, WA ) were awarded the 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award and were celebrated along with fellow 2023 award finalists Betsy Alison, Erika Reineke, Steve Hunt, and Allan Terhune, Jr.   The winners were presented with the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.    As Skipper, Charlie Enright led the 11th Hour Racing Team to become the first American flagged team to ever win The Ocean Race in 2023. In his third shot at the elusive Ocean Race Trophy, the win had been over 10 years in the making for his team, and over 6 years in the making for 11th Hour Racing.      Of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award, Charlie Enright said “It’s iconic. It makes me think of all the people who have come before all of us. I’ve done a lot of sailing with some of the other finalists who were nominated, and I’ve certainly learned a lot from all of them. This is an individual award in theory, but it takes a village no matter what you’re doing, and I can’t say enough about all the teammates that we had in this endeavor.”   Christina Wolfe is an accomplished offshore sailor, having put thousands of offshore miles under her belt. Wolfe is best known for her doublehanded sailing, which she does often with her husband, Justin. In 2023, Wolfe achieved 1st Overall ORC, 2nd Overall IRC, and Double-handed Line Honors in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, first female skipper overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and first in IRC 2 at the De Guingand Bowl, all achieved doublehanded.     “Never in a million years did I expect to be standing on this stage, let alone in the room with all of you,” said Christina Wolfe. “This is an incredible honor for me to be up here on this stage. I don’t sail for a living, but when I do sail, it’s the most alive that I feel, and I know many of you feel that as well. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do this, to see these iconic races, and to meet inspiring people.”   In January, three men and three women were chosen as finalists for US Sailing’s 2023 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards. The annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. All nominees are highly distinguished and talented, and the nomination panel was especially impressed by their growth and depth of achievements. Yachtsman and Yachtswoman finalists earned their spot on this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. All six of these sailors represent their own unique pathway in the sport, have demonstrated on-the-water excellence at international and national events, and have brought global recognition to sailing while representing the United States.   A recording of the ceremony is available here .

48° North Editors are committed to telling the best stories from the world of Pacific Northwest boating. We live and breathe this stuff, and share your passion for the boat life. Feel free to keep in touch with tips, stories, photos, and feedback at [email protected].

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Yachtsman Finalists – Conner Blouin, Dave Hughes, Erik Shampain, Harry Melges IV, Taylor Canfield Yachtswoman Finalists – Anna Weis, Daniela Moroz, Laura Grondin, Nicole Breault

Five men and four women have been shortlisted for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Once again, the annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. The five Yachtsman finalists earned their way on to this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. The four Yachtswoman finalists represent a wide array experience and sailing disciplines, and each had a 2021 to remember. All nine of these sailors represent their own unique pathway to the shortlist after a triumphant season on the water in their respective boats.

Some of these sailors were selected based on their consistent exceptional performances throughout the 2021 season and some were chosen for their signature win(s) at major international or national events. These sailors have each mastered their craft and have focused on the importance of precision and performance in their competitive sailing efforts.

Finalists for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award (in alphabetical order by first name):

Conner Blouin  – The 2021 Sunfish North American Champion dominated the 83-boat fleet and also finished 3 rd  at the 100 boat Sunfish World Championships. Additionally, Blouin won the prestigious US Sailing Championship of Champions, sailed in Lightnings, as well as winning the WASZP North American Championship.

Dave Hughes  – In 2021, the versatile “super crew” was part of National Championship teams in 3 different classes, Etchells, J/24s, and the Atlantic Class. Additionally, Hughes and his long-time teammate, Stu McNay, won the 470 North American Champs and the US Open Sailing Series Miami, and finished 5 th  in the World Championships and 9 th  in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (sailed in 2021).

Erik Shampain  – 2021 was a year to remember for Shampain as his teams dominated major events across multiple classes and disciplines. Winning the J/70 Pre-Worlds event and then finishing 2 nd  at the Worlds Championship, Shampain’s teams also won the Etchells Midwinters West, finished second in the Midwinters East, and finished 3 rd  at the North American Championship. Additionally, Shampain was part of the Melges 24 National Championship team, the winning Congressional Cup team, a 3 rd  place Ficker Cup team, and placed 3 rd  in the Transpac.

