Winners in four IRC classes and five one-design classes were named this evening at the Rolex Big Boat Series. Hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, the event awarded its six historic Perpetual Trophies at a gala trophy ceremony where winners also received specially engraved Rolex timepieces.
The St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, which was established to stimulate and encourage competition among large ocean racing yachts. Philippe KAHN (Honolulu, Hawaii) and his TP52
Pegasus 52 won the IRC A class. The trophy has been awarded annually since the inception of the Big Boat Series 41 years ago to yachts invited to a race or series of races that are measured and handicapped in accordance with the current measurement rule and rate 40 feet or more. This trophy was donated in 1964 by Commodore A. L. Sandy MCCORMICK.
Robert YOUNGJOHNS (Woodside, Calif.) won the City of San Francisco Trophy, which is one of the two golden spades used to break ground for the Golden Gate Bridge in 1933. His DK46
Zephyra won IRC B class.
John SIEGEL and his Wylie 42
Scorpio won IRC C class and the Richard RHEEM Perpetual Trophy. The trophy was established in 1972 in memory of Richard RHEEM, whose famous yacht
Morning Star was the elapsed time winner in the 1949 and 1955 Transpac races to Honolulu.
Gary MOZER (Long Beach, Calif.) won IRC D class and the KEEFE-KILBORN Memorial Trophy, which was established in 1976 to honor Harold KEEFE and Ray KILBORN. MOZER'S J/109
Current Obsession won the 10-boat class.
Steve MADEIRA (Menlo Park, Calif.) and his J/120
Mr. Magoo won the Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, which was established in 1978 and features the ship's bell of the yacht Atlantic, long-time Trans-Atlantic Ocean record holder (1905). The bell was donated by John C. 'Jack' MORRIS, and the trophy by Jack H. FELLER Jr.
Scott SELLERS (San Francisco) won the Commodore's Cup, created in 2004 to encourage competition in one-design racing on San Francisco Bay. His J/105
Donkey Jack triumphed in the 33-boat fleet, the largest one in the series. In the remaining classes, Chris BUSCH (San Diego, Calif.) won the 1D35 class with his
Wild Thing, Mark DOWDY'S (San Francisco)
Eclipse won the Express 37 class, and
Double Trouble, owned by Andy COSTELLO (Novato, Calif.) won the Sydney 38 class.
St. Francis Yacht Club's Big Boat Series presented by Rolex will be featured in the television program 'Spirit of Yachting,' to be broadcast internationally later this year. For sailors worldwide, the Rolex 'Spirit of Yachting' films convey the exciting highlights of the racing season from a host of locales that offer spectacular conditions and intense competition. Each year, Rolex produces a series of 30-minute films capturing the racing action.
The Rolex Big Boat Series joins other prestigious Rolex-sponsored events including Rolex International Women's Keelboat Regatta, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, International Rolex Regatta, Rolex IMS World Championship, Giraglia Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan American Regatta, Rolex Commodores' Cup and the Rolex Transatlantic Race.
Founded in 1927, St. Francis Yacht Club, within view of the Golden Gate Bridge, is a year-round host of over 40 regattas on San Francisco Bay. The club is renowned for its expertise in running world and national championships.