With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close on Sunday, September 14. The skippers at the top of the podium in the J/105 and ORC B classes were awarded coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault’s Arbitrage came away victorious among the J/105s, the regatta’s largest fleet. Going into the final day of racing, leaders in both Rolex contending classes were ahead by five points over the nearest competitor, however that differential did not guarantee a win for either yacht before the last race. The heightened stakes made for striking competition on the water, with all fleets crossing the finish line in style in front of the StFYC Clubhouse. “This regatta is very meaningful to me and my crew. My first Big Boat Series was 40 years ago,” said Bruce Stone, who last won a Rolex in 2014. “This is the marquee event for the J/105 fleet, and now we are heading to Toronto tomorrow morning for the North American Championship.”
Results: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/o6R0Lhevbp/results
Recap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac5cGZyU-5g
J/105
Competing for a Rolex Submariner Date and the Commodore’s Cup Perpetual Trophy.
1 — Arbitrage, Bruce Stone / Nicole Breault
2 — Blackhawk, Ryan Simmons
3 — Ne*Ne, Tim Russell
4 — Donkey Jack, Rolf Kaiser
5 — Akula, Doug Bailey\
The first-place winner of each ORC division also won the ORC Pacific Coast Championship. The Storm Trysail Club Team Trophy went to the best scoring three-boat team, with one boat from an ORC class, one from a one-design class and one from any other class. This year’s winning team “Shadow Armada,” was comprised of J/111 Skeleton Key, J/105 Blackhawk and J/88 Ravenette.