Few regattas anywhere in the world carry the history and spectacle of this one. Registration is now open for the 62nd Rolex Big Boat Series, scheduled for 16 to 20 September 2026 on San Francisco Bay, with racing in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The 2026 edition raises the bar. Four days of competitive racing will double as the stage for the 2026 ORC North American Championship, a title certain to draw deep fleets, well-drilled crews, and an unforgiving level of competition from the opening gun.
San Francisco Bay has a reputation that precedes it, and competitors should expect nothing less than the full treatment: building breeze, sharp chop, and sustained pressure throughout the series. One design racing returns for the J 88, J 105, and Express 37 fleets, while ORC monohulls measuring over 30 feet will contest six races, among them a longer coastal challenge threading through the Bay and out towards the Farallones, subject to conditions. The Classics division adds its own chapter to the week, with traditional wooden yachts over 40 feet scheduled across four races.
Competitor feedback has shaped meaningful changes to the format. One design fleets will now race ten times across the series, up from the previous seven, placing a premium on consistency, physical endurance, and tactical discipline sustained across the full event.
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The prize table is as rich as the racing. Rolex Submariners, perpetual trophies, and ORC North American titles sit at the top of the list, while the Storm Trysail Team Trophy, always a crowd favourite, returns once again for three-boat teams.
