Please select your home edition
Edition
leaderboard with question mark E6 launch 2021

Registration opens for the 2022 Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club

by St. Francis Yacht Club 25 Feb 2022 11:13 PST September 14-18, 2022
Rolex Big Boat Series © Sharon Green / Rolex

The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for the 2022 Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California.

Considered the most prestigious regatta on the West Coast, Rolex Big Boat Series attracts competitors from around the country and the world for four days of racing on San Francisco Bay. Winners of select fleets are awarded perpetual trophies and Rolex timepieces.

Scheduled for September 14-18, 2022, the following fleets are invited to compete in this year's regatta:

  • One-design boats of the J/105, J/88, J/70, Express 37 and Cal 40 classes;
  • Monohull boats with a LOA = 30' and a current ORC International rating certificate;
  • Classic boats built prior to 1955 with a LOA = 48' and a current ORRez rating certificate.
"We are really looking forward to opening our doors for Rolex Big Boat Series and welcoming sailors who have the grit to compete here. If you enjoy a good test on the water and a good time ashore, this regatta is not to be missed," said Peter Gilmore, 2022 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club, who intends to race his Cal 40 Longboard and hopes to see other owners of this popular West Coast design on the starting line.

Last year's Rolex Big Boat Series was held amidst a range of local and state pandemic-related regulations that did little to dampen spirits, with over 80 boats competing and nearly 1,000 owners, crew, club members and guests in attendance. "St. Francis Yacht Club is prepared to cater a full complement of racing and socializing within the regulations required, which are easing statewide as California transitions to treating Covid as an endemic issue," noted Gilmore.

In 2021, post-racing socials and the trophy ceremony were hosted outdoors and will be again in 2022, while the legendary Thursday night Rolex Owners Dinner and Saturday night Crew Dinner will be inside the clubhouse overlooking unbeatable views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

A notable difference for 2022 is a discount for registrations received before May 15. Furthermore, any boat registering after July 31 will be charged a late entry fee of $250.

"We work with the City of San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department and the San Francisco Small Craft Harbor to secure docking space for boats that come to compete, and the city has significantly increased their fees for 2022," explained Adam Corpuz-Lahne, Senior Sailing Director of St. Francis Yacht Club. "To host this event at the highest level we've increased our entry fees, but we are also offering an early-bird discount to offset this reality for owners. We're rewarding those who signal early their intention to compete, as that makes it easier for us to plan a successful week of sailing, socials and entertainment. Owners who take advantage of this discount will see no increase in entry fees over their 2021 entry."

St. Francis Yacht Club has also changed the rating rule it uses for handicapping boats. Monohulls that do not fall into any of the one-design classes will be racing under rating rules established by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) rather than the Offshore Rating Rule (ORR), which has been used for the past several editions of the regatta. Handicap divisions will be split according to ORC rules and ORC International rating certificates will be required to compete. The 2022 Rolex Big Boat Series will likely feature three ORC divisions and fleet splits will be posted on the Tuesday prior to the start of the regatta.

"We've changed rating rules many times since the inauguration of this regatta in 1964," said Susan Ruhne, Chair of Rolex Big Boat Series. "After soliciting input from sailors and owners who've competed in the past, we decided it was time to embrace what has become the dominant rating rule internationally and on the East Coast. The St. Francis Yacht Club's mission is to be a leader in yachting and we hope this move entices more boats and owners eager to go up against the best in West Coast sailing."

The Classics division, for yachts built prior to 1955 and greater than 48 feet in length, will continue to race with ORRez rating certificates. "The ORRez rating has us so closely matched, last year the first three boats were one point apart," noted Beau Vrolyk, 2022 Vice Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club, who has been racing his Alden schooner Mayan since the Classics division was established in 2019.

He wouldn't miss it for the world this year. "Racing Mayan in the Rolex Big Boat Series has been fantastic. The racing couldn't have been any closer and the camaraderie is terrific! We are looking forward to hitting the starting line with our old friends and some new faces in 2022."

Related Articles

Registration open for the Rolex Big Boat Series
Bringing competitors from around the country and the world to San Francisco Bay The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for the 2023 Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California. Posted on 25 Mar
Wingfoil Pacific Coast Championships preview
Bring on fun, fast competition and post-racing camaraderie! Making the leap from kiting to wingfoiling these past few years has been a refreshing change and a new challenge for Erika Heineken. Posted on 21 Mar
Felix Weidling to lead St.FYC Race Department
Serving as Race Director at St. Francis Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club has selected Felix Weidling to lead its Race Department and serve as Race Director. Posted on 2 Mar
Spring Wingding & Pacific Coast Wingfoil Champs
St. Francis Yacht Club to host the event in April St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California, is pleased to announce the 2023 Spring Wingding Regatta, to be held April 14-16, 2023, and open to all wingfoil competitors. Posted on 17 Feb
Vela Racing dominates California Dreamin' Series
The team had dominated the first event in San Diego It was a beautiful day for sailing on San Francisco Bay as the Vela Racing team led by skipper Nicole Breault arrived at St. Francis Yacht Club for the second stop of the California Dreamin' Series tour. Posted on 11 Feb
St. Francis Yacht Club to welcome Women's WMRT
First stop for 2023 Women's World Match Racing Tour to be held in April The St. Francis Yacht Club is pleased to have been selected to host the opening stop of the 2023 Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted on 21 Jan
J/22 California Dreamin' Match Race Series
This longstanding series features events at three prominent clubs on the West Coast This longstanding series features events at three prominent clubs on the West Coast, beginning with San Diego YC on January 28-29 then St. Francis YC on March 4-5 - in J/22s at both clubs - and the final regatta at Long Beach YC in Catalina 37s. Posted on 8 Jan
ORC classes at the Rolex Big Boat Series
Two new skippers are wearing Rolex watches for winning their classes After seven races sailed over four days on breezy San Francisco Bay, there are two new skippers who are wearing Rolex watches for winning their ORC classes in the St Francis Yacht Club's Rolex Big Boat Series. Posted on 20 Sep 2022
Rolex Big Boat Series overall
Bragging rights decided Final exams are stern for a reason and the final day of racing at the 2022 Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California, delivered stiff—if not downright nautical—conditions. Posted on 19 Sep 2022
Big Boat Series images by Erik Simonsson
Big Boat Series action-shots by Erik Simonsson Classic photos from Erik Simonsson of the Rolex Big Boat Series racing in San Francisco, California. Posted on 18 Sep 2022
Lloyd Stevenson - SYA3 728x90px BOTTOMDoyle Sails 2020 - Cruising Confidence 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTER