Gary Jobson, Stan Honey, Anna Tunnicliffe and Peter Nicholson (Photo by Dan Nerney)
Humble beginnings have evolved into fruitful sailing careers for Stan Honey (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, who were feted today during a luncheon held at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. The award recipients, formally announced in January after being chosen for their outstanding on-water sailing accomplishments in 2010, were joined by family, friends, sailing dignitaries and members of the press in the Club’s renowned Model Room and treated to a multi-media retrospective on their respective paths to sailing celebrity.
Past award winners JJ Fetter (1986, ‘ 91, ’97, ’00) and Bora Gulari (2009) introduced Tunnicliffe and Honey, while Gary Jobson, president of US SAILING and long-time emcee for the event, warmed up the crowd by showing highlight videos of the two, which led, in turn, to emotional acceptance speeches. Tunnicliffe and Honey received specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Masters, symbolic of their achievements in excellence, from Rolex Watch U.S.A.’s Vice President, Director of Communications Peter Nicholson. Also in the audience were Rolex Yachtswomen of the Year Liz Baylis (2002), Sally Lindsay Honey (1973, ’74) and Dawn Riley (1999).
“There were so many great nominees on the list this year, that to be picked is a great honor,” said Tunnicliffe, who is the first woman in the award’s history to earn it three years in a row*. “We had some great regattas this year, and we tried to come out of each one having learned at least one thing, so we could keep the fun factor involved and continue to pursue the dream of bringing home Olympic Gold in 2012.”
During 2010, Tunnicliffe, who won the 2008 Laser Olympic Gold Medal and is a member of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, won both the 2010 Snipe Women’s Worlds and Laser Radial Women’s North Americans and raced in the Elliott 6 Metre (with crew Molly Vandemoer of Redwood City, Calif. and Debbie Capozzi of Bayport, N.Y.) to win US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR; place second at French Sailing Week in Hyères, France; and take third at Skandia Sail For Gold in Weymouth, England, site of the 2012 Olympic Regatta. She won the XII International Women’s Match Race Criterium in Calpe, Spain, sailed in Tom 28s, and was second at the Toyota International Match Race in Detroit, Michigan, in Ultimate 20s. She picked up a bronze medal in the match racing event at Kiel Week in Germany and also placed third in the BoatU.S. Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, Md., sailing in J/22s.
“I only sailed a few regattas without Molly and Debbie, so I’d like to say that they are not only amazing sailors but also great people, and I’m honored to have them as my friends,” said Tunnicliffe.
The 28-year-old Tunnicliffe, a native of England, grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, sailing from the North Cape Yacht Club in Michigan. Her college sailing career at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Va.), where she earned ICSA All-American honors three times (2003, ’04, ’05), was highlighted with being named the 2005 Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year. She is married to Brad Funk, who also is campaigning for the 2012 Olympic Games in the Laser class.
The 55-year-old Honey was cited for his victory in the Jules Verne Trophy as navigator on an otherwise all-French crew aboard Groupama 3. The trimaran set a race record of 48 days, seven hours and 45 minutes and accounted for history’s fastest non-stop circumnavigation under sail, eclipsing the former record by more than 56 hours. Honey is the second American in the history of the award to receive the honor for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe. (Cam Lewis was the first, in 1993, after winning the Jules Verne prize aboard Commodore Explorer, also with a record time.)
“It’s a humbling experience to be included on this Rolex Yachtsman of the Year list of legends,” said Honey, who in 2005/06 also was the winning navigator aboard ABN Amro One in the Volvo Ocean Race, “and a tribute to all transoceanic sailors and navigators in our sport. I also think it is a unique characteristic of sailing that we can pursue it throughout our lives and be honored, at age 55, with an award like this.”
After graduating from Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) with a degree in Engineering and Applied Science and from Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.) with a Masters in Science Electrical Engineering, Honey, in 1998, co-founded Sportvision Inc. which evolved into the leading developer of live-tracking enhancements for sports TV broadcasts. Honey led the development of the yellow first-down line for televised football; the NASCAR racecar tracking and highlighting system; and the baseball K-Zone system, which highlights the pitch location and strike zone in televised baseball. He holds eight patents in navigational system design, 21 patents for TV special effects, is a member of the board of directors of KVH (a manufacturer of satellite communications and navigation sensors), and currently works for the America’s Cup Event Authority on TV technology for the America’s Cup. Honey is married to Sally Lindsay Honey, a two-time Yachtswoman of the Year (1972, ’73).
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 award has been presented to 39 men and 32 women.
Nominees For US Sailing Sailor of the Year Award
The nominees will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists who discuss the merits of each nominee and vote to determine US SAILING’s 2009 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. The ultimate winners will be announced in mid-January and honored on February 26, 2010, during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with Rolex timepieces.
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 award has been presented to 37 men and 33 women, including these notable sailors who have claimed the honor multiple times: Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Dennis Conner, JJ Isler, Allison Jolly, John Kostecki, Buddy Melges, Ken Read, Lynne Shore, Jody Swanson and Ted Turner.
Nominees shortlisted for US SAILING’s 2009 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award: Lightning World Champion Matt Fisher (Columbus, Ohio); CST Composites International Moth World Champion Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.); Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Champion Chris Larson (Annapolis, Md.); Sunfish World Champion David Loring (Charleston, S.C.); SAP 505 World Champion Mike Martin (Newport Beach, Calif.); Finn Gold Cup Silver Medalist Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.); Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Jim Richardson (Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I.); 2.4 mR World Champion John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.); DN Iceboat World Champion Matt Struble (San Diego, Calif./Bay City, Mich.); and Star World Champion George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.).
Nominees shortlisted for US SAILING’s 2009 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award: ICSA/Laser Performance Women’s Singlehanded National Champion Anne Haeger (Lake Forest, Ill.); Kieler Woche Laser Radial Champion Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.); U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.); Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Champion Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer (San Diego, Calif.); and Semaine Olympique Française Laser Radial Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.).
PREVIOUS WINNERS
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
