Sixty-five Boats to Race for Six Perpetual Trophies & Two Rolex Submariner Dates
The waters of San Francisco Bay are set to come alive with four action-packed days of racing at the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series, Thursday, September 11, through Sunday, September 14. The regatta, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, is renowned for its thrilling competition and beautiful backdrop in one of the sailing world’s most iconic venues.
“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,” said Adam Gambel, Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “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.”
After celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024, RBBS continues to evolve with the sport of sailing, drawing new competitors and returning veterans.
“Rolex Big Boat Series is one of the crown jewels of StFYC’s top-tier regatta calendar,” said Regatta Chair Nadine Franczyk. “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.”
Sixty-five boats in six classes—ORC A, ORC B, ORC C, Express 37, J/105 and J/88—will compete twice daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. After three days of nonstop action on the water, Sunday further challenges competitors with one long course, sending the fleets to all corners of San Francisco Bay.
“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,” said Michael Firmin, skipper of the Australian-flagged Infiniti 52 Zeus. “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.”
On the StFYC docks this evening, excitement was palpable as crews prepared their boats for racing.
“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,” said Justin Oberbauer, who races on Donkey Jack and is vice chair of StFYC’s Executive Race Committee. “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.”
Mainstays of the Bay Area sailing scene were joined by competitors from across the country and around the world for the first of the regatta’s parties, sharing stories of past editions and looking forward to what this year has to offer. Backed by views of the Golden Gate Bridge, perpetual trophies for each class were announced, as well as which classes will be taking home the Rolex Submariner Dates.
The Perpetual Trophies and Rolexes will be awarded as follows:
ORC A
The St. Francis Perpetual Trophy will be awarded to the top finisher in the ORC A division. Donated anonymously to StFYC in 1966, the trophy was meant to encourage competition between large offshore racing yachts.
ORC B
In addition to a Rolex Submariner Date for the skipper, the winning crew of the ORC B class will receive the City of San Francisco Perpetual Trophy, which has been awarded at RBBS since 1968.
ORC C
The ORC C class will race for the Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy, named in honor of late StFYC members Harold Keefe and Ray Kilborn.
J/105
On the line for the J/105 one-design class is a Rolex Submariner Date for the winning skipper, as well as the Commodore’s Cup Perpetual Trophy.
J/88
The Atlantic Perpetual Trophy will go to the winner of the J/88 one-design class. The trophy features a ship’s bell from the 1905 Transatlantic-record-breaking schooner Atlantic.
EXPRESS 37
The nine boats in the Express 37 fleet will compete for the Richard Rheem Perpetual Trophy, named for longtime StFYC member and skipper of legendary racing yacht Morning Star. They also race for the Pacific Coast Yachting Association’s Jesse L. Carr Trophy, which is conducted in conjunction with a carefully chosen sailing regatta and intended to recognize the achievement of a sailing crew participating in a one-design portion of a larger regatta.
The event is also serving as the ORC Pacific Coast Championships, so competition will be hard-fought in the three divisions of ORC-rated handicap boats. St. Francis Yacht Club has been selected to host the ORC North American Championship during the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series, so this year should serve as a primer for these competitive divisions.
“This is a great regatta. Our boat’s owner, Chip Merlin, and our whole crew are big fans,” said Brian Malone of the 68-foot Bill Lee-designed Merlin, the largest boat in this year’s regatta and racing in ORC A. “Great wind, great hospitality. The Bay is amazing and it keeps us coming back year after year.”
