Variable sailing conditions hounded 79 teams at the 2023 Rolex Big Boat Series, held September 14-17 in San Francisco, CA. From a challenging ebb coupled with strong gusts in the low 20s on the first day, to diminishing breezes each subsequent race day, the 59th edition of the West Coast’s premier racing event challenged even the most seasoned competitors.
Heading into the final day of navigating the Bay’s famous currents and wind shifts, five class wins were still up for grabs as nearly 700 sailors left the docks. Only Shawn Ivie helming his Express 37 Limitless, and Shepard Kett racing his well-seasoned Santa Cruz 50 Octavia, could feel satisfied that their teams were free and clear, having banked six bullets each in their respective classes.
Prior to racing on the final day, in a longstanding tradition for host St. Francis Yacht Club, boats first rounded A Buoy in front of St. Francis Yacht Club to drop flowers in the water in remembrance of recently departed sailors and friends.
It was the first year for StFYC’s Race Director Felix Weidling to be on the organizing side of RBBS and he was pleased with how the event unfolded. “It’s our pinnacle event and the whole West Coast looks to us to make it spectacular. The preparation needs to be 100 percent and we were fully on it this year. We had to be well-prepared for ORC classes with a rating system that was adopted last year by the club and is working well.”
Source: scuttlebutt – https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2023/09/17/big-boat-series-fully-back-on-the-bay/