Harry Melges IV  – Scow country belonged to Melges in 2021. Harry won two E Scow National Championships (the 2021 Champs as well as the rescheduled 2020 Champs), the E Scow Inland Champs, and the E Scow Spring Champs. Additionally, Melges placed 2 nd  in the A Scow Inland Champs and 3 rd  at the A Scow National Championship. Furthermore, he won the Melges 24 Gold Cup, and was part of the winning team in the IC37 East Coast Champs and the 2 nd  place team at the North Americans.

Taylor Canfield  – The man whose name is synonymous with the Congressional Cup won this year’s event with a dominating 22-3 record making him a 5-time Con Cup Champion. Canfield’s team also dominated the M32 class in 2021 winning both the Miami Winter Series and Newport Midtown Summer Series and winning the World Championship by 40 points. Additionally, Taylor was the tactician for the Dark Energy J/70 Team that placed 6 th  at the North American Championships and 3 rd  at the Worlds as well as the Melges 24 team that placed 2 nd  at Charleston Race Week and Gold Cup and won the 17 boat PHRF 2 Class at Block Island Race Week. Taylor was also on the IC37 team that won the NYYC Leukemia Cup, placed 3 rd  SDYC in the Lipton Cup with team SDYC, and also was the Flight controller on the U.S. SailGP Team that placed 2 nd  at the Saint-Tropez event.

Finalists for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award (in alphabetical order by first name):

Anna Weis  – Learning to sail in Fort Lauderdale where she was raised, Anna Weis attended Boston University and was a member of their rowing team before deferring school to commit to a Nacra 17 Olympic Campaign. Coming off her Gold Medal in the 2019 Pan American Games, Weis made it to the Nacra 17 Medal Race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, finishing 9 th  overall. Anna then tried her hand on a much larger foiling catamaran as she finished 2 nd  as part of the U.S. SailGP Team at the Australian Grand Prix.

Daniela Moroz  – Back on the shortlist again and looking for her 3 rd  Rolex, Daniela Moroz won the Women’s Formula Kit European Championship and her 5 th  Kite Foil World Championship. Moroz also placed 6 th  and 9 th  respectively at the US Open Sailing Series events in Clearwater and San Francisco, finishing as the top female athlete at both events, and is currently ranked 6 th  in the Formula Kite World Sailing Rankings.

Laura Grondin  – After a 20-year break from One-Design Racing, Laura Grondin has come back swinging in 2021, turing heads and opening eyes in the J/70, Melges 24, and IC37 classes. Grondin’s Dark Energy J/70 team placed 6 th  at North Americans and 3 rd  at Worlds, while her Melges 24 team that dons the same name won the Block Island PHRF 2 class, placed end at Charleston Race Week and Gold Cup, and was higely successful in the Bacardi Cup winter events. Additionally, Grondin helmed the IC37 that won the NYYC Leukemia Cup and placed 4 th  at the NYYC Annual Regatta.

Nicole Breault  – The uber experienced and successful match racer is the 2021 U.S. Sailing Women’s Match Racing Champion and placed 4 th  in the California Dreamin’ Series and is ranked as the top female match racer in the US and ranked 3 rd  in the world. Additionally, Breault had success as tactician and main trimmer for her J/105 where she and her team placed 2 nd  at Block Island Race Week and 4 th  at the J/105 North American Championship.

The nominees and their 2021 sailing resumes will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists and past winners of these awards who discuss the merits of each sailor’s racing results before voting to determine US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The winners will be announced and presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces in conjunction with the US Sailing Association Awards this Spring on a date and at a location to be announced soon.

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 awards have been presented to 44 men and 35 women, including these distinguished sailors who have claimed the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner, JJ Fetter, Terry Hutchinson, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Lowell North, Jan O’Malley, Jane Pegel, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Jody Starck, Anna Tunnicliffe, Daniela Moroz, and Ted Turner.

For more information about these awards, please visit:  http://rolex.ussailing.org .

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Rolex Nomination Deadline Looming

• By Dave Reed
• December 13, 2022

US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards are the most important respective recognitions for American sailing’s many notable champions. So diverse is the sport these days, however, that it is becoming ever more difficult to highlight one champion over another. Many are worthy, but only two earn the honor.

