Three sailors apiece have been named as finalists for the 2025 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards, with US Sailing recognising a season of standout results across a broad spectrum of classes and conditions.
On the men's side, Justin Callahan is in the running after taking the Snipe Western Hemisphere Championship title. Taylor Canfield brings a particularly strong case, having claimed both the J 70 and M32 World Championships during the season while also finishing second at the Melges 24 Worlds. Paul Cayard completes the trio, nominated on the strength of his Star World Championship victory, yet another major title added to a career that already speaks for itself.
The Yachtswoman of the Year finalists cover equally varied ground. Alli Bell skippered the overall winning yacht in the Transpac Race, an offshore result that anchors her nomination. Laura Grondin took the J 70 World Championship and, like Canfield, finished second at the Melges 24 Worlds. Pearl Lattanzi rounds out the field after winning the WASZP Women's World Championship.
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Voting is carried out by past Rolex Award recipients and senior sailing media figures. Results alone do not determine the outcome, with leadership and sportsmanship carrying genuine weight in the selection process.
The winners will be revealed at the Champions Dinner on 12 February 2026 in New York City, an evening hosted jointly by the New York Yacht Club and US Sailing. The Kevin Burnham Memorial Award and the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy will also be presented on the night.
Now in their seventh decade, the awards were established in 1961 and have been supported by Rolex throughout. They remain the highest individual honour available to an American sailor, celebrating performances that set a standard on the water and give the next generation something to aim for.
