Marblehead sailor nominated for yachtswoman of the year

Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon-Tucker of Marblehead, winner of the SKUD-18 sailing competition in China earlier this year, has been nominated by US Sailing for the 2008 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Award.McKinnon-Tucker’s sailing partner, boat skipper Nick Scandone of California, was nominated for the Yachtsman of the Year Award.A panel of sailing journalists will vote to determine the winners. The names will be announced in January and honored Feb. 27, during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will be presented with Rolex timepieces.McKinnon-Tucker, a married mother of two, is partially paralyzed from a fall. Scandone suffers from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.Despite their medical issues, the pair won the competition aboard the customized 18-foot sailing dinghy.The awards, established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex, are widely regarded as the sport’s ultimate recognition of an individual’s outstanding on-the-water achievements for the calendar year. Over its history the award has been presented to 36 men and 32 women.