Bill Hardesty Receives Rolex

Big congrats to San Diego sailor Bill Hardesty for winning the Rolex Yachtsman of the year. Hardesty was awarded his specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Masters watch during a ceremony held at St. Francis YC on Wednesday. This marks the first time in its 50-year history that the award has been presented on the West Coast. Hardesty was introduced by last year’s winner, the Bay’s own Stan Honey.  Bill told the story of winning a junior Rolex award (which didn’t include a watch) at which point his dad said he would take his son to any regatta he wanted as long as, if he ever did win an actual Rolex, he’d give it to his dad. True to his word, when Bill was awarded his Rolex he invited his dad on stage to pick up the promised watch. When he isn’t racing Etchells all over the world, Hardesty cruises his Wauquiez Hood 38 Firefly with his girlfriend (and racing crew) Mandi Markee.

Also on the podium with Hardesty was Florida sailing phenom Anna Tunnicliffe, who is the first woman to earn the award four years in a row. Tunnicliffe was quick to give credit where it’s due: “For many of you in this room, the idea of having to beat one boat at a time, instead of the 50 or 60 in a regular fleet race, may seem a little simple,” she said, referring to match racing, “but it is about mastering a complex task. We are a team in every sense of the word; we need each other, and if we are going to achieve our goal this year — of winning gold at the Olympics — it will be because we are competing as a team. This award also belongs to Molly Vandemoer [from Redwood City] and Debbie Capozzi, the best teammates I could ever hope for."