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.
Considered the most prestigious regatta on the West Coast and a premier event since 1964, Rolex Big Boat Series brings competitors from around the country and the world to San Francisco Bay for four days of racing. Scheduled for September 13-17, 2023, when conditions are optimal for big breeze, the regatta attracts the highest level of competition, with perpetual trophies and Rolex timepieces awarded to select fleets.
The following are invited to compete in this year’s regatta:
- One-design boats of the J/105, J/88 and Express 37 classes. Other classes with a minimum number of boats can be considered with application to the Organizing Authority.
- Monohulls with an LOA ≥ 30 feet. Boats with a General Purpose Handicap (GPH) of 560 or lower are required to have an Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) International certificate. Boats with a GPH higher than 560 may compete using either an ORC International Certificate or ORC Club Certificate.
- Classic boats built prior to 1955 with an LOA ≥ 48 feet and a current ORRez rating certificate.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the 2023 edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series and once again we anticipate a terrific turnout,” commented Beau Vrolyk, 2023 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “Rolex Big Boat Series has been the place to be for West Coast sailors for many years and we are pleased to continue our long and successful relationship with Rolex. The parties are legendary and the sailors’ favorites will all return this year. Don’t miss it!”
Vrolyk intends to race Mayan, his famed Alden schooner in which he has competed in Rolex Big Boat Series since the Classics division was established in 2019.
“The growing Classics Class of beautiful woodies will return, along with the premier West Coast ORC handicap racing fleet and several top one-design fleets,” he noted, adding, “I’ve been racing in this event since the 1970s and look forward to it every year.”
In 2023, post-racing socials and the trophy ceremony will be hosted under the Rolex Tent against the stunning backdrop of San Francisco Bay, while the Thursday night Rolex Owners Dinner and Saturday night Crew Dinner will be inside the clubhouse with its unbeatable views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club, is looking forward to participating in his second Rolex Big Boat Series event after competing in 2014 aboard the J/105 Godot. This year he trades racing for running on-the-water operations for this world class regatta — one he is well-equipped to manage given his experience hosting multiple Rolex-sponsored regattas in his former role at Kiel Yacht Club.
“I am especially looking forward to working with the many volunteers onshore and on the water who donate their time to make the event a success,” Weidling said. “I am always delighted by the passion and commitment that the volunteers bring, and this year will be no exception. Looking ahead to next year, we will be hosting the 60th anniversary of Rolex Big Boat Series, which will be a highlight event. Stay tuned!”
Dave MacEwen, this year’s Vice Chair of St. Francis Yacht Club’s Executive Race Committee, owns a J/90 and a Rogers 46, both named Lucky Duck and both of which he has raced in Rolex Big Boat Series. Last year, he raced the J/90 due to the Rogers 46 being temporarily out of commission and found it quite the challenge.
“I’m excited to get my bigger boat back!” MacEwen said. “The J/90 is fast for a 30-footer but it’s just hard to sail that boat competitively. While I thought we sailed super-well, we ended up near last in our division because it’s so difficult to race in typical Big Boat conditions on the J/90.”
MacEwen has sailed in five Rolex Big Boat Series and looks forward to the regatta all year.
“I just love Big Boat. I’m excited for the big breeze, the excellent competition and the shoreside activities are always first-rate,” he said. “On Lucky Duck, we have great competitors. I’m encouraging our friends on Groundhog Day (formerly Bretwalda3) to come up from Southern California and race with us. We’ll also have the Fast 40 Adjudicator, which is always super-hard to beat and won their class last year. And, you never know who else may show up! Transpac is early this year and it would be great if boats are delivered back to the Bay Area instead of Southern California so they could stay around for Rolex Big Boat Series.”
For monohulls not racing in a one-design fleet, St. Francis Yacht Club will be governing the 2023 Rolex Big Boat Series using rating rules established by ORC and fleet splits will be posted on the Tuesday prior to the start of the regatta. The Classics division will race with ORRez rating certificates.
For those interested in participating, an ORC discussion moderated by Dobbs Davis will be held on Friday, April 7, at St. Francis Yacht Club and on Zoom, from 5:00pm – 6:30pm. This event will include a Rolex Big Boat Series preview presented by Weidling.
ABOUT ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB
St. Francis Yacht Club is one of the most esteemed yacht clubs in the world, steeped in tradition and known for innovation. Founded in 1927 with a mission to serve as the inspirational center of boating activities regionally and a leader of yachting internationally, StFYC has hosted many of the most prestigious national and world championships in sailing. With over 40 regattas on its calendar annually, StFYC is widely regarded as having one of the top racing and race management programs in the country. In addition to a worldwide reputation for on-water excellence, StFYC’s clubhouse features outstanding dining, spacious guest docks and panoramic vistas of San Francisco Bay. Each year, StFYC rolls out the red carpet for sailors visiting to compete in Rolex Big Boat Series.
For more information, please visit St. Francis Yacht Club.
ABOUT ROLEX
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
ABOUT ROLEX AND YACHTING
A Natural and Supportive Partner
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the St. Francis Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Yacht Club Italiano among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.
