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Kiteboarder Rolex Yachtsman of the Year

Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Johnny Heineken, seen here with fellow Kiteboard Course Racing World Champion Erika Heineken, who happens to be his sister.

Johnny Heineken
©2013 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Marin County kiteboarder Johnny Heineken has been named US Sailing’s 2012 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year after being nominated for the second time in a row. Kiteboarding narrowly missed making it into the 2016 Olympics; movers and shakers in the top governing bodies of sailing are apparently taking it very seriously. Only 24 years old, Heineken has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments too numerous to list here. Among the highlights: He won the 2011 and 2012 Course Racing World Championships and the Course Racing Championship at the North Americans held in San Francisco last year, and he set a new course record (14m, 4s) in the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge Race in San Francisco. As a member of St. Francis YC, the Cityfront is his home turf.

“To even be mentioned in connection with this award is an honor; so many of my role models are on the list of recipients,” said Heineken. “But it’s also exciting that kiting has been accepted into the world of yachting. It’s pretty amazing how far the class has come in the last five years and it’s exciting for me to be involved.”

Heineken sailed 29ers and 49ers in his youth. “I started kiteboarding a lot later than many of the people I’m competing against, but I did grow up sailing and that’s what has given me a strong background to be a good kite racer. Typical sailboat racing courses are what we’ve optimized our gear for; it’s the same game, the same tactics, really.”  

Heineken’s sister Erika, 26, also a World Champion, was first runner-up in the selection for Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. She was named StFYC’s Sailor of the Year for 2012. After they were both nominated for US Sailing’s top award, Latitude 38 featured the siblings as our December Sailors of the Month. The pair travel and train together. We’ll have more in our February issue.

Jen French and crew JP Creignou won silver medals in last summer’s Paralympics. They were the only American sailors to medal.

© US Sailing

SKUD-18 sailor Jennifer French of St. Petersburg, FL, was named 2012 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. She and crew JP Creignou won silver medals at the Paralympics last summer. They were the only American sailors to medal at London 2012. “This is a huge step for disabled sailing," said French, who is quadriplegic, "and for the recognition of all those who have worked so hard over the years to make disabled sailing possible. Paralympic sailing has come so far." She credited Paralympic Gold Medalist Nick Scandone, US Sailing 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, saying he was, "really the first person who broke ground for this."

See US Sailing for more.

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