Two-time yachtswoman of the year and kiteboarder extraordinaire Daniella Moroz is the first female to authoritatively usher in the outliers of traditional sailing into the discussion of what qualifies as a “yacht” or a “yachtswoman.” Johnny Heineken led the way in 2012 with his Rolex win, but Moroz’s dominance of the women’s kite racing scene has only grown since she first won her Rolex in 2016—at the age of 15. Her success at the international level was as impressive back then as it is today; she’s now sitting on a third Yachtswoman of the Year title and her sixth kiteboard world title. She’s fast tracking to the 2024 Olympic Regatta and could very well be the top shortlist nominee for the Rolex again when open (public) nominations end on December 15.  

On the men’s side, the potential field of nominees will no doubt be broad and long, a mixture of owner/driver types alongside the professional crews that bring them to the winner’s circle. Young Harry Melges IV, who stood at the Rolex awards podium alongside Moroz in 2022, was celebrated for his dominance of the scow-sailing world and ultimately earned his Rolex over the likes of Olympian and champion crew Dave Hughes, one-design whisperer Willem Van Waay, and ace crew Erik Shampain, as well as Sunfish world champ Conner Blouin.

The public process to nominate starts with a visit to nomination portal which explicitly explains that the award: “ recognizes the individual male/female U.S. sailor who has demonstrated on-the-water excellence in the calendar year…Athletes must be eligible to represent the USA under World Sailing regulations, and actually representing the USA at the event(s) for which the nominee is being considered for the award. Most finalists have won a major international or national event and/or performed at a high level consistently in multiple events against elite competition. There is no minimum age required to win the award. The award is not based on career racing results (lifetime achievements) or philanthropic contributions to the sport.”

Following the close of the nomination period, US Sailing’s nominating committee, approved by the Board of Directors, will select three finalists for both the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award based on the merits of the nominees. The finalists will be posted to a ballot and presented to voting groups of past award winners and sailing media journalists who will vote for the winners. Winners will be announced live on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at an evening reception as part of US Sailing’s Sailing Leadership Forum in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Easy enough.

I’ve submitted my nominees for Willem Van Waay, a committed and hard-charging champion of the J/70, J/24 and J/80 classes (including the recent world championships) who is long overdue for his recognition, and for Jim Murray, of Lake Bluff, Illinois, who led his amateur team to an impressive Bermuda Race division win in June with his Pac52, and then had one heck of a summer J/109 racing in the Great Lakes before returning to the 52 with a string of late-year victories in Florida. On the women’s side, Moroz is my top nominee again: a world title in this discipline does not come easy and her successful forays into SailGP and other foiling classes demonstrates her expanding skillset and commitment to on-the-water excellence.

Now, go nominate. December 15 is fast approaching.

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Published on February 2nd, 2023 | by Editor

Parent, Moroz named for Rolex awards

Published on February 2nd, 2023 by Editor -->

St Petersburg, FL (February 2, 2023) – As part of US Sailing’s Sailing Leadership Forum, Ravi Parent (Sarasota, FL) and Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) were awarded the 2022 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award.

The winners were presented with Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex Yacht-Master timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.

In 2022, Daniela Moroz won gold at the Princesa Sofia Olympic regatta and captured her sixth Kite Foil World Championship title. Moroz also placed first at the French Olympic Week Regatta, held at the 2024 Olympic venue.

“I turn 22 today, and I keep thinking how unreal my day has been,” said Moroz after winning her award. “I went out on the water, got to race, spend the evening with my parents, and now this. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

Raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Moroz competed in her first international event at age 14, winning her first World Championship only a year later, at 15. Since then, she has won six world championships and four European championships. Moroz is currently campaigning for the 2024 Olympic games, where the Formula Kite will make its Olympic debut.

This is the fourth time Moroz has won the award. Her first win, as a 16-year-old in 2016, made her the youngest ever to claim the prize. She was also the first kiteboarder to receive this award.

In 2022, Ravi Parent became the first sailor to win the A Class Worlds, F18 European Championships, and F18 World Championship in the same year. Adding to that success, Parent won the A Cat Midwinters Championship and the A Class division at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Series.

“To see the list of those that won before me is truly amazing,” said Parent. “As was said this evening, these awards are not given, they are earned, and thanks to my networks of sailors and those I’ve trained with, receiving this award is truly humbling.”

Parent was first introduced to multihull sailing growing up at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, where at the age of 14 he joined the Sarasota Youth Multihull Team. From that first introduction to the F18, Parent went on to compete in two Youth World Championships, complete a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Boston University, and campaign for the Olympics in the Nacra 17.

