Hundreds of sailors ready to race in 60th edition of Rolex Big Boat Series
by Michelle Slade 11 Sep 19:56 PDT
September 11-15, 2024
Rolex Big Boat Series © Sharon Green / Rolex
One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay, is ready to turn it on for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11-15, 2024. The most prestigious regatta on the West Coast drew 71 boats and nearly 700 sailors to the docks of St. Francis Yacht Club, to hear what classes will race for Rolexes and perpetual trophies on Wednesday night, and to start preparing for the first race on Thursday, September 12. With a strong turnout in one design classes and ORC divisions, organizers are thrilled to welcome members and guests to be a part of the action on the water and shoreside.
"Having been involved in this epic West Coast regatta for some four decades, it is my honor and privilege as Commodore to welcome our members and guests to the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series," said Chris Perkins, 2024 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club and a past winner of the event. "I wish the best of luck to our competitors who are here to compete in one of the world's most spectacular racing venues. Sail fast and enjoy our outstanding hospitality."
View 2024 Scratch Sheet here.
"Sailing smart the first couple of days is key, but Saturday and Sunday are really where the championship will be won." — Ryan Simmons, Blackhawk
Rolex Big Boat Series' extensive history of champions is a tribute to the depth of talent that graces the event and this year, a solid fleet stacked with talented and tough competition is expected.
"We have 30 J/105s starting again this year, which is great to see, and the ORC fleet is diverse and deep in talent with past winners returning to defend their titles," says Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club. "We always have our competitors' best interests in mind and after taking in sailors' feedback from last year, we continue to improve this important event which is a cornerstone of West Coast sailboat racing."
Perennial Rolex Big Boat winner in the J/105 class, Ryan Simmons and his well-seasoned team on Blackhawk are eager to see how the competition will play out in the competitive San Francisco-based J/105 fleet. Blackhawk took first in class in 2019, 2021 and 2023, and second in 2022. Simmons does not take for granted that his luck will bear out for another win, although he and his crew are talented enough—and hopeful.
"We're lucky, we have low turnover on our team—we've been sailing together a long time and it's the big difference," says Simmons. "Our competitive edge this year will be consistency. In the first two days of the regatta, you can't lock in the win, but you can definitely take yourself out of contention, so sailing smart the first couple of days is key, but Saturday and Sunday are really where the championship will be won."
Hot to prevail against Blackhawk is NeNe, owned and skippered by Tim Russell who has played bridesmaid many times, often finishing in the top three. He's currently leading the local J/105 fleet in the class championship series, making him a serious podium contender.
"A first place on NeNe is alluding me!" says Russell. "You have to take chances and I usually approach every regatta being super conservative. On my starts I'm trying to win one end or the other and let our boat speed take care of itself and minimize mistakes, but in Big Boat you have to gamble."
"Some of the best, most reliable and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none and the social side is always spectacular." — Peter Wagner, Skeleton Key
Peter Wagner won last year's ORC-C division on Skeleton Key, the J/111 he's owned since 2015. Winner of the J/111 North Americans for two years in a row and St. Francis Yacht Club's Sailor of the Year in 2023, Wagner is a tough act to follow. He's been racing Rolex Big Boat Series for almost 25 years and is looking forward to the solid competition, great conditions and fun social gatherings.
"It's always one of the highlights of our season and certainly the highlight of racing on San Francisco Bay," says Wagner. "In this particular event we've raced in various one design classes as well as ORR and now ORC and we're really excited about the momentum around ORC. I think it will be a really competitive event. Some of the best, most reliable and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none and the social side is always spectacular. There is always a great group of sailors that convenes around RBBS."
Other boats returning to defend their 2023 titles include the J/88 Pelagia owned and skippered by Christos Karamanolis, Cape 31 M2 owned and skippered by Marc McMorris, and J/109 Reverie, owned and skippered by John Arens.
Daily Racing & Nightly Parties
Wednesday: Rolex Commodore's Reception
Thursday: Crew Party & Rolex Owners Dinner
Friday: Mount Gay Lawn Party
Saturday: Crew Dinner
Sunday: Trophy Ceremony
View schedule of events here.
Trophies & Rolexes
At the Competitors' Briefing on Wednesday, September 11, at 1600, St. Francis Yacht Club announced which classes will be racing for the six perpetual trophies and two Rolex timepieces.
J/105
As the largest one-design fleet this year, the J/105s will compete for StFYC's Commodore's Cup. The top J/105 skipper will also receive a Rolex timepiece.
ORC-A
The St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, which was anonymously donated to StFYC in 1966 to encourage competition between large offshore racing yachts, will be presented to the winner of the ORC-A fleet.
ORC-B
The ORC-B division will be racing for the City of San Francisco Perpetual Trophy, which has been contested since 1968 and features one of the original spades from the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. The winner of this division will also take home a coveted Rolex timepiece.
ORC-C
The Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, featuring a ship's bell from the 1905 Transatlantic-record-breaking schooner Atlantic, will go to the winner of the ORC-C fleet.
EXPRESS 37
The Express 37s will race for the Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy, established in 1976 to honor the memory of late StFYC members Harold Keefe and Ray Kilborn,
J/88
The Richard Rheem Perpetual Trophy, named for longtime StFYC member and skipper of Morning Star—the yacht that proudly broke the Transpac course record in 1949 and 1953—will go to the winner of the J/88 class. The PCYA Jesse L. Carr Perpetual Captain and Crew Trophy will go to the winner of the top J/88 finisher.
Classics
The Classics will compete for the Classic Cup Perpetual Trophy.
Additional Awards
All three ORC divisions will also be contesting the West Coast Championship.
The Storm Trysail Team Trophy to the three-boat team who have entered and achieved the best score. The team must be comprised of one boat racing in an ORC class, one from a one-design class, and one from any other class.
"There is nothing like watching 70-plus boats on three racecourses duke it out on San Francisco Bay, including the classic downwind run from the Golden Gate Bridge back to the club." — Susan Ruhne
"I'm excited to lead the Rolex Big Boat Series in its 60th anniversary year," says Susan Ruhne, who chairs the regatta and is the 2024 Rear Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. "The event is such an important part of the StFYC's history and a favorite for so many sailors and spectators to experience. There is nothing like watching 70-plus boats on three race courses duke it out on San Francisco Bay, including the classic downwind run from the Golden Gate Bridge back to the club. I am also very proud that we continue to maintain Rolex Big Boat Series' status as a Clean Regatta, a foundation of the event."
The 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series is targeting Platinum Level Clean Regatta status, the highest distinction from Sailors for the Sea. A pre-regatta volunteer event with the Parks Conservancy was held at Crissy Field on Wednesday morning. Organizers have taken efforts to remove all single-use plastic from the event, and competitors spectators are invited to meet local non-profits who serve as Sustainability Partners for the event. Sail to Shelter will be collecting old sails on site to recycle into shelter for humanitarian aid.
Quantum Sails will be hosting Daily Weather Briefings every race day at 0730. All sailors are invited to tune in for the forecast from experts at Sailflow Weather and to hear local knowledge about San Francisco Bay conditions and currents.
Racing is set to begin tomorrow, September 12, at 1100 local time for most classes and 1300 for the Classics.