The 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award
The 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards went to 470 sailors in both the men’s and women’s categories. Winning the women’s Rolex were the New Zealand duo of Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie—aka “Team Jolly”—the current Olympic and world champions. Winning the men’s Rolex was Australian 470 skipper Mathew Belcher, in recognition of his unprecedented fourth consecutive 470 world championship.
The 470 sweep is a fitting one, given that the class is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. But traditionalists beware: among those shortlisted for the award were U.S. kiteboarders Erika Heineken and her 2012 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year brother, Johnny.