The winners were joined by fellow 2022 award finalists Laura Grondin, Sara Stone, David Starck, and Doug DeVos.

In February, three men and three women were chosen for consideration, with the annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” representing a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers.

Finalists in alphabetical order by first name:

US Sailing’s 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award • Daniela Moroz – A three-time winner of the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award, Moroz is back on the shortlist again and looking for her 4th Rolex. In 2022, Moroz won gold at the Princesa Sofia Olympic regatta and captured her 6th Kite Foil World Championship title. Moroz also placed first at the French Olympic Week Regatta, held at the 2024 Olympic venue. • Laura Grondin – Grondin’s success as a skipper in the J/70 class earned her a spot as one of this year’s finalists. Grondin helmed her way to first place at the J/70 East Coast Championships and Davis Island J/70 Regatta, as well as the top female helm at the J/70 European Championship. Grondin also had success in the Melges 24 class, placing fourth at the Melges 24 World Championship. • Sara Stone – Breaking into the predominantly male world of offshore sailing, Sara Stone is in the running for her first Rolex. Stone took first place in the inaugural Bermuda to Newport Doublehanded event as the only all-female entry and won the Ida Lewis Distance Race with co-skipper with Ken Read. Stone also took line honors in the youth division of the Newport to Bermuda Race, breaking the youth race record as a coach with the MudRatz youth team on board ‘Spitfire.’

US Sailing’s 2022 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award • David Starck  – In 2022, David Starck brought years of Lightning and One Design experience to the table winning several important Lightning Class regattas, nationally and internationally. Starck was the 2022 Lightning World Champion, Lighting North American Champion and Lightning Helly Hanson Sailing World Series Champion. He was also winner of the Overall Lightning Southern Circuit and Lightning Winter Championship. This would be Starck’s first Rolex. • Doug DeVos  – A well-known name in the TP52 class and sailing community at large, Doug DeVos was the overall winner of the 2022 TP52 Superseries as the skipper of Quantum Racing. DeVos and team took first place in all four of the series events, including the World Championship, Baiona Sailing Week, Royal Cup Scarlino, and Barcelona Sailing Week. • Ravi Parent  – The youngest man on the list of finalists, Ravi Parent has wasted no time setting records and winning titles across classes. In 2022, Parent became the first sailor to win the A Class Worlds, F18 European Championships, and F18 World Championship in the same year. Adding to that success, Parent won the A Cat Midwinters Championship and the A Class division at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Series. This would be Parent’s first Rolex.

The 2022 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Award winners will be announced and presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces at a special presentation at the 2023 Sailing Leadership Forum on February 2 in St. Pete Beach, FL. The event will be held in conjunction with the US Sailing Association Awards at the TradeWinds Grand Resort.

Past Winners: 2022 – Ravi Parent/Daniela Moroz 2021 – Harry Melges IV/Daniela Moroz 2020 – No awards due to pandemic 2019 – Mike Martin and Adam Lowry/Daniela Moroz 2018 – Jud Smith/Carmen and Emma Cowles 2017 – Peter Duncan/Erika Reineke 2016 – Caleb Paine/Daniela Moroz 2015 – Steve Benjamin/Annie Haeger 2014 – Terry Hutchinson/Stephanie Roble 2013 – Brian Porter/Jody Starck 2012 – Johnny Heineken/Jen French 2011 – Bill Hardesty/Anna Tunnicliffe 2010 – Stan Honey/Anna Tunnicliffe 2009 – Bora Gulari/Anna Tunnicliffe 2008 – Terry Hutchinson/Anna Tunnicliffe 2007 – Jeff Linton/Sally Barkow 2006 – Jud Smith/Paige Railey 2005 – Nick Scandone/Sally Barkow 2004 – Paul Foerster & Kevin Burnham/Jody Swanson 2003 – Augie Diaz/Hannah Swett 2002 – John Kostecki/Liz Baylis 2001 – Steve Fossett/Cory Sertl 2000 – Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl/JJ Isler & Pease Glaser 1999 – Eric Doyle/Dawn Riley 1998 – Paul Cayard /Betsy (Gelenitis) Alison 1997 – Chris Larson/JJ Isler 1996 – Dave Ullman/Courtenay (Becker) Dey 1995 – Ed Baird/Cory Sertl 1994 – Ken Read/Danielle Brennan 1993 – Cam Lewis/Betsy (Gelenitis) Alison 1992 – Kevin Mahaney/Julia Trotman 1991 – Ed Adams/JJ Isler 1990 – Jim Brady/Courtenay Becker 1989 – Larry Klein/Jody Swanson 1988 – John Kostecki/Allison Jolly & Lynne Jewell 1987 – Ed Adams/Susan Dierdorff Taylor 1986 – Dennis Conner/JJ Isler 1985 – Ken Read/Kathy Steele & Heidi Backus 1984 – Bill Buchan/Betsy Gelenitis 1983 – Dave Curtis/Wendy Thomson 1982 – Randy Smyth/Betsy Gelenitis 1981 – Dave Curtis/Betsy Gelenitis 1980 – Dennis Conner/Lynne Jewell 1979 – Ted Turner/Nell Taylor 1978 – Buddy Melges/Bonnie Shore 1977 – Ted Turner/Jan O’Malley 1976 – Lowell North/Allison Jolly 1975 – Dennis Conner/Joan Ellis 1974 – Ted Hood/Sally Lindsay 1973 – Ted Turner/Sally Lindsay 1972 – Buddy Melges/Jane Pegel 1971 – Ding Schoonmaker/Jane Pegel 1970 – Ted Turner/Jan O’Malley 1969 – Robert F. Johnson/Jan O’Malley 1968 – Lowell North/June Methot 1967 – Bus Mosbacher/Betty Foulk 1966 – Bill Cox/Jerie Clark 1965 – Dick Tillman/Timothea (Schneider) Larr 1964 – Bob Bavier/Jane Pegel 1963 – Joe Duplin/Leggie Mertz 1962 – Bus Mosbacher/Sue Sinclair 1961 – Buddy Melges/Timothea Schneider

