Four days of fierce racing across San Francisco Bay await 65 boats when the 61st Rolex Big Boat Series gets under way at St. Francis Yacht Club, Thursday 11 September through Sunday 14 September. Six perpetual trophies are on the line, and two lucky skippers will add a Rolex Submariner Date to their trophy cabinet.
Adam Gambel, Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club, set the tone ahead of racing. "Rolex Big Boat Series now has more than 60 years of heritage, so the vibe is one of intense yacht racing with a nod to history," he said. "Like our club, this regatta is built on tradition and powered by innovation, having cycled from wooden yachts early on, to Maxis, to today's significant one-design participation. It is one of the West Coast's premier regattas, attracting competitive sailors from all over. Best of luck to all, and a warm welcome to those visiting St. Francis Yacht Club from both near and far."
Having marked its 60th anniversary in 2024, the regatta draws a compelling mix of returning veterans and fresh faces each year. Regatta Chair Nadine Franczyk summed up what the weekend holds in store. "Rolex Big Boat Series is one of the crown jewels of StFYC's top-tier regatta calendar," she said. "This weekend will see fierce competition across all classes, with some of the country's best boats and crews competing for the coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. In addition to the action on the water, the camaraderie and social atmosphere at St. Francis Yacht Club promises to be unmatched over the next few days. We are thrilled to once again be hosting this outstanding lineup of competitors."
The six classes competing are ORC A, ORC B, ORC C, Express 37, J/105 and J/88. Through Thursday, Friday and Saturday the fleets will complete two races per day, before Sunday delivers a single long course that sends boats to all corners of the Bay.
Among the more intriguing entries is the Australian-flagged Infiniti 52 Zeus, making her debut at the regatta. Her skipper, Michael Firmin, is no stranger to the event himself. "It's a thrill to bring Zeus to her first Rolex Big Boat Series. While the boat is new to this regatta, both I and several of our crew have raced here before," he said. "The Rolex Big Boat Series has long been one of the sport's iconic events, and we're excited to experience San Francisco Bay's challenging conditions and be part of such a celebrated regatta."
Anticipation was equally high among the one-design fleets. Justin Oberbauer, who races aboard Donkey Jack and serves as vice chair of StFYC's Executive Race Committee, captured the mood in the J/105 fleet. "Team Donkey Jack is super-pumped to be back for Rolex Big Boat Series in 2025. This event is the peak of our local season and arguably the most competitive J/105 event in the country," he said. "We all expect the spicy conditions will put us to the test, both on and off the water, so clean and consistent sailing is our game plan. We're excited to test ourselves against the best on one of sailing's biggest stages."
On the eve of racing, Bay Area regulars mingled with visitors from across the United States and further afield at the regatta's opening party, swapping stories of past editions against a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge. The occasion also served as the moment to announce which trophies each class will be racing for, and which divisions will be competing for a Rolex Submariner Date.
In ORC A, the prize is the St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, donated anonymously to StFYC in 1966 to encourage competition among large offshore racing yachts. ORC B carries an additional prize: the winning skipper will take home a Rolex Submariner Date alongside the City of San Francisco Perpetual Trophy, an award that has featured at the regatta since 1968. ORC C will race for the Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy, which honours late StFYC members Harold Keefe and Ray Kilborn.
In the J/105 class, the winning skipper earns both a Rolex Submariner Date and the Commodore's Cup Perpetual Trophy. The J/88 fleet will contest the Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, a distinctive piece that incorporates a ship's bell from the schooner Atlantic, which set a Transatlantic record in 1905. The nine boats in the Express 37 class race for the Richard Rheem Perpetual Trophy, named for a longtime StFYC member and skipper of the legendary racing yacht Morning Star. That fleet also competes for the Pacific Coast Yachting Association's Jesse L. Carr Trophy, an award presented in conjunction with a carefully chosen regatta to recognise the achievement of a crew competing in a one-design element of a larger event.
At the larger end of the fleet, Merlin, a 68-foot Bill Lee design and the biggest boat entered this year, will race in ORC A. Crew member Brian Malone explained why the boat keeps coming back. "This is a great regatta. Our boat's owner, Chip Merlin, and our whole crew are big fans," he said. "Great wind, great hospitality. The Bay is amazing and it keeps us coming back year after year."
The regatta is also serving as the ORC Pacific Coast Championships, sharpening competition across all three ORC-rated divisions. St. Francis Yacht Club is already confirmed as host of the ORC North American Championship during the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series, making this year's event a useful primer for what will be an even larger occasion.
