Brian Porter of Fontana, Wis., and Jody Starck of Amherst, N.Y., formally accepted U.S. Sailing’s 2013 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards at San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club in February.
The event was emceed by Gary Jobson. Porter and Starck were awarded a specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Masters, by Peter Nicholson of Rolex Watch USA.
Starck, 48, also won the award in 1989 and 2004. She crewed with her husband David and together they won the Lightning World Championship in Italy in 2013. David was also a shortlist nominee for the 2013 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. At the helm, Starck placed third at the 2013 Lightning North American Championship in Westport, Conn.
Porter, 55, is a first-time winner of the award. He won the Sperry Top-Sider Melges 24 World Championship, scored an additional Melges 24 victory at Quantum Key West 2013, and finished third at both the Rolex Big Boat Series and the E Scow National Championship.
