Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club

Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club – Day 1

by St. Francis Yacht Club Sep 17 04:01 UTC
September 15-19, 2021

The fog was low but the energy was at its peak at the start of the first day of racing in the 2021 Rolex Big Boat Series. Fortunately, at the end of the day, the characteristic westerly winds of San Francisco Bay were blowing. strong and steady across the Golden Gate, propelling all 79 competitors to the finish line and leaving sailors raving about the “perfect conditions” on the water.

The three ORR fleets and the Express 37 raced on the Treasure Island course, while the North course was dedicated to J / 105, J / 88 and J / 70. All classes completed their second races off the Race Deck, directly in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club, host of the four-day regatta.

“Let’s be ready to scold!” Paul Dorsey told his team of 11 Adjudicator as they prepared for the first start of the day’s two races. Purchased in early 2020, shortly before the pandemic, the Fast 40 remained dry, awaiting the return of racing in the San Francisco Bay area. They completed 33 days of training before this first big race, and it showed in their first race of the day, finishing in 2nd place in ORR B, seconds behind Daniel Thielman’s Melges 32, Kuai, on time corrected. Dorsey is a Rolex Big Boat Series veteran, who once piloted his Soto 30, Gentoo, which won the PHRF Sportboat class in 2016. Merlin’s Merlin, is one of the fastest boats here, based on their ORR notes.

And to end the day in 3rd place in the ORR B division, Sandra Askew and her eight crew members on Flying Jenny. She raced her first Rolex Big Boat Series in 2019 and her IC37 arrives just after the summer regatta season in Newport, Rhode Island. “I like it here because it’s windy,” she said, and came with her boat optimized for ORR competition, with a new keel and a longer boom. “I have a tight group and it’s really fun sailing with these boys. We’re happy to be back.”

J / 70 Cool Story by John Brigden, Bro. was the first boat to complete that first day of racing, crossing the line several minutes ahead of the peloton and looking as fit as in 2019 when she won the division. Likewise, Gary Panariello’s J / 88 Courageous looked well balanced and stable in its downwind descents, scoring two balls today, setting them up well for a week that will end with one of them the 2021 North American champion. When asked how he made it so easy, he replied, “It’s a program for friends and family and we are all happy to run together,” adding that “The Big Boat’s secret is to win all Race Deck finishes! ”

“Here’s the party,” we heard on the race deck, alongside applause and applause from spectators as the regatta’s largest fleet, the J / 105s, made their way to the cannon. He shot for Tim Russell’s Ne Ne, who overcame a series of challenges to land this far up the standings. “There was a 30 degree wind change just after the start [of the first race] and we were at the hairpin and finished almost last. Then one of his main winches failed. They dug deep and scored a 2nd and a 1st.

Explaining how they made both jib sheets work with a single working winch, he joked, “We’re glad we didn’t run out of tacks on the Cityfront.” He praised the race committee’s course selection for the conditions on the north side of the bay and said the long runs and open lanes of the Rolex Big Boat Series provide so many options that it is not surprising that the classification can easily switch. The first victory of the day in this class went to Philip Laby’s Godot, winner of the regatta in 2016. “The fleet is really rich in talent. Any of the 10 boats could take a bullet, ”said Maverick skipper Ian Charles.

The five classic ships, all older than the 1955 vintage, used a full canvas press for their 1:00 p.m. start, but not all were at the end of the race, with Water Witch crossing the finish line under a large – reef sail. “It started out light by our standards, 14-15 knots, but coming back from behind Alcatraz it was 20-25 and full ebb so lots of bumps. Lots of wind,” said Beau Vrolyk, schooner owner Alden Mayan. , back for their second Rolex Big Boat Series. “We really enjoyed the course,” he said, which offered some nice reaching angles across the bay for the variety of boats in this class. “This allowed the sloops and split rigs to excel on both legs and finish close.”

When asked to sum up the race day, Vrolyk hit every note on a sailor’s wish list: “An epic day, lots of wind, typical of San Francisco. Looking back on the last time, water everywhere, everyone is having a good time. ”

Results available here …