Champions named for Yachtsmen and Yachtswoman of the Year

San Diego, CA (February 6, 2020) – On a night under the stars aboard the historic and storied USS Midway in San Diego at Navy Pier, the best best U.S. sailor athletes of 2019 were honored among family, friends, peers, competitors, and contributors to the sport of sailing.

International 505 World Champions, Mike Martin (Mill Valley, Calif.) and Adam Lowry (Mill Valley, Calif.) and IKA Formula Kite Class World Champion Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, Calif.) earned this year’s special distinction and were celebrated along with the 2019 award finalists who were all participating in the evening program’s festivities.

“I turned 19 last week and today I have a Rolex® from US Sailing and this prestigious honor,” said Daniela Moroz, Yachtswoman of the Year. “I want to congratulate all the other finalists and those that have come before me.”

“Sailing is a team effort and I want to thank Rolex® for supporting our sport,” said Mike Martin, Yachtsman of the Year. Adding to the special evening, his co-award winner and sailing partner Adam Lowry shared, “It is all about business out on the water, but we have fun and it was a great year. I too want to thank Rolex® as well as US Sailing for the honor.”

Moroz also won this award as a 16 year old in 2016 becoming the youngest ever to claim the prize. She was also the first kiteboarder to receive this award.

In February, the top performing U.S. sailors of the year were shortlisted for US Sailing’s 2019 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. The annual determination of this year’s awards represented a wide range of accomplished sailors from various disciplines in the sport.

Martin earns his first Rolex Yachtsman of the Year after being shortlisted for the award six times over the years.

The winners were presented with US Sailing’s Rolex® Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year award trophy along with specially engraved Rolex® timepieces. These honorees join an elite group of notable national sailors.

The 2019 finalists were listed on a ballot and presented to panels of past award winners and sailing media journalists who voted for the winners. In an exciting twist to this year’s process, the fans had an opportunity to be part of the selection process and vote online for the 2019 winners. Votes from the three voting groups, including the sailing media, past award winners, and the fans counted equally towards determining the winners.

All three winners are members of St. Francis Yacht Club. For interviews from the club, click here.

Previous Award Recipients:
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