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COVID-Era Rolex Big Boat Series a Success

How successful was last week’s return of the Rolex Big Boat Series? Just take a look at the happy faces we photographed during the regatta at St. Francis Yacht Club on September 16-19.

young J/105 crew boys
Young J/105 competitors greet each other. Seth Spiegel, 9, sailed on his dad Adam’s Jam Session. Travis Greenberg, 11, sailed on Arbitrage.
© 2021 Anne Russell

To help everyone stay safe, StFYC required proof of vaccination to enter the clubhouse. You showed your vax card and your photo ID once and received a wristband to wear for the duration. Then you just had to show the wristband and put on your mask each time you entered. The big parties were held outside in the tent on the dirt patch between StFYC and Golden Gate YC.

Hank Easom and Scott Easom
Hank Easom returned to the helm of the 8-Meter Yucca in the Classics Division. His nephew Scott Easom took first place in ORR C with his J/100 Eight Ball.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John
Kuai crew with Chris Watts from Merlin
Melges 32 Kuai crew David Lee, Jen Canestra and Daniel Thielman with Chris Watts from Merlin at the Mount Gay Rum Party.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

At the famous Mount Gay Rum Party on Friday night, the sponsor’s rum was flowing and the hosted food-truck supper was as plentiful, diverse and delicious as ever.

Crew from the Melges 32 Nuckelavee, left to right: Pearl Prisco, Ross Kennedy (owner Mark’s son), Brian Martin, Stefan Jensen and Gael Jeffrezic.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Trig Liljestrand of the J/90 Ragtime chartered the J/125 Rufless. These are crewmembers Isabelle du Moulin, William McMullen and Cassidy Lynch.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Ian Charles and Charlie Pick
J/105 sailors are as friendly on shore as they are fiercely competitive on the water. This is Ian Charles, owner of Maverick, and Charlie Pick, owner of Box of Rain.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Bob Walden of the Cal 39 Sea Star chartered the Express 37 Stewball. That’s him top left, with his crew Gabriel Serafini and Amber Moffat. Lori Tewksbury (bottom left) ‘manned’ the foredeck of the all-female Express 37 Eclipse.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Cam Tuttle and Jenny Krone
Cam Tuttle of Favonius, a Dehler 46 in ORR A, and Jenny Krone of Peregrine, a J/120 in ORR C.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Ne*Ne
Kelsey Tostenson, Kyle Hunt, Ted Wilson, and Anne Russell of the J/105 Ne*Ne, hull #3.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

The crowds returned to the tent for the awards party on Sunday afternoon.

Azure crew
The crew of the Cal 40 Azure were having a great time celebrating their second-place finish in ORR C.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Blackhawk crew
The Blackhawk crew won the J/105 division and a Rolex. Left to right: Nico Colomb, Jon Rosen, Kristin and Ryan Simmons, Micah Simmons (Kristin and Ryan’s 2.5-year-old son), Brent Draney and Collette Zaro. The photobomber in the back is Tim Russell, skipper of Ne*Ne. Blackhawk and Ne*Ne tied on points, and Blackhawk won the tie-breaker (they had more first-place finishes).
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

We’ll have much more in the October issue of Latitude 38.

1 Comment

  1. Ken Glidewell 3 years ago

    Thanks for the kind comments, we enjoyed having the entire Bay Area sailing community there for the 2021 Rolex Big Boat Series.

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