Rolex Big Boat Series Wraps Up

There’s no point in mourning the "good old days" of the St. Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series — you know, when the boats were really big, with lots of 70-footers and such. The 21st-century version of Rolex Big Boat Series is big in other ways.

Two 70-footers did sail this year in the regatta held on September 14-17. Orion, Tom Siebel’s MOD70 trimaran, ended up in a division alone when the only other multihull, Peter Stoneberg’s Extreme 40 Shadow X, dismasted in the second race (see Friday’s ‘Lectronic).

The 70-ft monohull Kernan 70 Peligroso had a better time of it, with plenty of competition, albeit from smaller boats, in ORR A. Peligroso kept the pressure on the local Schumacher 54 Swiftsure II, but Swiftsure corrected out on top in the end.

Despite coming from Mexico, Peligroso doesn’t win the distance award. That honor goes to Hong Kong’s Karl Kwok, Kiwi tactician Gavin Brady, and their team’s Pac52 Beau Geste. The team came to San Francisco from Australian and New Zealand winter regattas. If RBBS had a prize for glamor, the Pac52 class would win it.

In sheer numbers, the well-established ’90s-era J/105 fleet is, as usual, the biggest at Big Boat Series. Their 24-boat class was one of the most competitive, with the lead changing with every standings update. Good Timin’ made a comeback after a six-year absence and won the regatta.

The J/70 class had a remarkable showdown for first place. After six races and going into the seventh and final race, Cool Story Bro. and 1FA were tied on points, setting up a match race between the two. 1FA emerged the victor.

We’ll have much more in the October issue of Latitude 38. In the meantime, see www.rolexbigboatseries.com. Also check out bonus photos on our Facebook and Instragram pages.