Anna Tunnicliffe » 2008 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

2008 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards 2616 views

Hutchinson and Tunnicliffe have been named US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year and were celebrated today at a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. The club’s renowned Model Room was the setting for highlighting Hutchinson’s and Tunnicliffe’s 2008 competitive sailing achievements as family, friends, sailing dignitaries and members of the press looked on. Emceeing the event, which included video highlights of the two award winners’ rise to the top of the sport, was sailing’s most familiar media personality, Gary Jobson, with additional tributes from US SAILING Executive Director Charlie Leighton and 2007 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jeff Linton. Rolex Watch U.S.A.’s Vice President and Director of Communications Peter Nicholson awarded each winner with a specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master. Hutchinson (age 40), a first-time winner, redefined himself as a well-rounded fleet racer after emerging from his stint as tactician aboard Emirates Team New Zealand in the 32nd America's Cup. He racked up four major European victories in the TP52 before skippering to become that class’s World Champion. He also scored major U.S. regatta victories in the Farr 40, Melges 24, M30 and Melges 32 classes, also as tactician. “Every morning I get up and go to work doing something that I love,” said the 40-year-old Hutchinson, a four-time Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All-American and two-time College Sailor of the Year (’89 and ’90), who is a professional sailor by trade. “This is one of the coolest moments in my sailing career." Tunnicliffe (age 26), also a first-time winner, was cited for her rise to number one in the world rankings and her gold-medal performance in the Laser Radial at the 2008 Olympic Games in China made her the panel’s unanimous choice for the award. Established in 1961 by US SAILING and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. since 1980, the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognize the outstanding on-the-water competitive achievement of an individual man and woman in the calendar year just concluded.