Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

US Sailing has announced that it is now accepting nominations for its 2014 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards, widely acknowledged as the foremost individual sailing honors in the nation.

Through Nov. 30, 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 2014 calendar year. Nominations can be made online through US Sailing's Web site 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 2013 competitive season, Sperry-Top Sider Melges 24 World Champion Brian Porter (Fontana, Wisc.) and Lightning Atlantic Coast Champion Jody Starck (Amherst, N.Y.) were awarded the prestigious distinction.

For Stark, it was the third time she had earned the honor; Porter, a first-time winner, joins 73 previous recipients, including those who have earned the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dennis Conner, JJ Fetter (Isler), Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Cory Sertl, Lynne Shore, 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 on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, during a luncheon at New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces.

Who is your choice for US Sailing's 2014 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year? Submit your nomination at rolex.ussailing.org.

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 http://www.ussailing.org.