Did the voters get it right?

Each year in January, a panel of yachting experts gather for conference call on who they feel is best deserving of the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Each panelist has a list of sailors in front of them that had been refined from the nominees submitted by US Sailing members, wherein the short list of names are those that truly stood out during the previous calendar year.

With the announcement this week of Jud Smith and Paige Railey winning their respective awards, we beg the question, did the voters get it right? Hard to argue that Jud’s domination of the Etchells class on the world stage, and Paige’s conclusive win at the Olympic Games test event in China (and her winning of the ISAF Sailor of the Year award), were not worthy of the Rolex award. But what about the others?

The women’s award was a two-horse race between Paige and Anna Tunnicliffe. Since both are committed to the Laser Radial, comparing their head to head battles showed Paige beating Anna in five of their nine encounters (including her domination of the Olympic test event). Anna was more consistent than Paige through the year, but much of that was due to Paige’s problems at the Laser Radial Worlds with the on-the-water judges. When push came to shove, and with the shadow of Paige’s ISAF award looming, the wind was likely just strong enough on Paige’s side of the course .

The men’s contest was much more interesting, as there was significant diversity in how the top candidates arrived on the list. Jud’s accomplishments were primarily in one class, but he had been dominant on every level. How sailors fare on an international stage often sets the nominees apart, so it is easy to defend Howie Hamlin’s right to the title. His deuce at the 505 Worlds and win at the I-14 Worlds, along with his regular victories on the 18ft Skiff circuit, are heady accomplishments. Perhaps because Jud’s win was in a class with tighter class rules than the assortment of boats in Howie’s CV, or that the 505 and I-14 classes don’t have the same following as the Etchells in this continent, gave Smith the nod.

Arguably, the voters appear to have gotten it right, and both winners are great leaders on, and off the water. Scuttlebutt plans to capitalize on this theme in 2007, where we will take the short list from this year and create a sportsmanship award. Following the memorable words of Paul Elvstrom, “You haven't won the race, if in winning the race, you have lost the respect of your competitors.” Wouldn't it be great if the same male and female won both awards?