Register by May 15 for Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club

Already, 30 teams are signed up to compete in this year’s Rolex Big Boat Series, which will double as the 2026 Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) North American Championship. Early entrants include Rolex Sydney Hobart division winner Bacchanal, and a fully refitted Santa Cruz 52, Rosebud. We caught up with both skippers to learn more about their race preparations.  

Rolex Sydney Hobart division winner JPK 11.80 Bacchanal, is owned and skippered by Ron Epstein, and he’s eager to see how his new boat performs in a race he knows well, having podiumed in 2023 and 2024 with his J/133 of the same name. 

“I had a serious case of FOMO watching RBBS from shore in 2025, and I am so excited to be able to sail Bacchanal back in our home waters against such excellent competition,” said Epstein. “Having the ORC Championship hosted by RBBS this year is exciting and motivating, and should bring the best out of all the sailing teams,” he added, noting that his crew will be well-seasoned and in tune with their boat come September, having raced over 2,000 miles together in the past year. 

“I am most looking forward to getting back on the racecourse with what we learned about ourselves and our boat in Australia and see how we do!”

BACK FROM THE DEAD: ROSEBUD

The first crew to commit to the 2026 RBBS was that of the recently restored Santa Cruz 52 Rosebud. The boat won the 1999 iteration of the regatta and returns to RBBS for the first time in over two decades after a “brought back from the dead” refit by owners Blaine Pedlow, Bruce Edwards, Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel. The team was eager to sign up for this year’s race to show off the stunning refit, and also to celebrate their longtime friend Susan Ruhne, who is the 2026 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. 

“Many of us grew up with RBBS as the pinnacle racing event on the California calendar,” said Pedlow. “We have all been lucky enough to compete against each other all over the world, so it’s pretty special for us to sail together in the amazing sailing amphitheater at St. Francis Yacht Club.”

RBBS is known for its iconic setting, its challenging racecourses that send sailors to all corners of San Francisco Bay and for drawing competition that fights all the way to the finish. This year that fight will be extended beyond the Golden Gate for the ORC divisions with the addition of a longer-distance Coastal Race on nearby waters and Gulf of the Farallons, weather depending. 

“We are very excited to host the second ever ORC North American Championship, and to welcome as Course Race Officer Eckart Reinke, an authority on ORC rules who has led numerous ORC World and European Championships,” said Felix Weidling, St. Francis Yacht Club’s Race Director. “With our new course‑setting tool introduced in 2025 and the MarkSetBots, we can select and set higher‑quality courses tailored to the conditions and the fleet. Responding directly to sailor feedback, we will now schedule up to three races per day. Ten races are planned for all one design classes, six races for all ORC divisions and four races for the Classics.”

Big boats are encouraged to take advantage of this year’s support boat program. Race organizers will work with deeper-draft vessels to find suitable berthing, and they are encouraged to register their support boats to receive dedicated docking in the marina adjacent to St. Francis Yacht Club, allowing captains and crews to fully partake in the social scene, nightly events and clubhouse amenities. Furthermore, recent dredging of the harbor will be fully completed by race time.   

“We are committed to providing an outstanding shore experience for all competitors, and part of the experience is attending morning weather briefings, having coffee and breakfast at in the Regatta Plaza, and socializing with other sailors after a long day of racing at our nightly parties,” said Nadine Franczyk, Regatta Chair. 

• One design boats from the J/88, J/105, Cape 31 and Express 37 classes. Other classes with a minimum number of entries may be considered with application to the Organizing Authority.
• ORC monohulls with an LOA ≥ 30 feet. ORC boats are required to have a current valid ORC International certificate issued by any national rating office. U.S. boats can apply HERE.
• Classic boats built using traditional wooden plank-on-frame construction with an LOA ≥ 40 feet and a current ORRez rating certificate. For the avoidance of doubt, cold-molded construction boats shall not qualify.

Boats registering after May 15 will be charged the regular fees, late fees kick in after July 31 and registration closes September 1.