Source: US Sailing

Tags: Daniela Moroz , Ravi Parent , Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year , US Sailing

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Home  News  US Sailing Announces Shortlist for 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

US Sailing Announces Shortlist for 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

Yachtswoman Finalists – Daniela Moroz, Laura Grondin, Nicole Breault, Anna Weis

Yachtsman finalists – conner blouin, taylor canfield, erik shampain, harry melges iv, dave hughes.

BRISTOL, R.I. (February 4, 2022) – Five men and four women have been shortlisted for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Once again, the annual rundown of the year’s “best in the U.S.” represents a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines and at different stages of their respective careers. The five Yachtsman finalists earned their way on to this exclusive list by dominating their respective classes and showing true variety in their sailing accomplishments. The four Yachtswoman finalists represent a wide array experience and sailing disciplines, and each had a 2021 to remember. All nine of these sailors represent their own unique pathway to the shortlist after a triumphant season on the water in their respective boats.

Some of these sailors were selected based on their consistent exceptional performances throughout the 2021 season and some were chosen for their signature win(s) at major international or national events. These sailors have each mastered their craft and have focused on the importance of precision and performance in their competitive sailing efforts.

Finalists for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award (in alphabetical order by first name):

Anna Weis  – Learning to sail in Fort Lauderdale where she was raised, Anna Weis attended Boston University and was a member of their rowing team before deferring school to commit to a Nacra 17 Olympic Campaign. Coming off her Gold Medal in the 2019 Pan American Games, Weis made it to the Nacra 17 Medal Race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, finishing 9 th overall. Anna then tried her hand on a much larger foiling catamaran as she finished 2 nd as part of the U.S. SailGP Team at the Australian Grand Prix.

Daniela Moroz – Back on the shortlist again and looking for her 3 rd Rolex, Daniela Moroz won the Women’s Formula Kit European Championship and her 5 th Kite Foil World Championship. Moroz also placed 6 th and 9 th respectively at the US Open Sailing Series events in Clearwater and San Francisco, finishing as the top female athlete at both events, and is currently ranked 6 th in the Formula Kite World Sailing Rankings.

Laura Grondin – After a 20-year break from One-Design Racing, Laura Grondin has come back swinging in 2021, turing heads and opening eyes in the J/70, Melges 24, and IC37 classes. Grondin’s Dark Energy J/70 team placed 6th at North Americans and 3rd at Worlds, while her Melges 24 team that dons the same name won the Block Island PHRF 2 class, placed 2nd at Charleston Race Week and Gold Cup, and was hugely successful in the Bacardi Cup winter events. Additionally, Grondin helmed the IC37 that won the NYYC Leukemia Cup and placed 4th at the NYYC Annual Regatta.

Nicole Breault  – The uber experienced and successful match racer is the 2021 U.S. Sailing Women’s Match Racing Champion and placed 4 th in the California Dreamin’ Series and is ranked as the top female match racer in the US and ranked 3 rd in the world. Additionally, Breault had success as tactician and main trimmer for her J/105 where she and her team placed 2 nd at Block Island Race Week and 4 th at the J/105 North American Championship.

Finalists for US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award (in alphabetical order by first name):

Conner Blouin  – The 2021 Sunfish North American Champion dominated the 83-boat fleet and also finished 3 rd at the 100 boat Sunfish World Championships. Additionally, Blouin won the prestigious US Sailing Championship of Champions, sailed in Lightnings, as well as winning the WASZP North American Championship.

Dave Hughes  – In 2021, the versatile “super crew” was part of National Championship teams in 3 different classes, Etchells, J/24s, and the Atlantic Class. Additionally, Hughes and his long-time teammate, Stu McNay, won the 470 North American Champs and the US Open Sailing Series Miami, and finished 5 th in the World Championships and 9 th in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (sailed in 2021).

Erik Shampain – 2021 was a year to remember for Shampain as his teams dominated major events across multiple classes and disciplines. Winning the J/70 Pre-Worlds event and then finishing 2nd at the Worlds Championship, Shampain’s teams also won the Etchells Midwinters West, finished second in the Midwinters East, and finished 3rd at the North American Championship. Additionally, Shampain was part the winning Congressional Cup team, a 3rd place Ficker Cup team, placed 3rd in the Transpac, and won the Lipton Cup as part of Team SDYC.

Harry Melges IV  – Scow country belonged to Melges in 2021. Harry won two E Scow National Championships (the 2021 Champs as well as the rescheduled 2020 Champs), the E Scow Inland Champs, and the E Scow Spring Champs. Additionally, Melges placed 2 nd in the A Scow Inland Champs and 3 rd at the A Scow National Championship. Furthermore, he won the Melges 24 Gold Cup, and was part of the winning team in the IC37 East Coast Champs and the 2 nd place team at the North Americans.

Taylor Canfield – The man whose name is synonymous with the Congressional Cup won this year’s event with a dominating 22-3 record making him a 5-time Con Cup Champion. Canfield’s team also dominated the M32 class in 2021 winning both the Miami Winter Series and Newport Midtown Summer Series and winning the World Championship by 40 points. Additionally, Taylor was the tactician for the Dark Energy J/70 Team that placed 6th at the North American Championships and 3rd at the Worlds as well as the Melges 24 team that placed 2nd at Charleston Race Week and Gold Cup and won the 17 boat PHRF 2 Class at Block Island Race Week. Taylor was also on the IC37 team that won the NYYC Leukemia Cup, placed 3rd in the Lipton Cup with team NYYC, and also was the Flight controller on the U.S. SailGP Team that placed 2nd at the Saint-Tropez event.

The nominees and their 2021 sailing resumes will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists and past winners of these awards who discuss the merits of each sailor’s racing results before voting to determine US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The winners will be announced and presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces in conjunction with the US Sailing Association Awards this Spring on a date and at a location to be announced soon.

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 awards have been presented to 44 men and 35 women, including these distinguished sailors who have claimed the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner, JJ Fetter, Terry Hutchinson, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Lowell North, Jan O’Malley, Jane Pegel, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, Jody Starck, Anna Tunnicliffe, Daniela Moroz, and Ted Turner.

For more information about these awards, please visit:  http://rolex.ussailing.org .

US Sailing Marketing Director: Josh Toso, [email protected]

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 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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

Rolex and Yachting – A natural and supportive partner Rolex has always sought to associate with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit, naturally gravitating towards the elite world of yachting and forming an alliance that dates to the late 1950s. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events; from leading offshore races, such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, through to the highest-level grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. The Swiss watchmaker’s close partnerships with the most prestigious yacht clubs around the world, including the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (Italy), New York Yacht Club (United States), the St. Francis Yacht Club (United States) and the Royal Yacht Squadron (Cowes, United Kingdom), are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this spectacular sport.

About Rolex – An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise. Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and 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 invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent 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. Through philanthropic programmes and a broad palette of sponsorship activities, Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports and exploration, and encourages the spirit of enterprise, as well as the conservation of natural environments.

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