| The Final Play. |
| By the Rolex Big Boat
Series Media Team. |
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Photos by Daniel Forster
for Rolex,
edited By Peter Andrews. |
| September 11, 2011. |
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| After enduring yesterday’s high wind survival conditions, hundreds of sailors from the 81 teams at the 47th annual Rolex Big Boat Series would no doubt agree that handling today’s 14 to 17 knots on San Francisco Bay was a piece of cake. And rich was the cake’s icing with sunshine unobstructed by fog and temperatures that had warmed by double digits to 68 degrees fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). |
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Down wind of the J 105 Class off Alcatraz, during the Rolex Big Boat Series,
San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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A single “Bay Tour” distance race showed all but the Farr 30 class the four corners of San Francisco Bay, visually anchored by the Golden Gate Bridge to the west, Alacatraz Island in the middle, and Treasure Island and Bay Bridge to the East. As for the Farr 30 class, they continued their world championship with four feisty races out on the “North Course”, their racing home for the regatta’s entire four days.
Spectators lining the shore near the Saint Francis Yacht Club witnessed the true beauty, emotion and power of sail before, during and after the day’s scheduled racing. Before racing commenced however, the entire fleet paraded in honor of 9/11 victims and for the finish, a colorful lineup of spinnakers roared past the stretch of land closest to Crissy Field. |
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Edward Walker's Wianno and Theresa Brandner-Allen's Walloping
Swede, both
J 105s' from San Francisco, sailing off Hyde Street during the Rolex
Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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For the final spinnaker sail-past, cannon fire from the uppermost decks of the Saint Francis Yacht Club echoed out over the bay. It was at the yacht club later with the fleet comfortably berthed, six perpetual trophies as well as Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel Submariners would be awarded to winners in six of the participating classes.
The Atlantic Perpetual Trophy - Farr 30 One Design Class.
With a world championship at stake, twelve Farr 30s’ had been sailing their own regatta within the Rolex Big Boat Series with unmatched intensity. Until today, Scott Easom’s Eight Ball from San Rafael, California had held at bay two fierce competitors; Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad from Boston, Massachusetts and Deneen Demourkas’s Groovederci from Santa Barbara, California; throughout seven extremely windy races where wild wipeouts and sail blowouts were becoming commonplace. |
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Deneen Demourkas' Groovederci from Santa Barbara, California,
wins the Farr 30 Class in the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Yesterday, with only one race completed due to extreme gear-busting conditions, Easom knew his foes would recharge, re-circle and move in for an attack today when the wind settled a bit. Sure enough, Richardson moved into first after winning today’s first race and maintained his lead up until near the end of the third race. During the last leg, Richardson fouled Rhonda Tolar’s Wild Thing from Corona Del Mar, California, after jibing too close and touching its spinnaker with his.
“It was an unforced error; we shouldn’t have been there,” said Richardson and the ensuing penalty turn cost him dearly. As a result he finished the race in 11th place. With Richardson ultimatly falling back to third, the door was opened for Demourkas to take the overall lead and then secure it in the last race. Demourkas won after posting finish positions of 5-2-2-4 today, while Easom finished third overall, behind Richardson on the merit of his 8-4-4-7 today.
“Coming into today, I knew winning was a possibility, but we would need all four races,” said Demourkas. “In the first race, we were leading and hit the weather mark, so that wasn’t so good. But we did our penalty turn and managed to hold it all together. This is my ninth world championship in this boat. I’ve been a bride’s maid a few times, so I’ve paid my dues.” |
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Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad from Boston, Massachusetts,
second in the Farr 30 Class in the
Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Demourkas, who is also the president of the Farr 30 class, explained that while a 30 footer might be considered small for the Rolex Big Boat Series, the Saint Francis Yacht Club was “kind enough” to integrate them.
“It shows their commitment to yachting to have us here and gave us a chance to show what the boat can do,” said Demourkas. She also said the boats are capable of performing in high winds, but many of the owners here have not had precious time in the boat like she has had.
“It was a little more nerve wracking,” she said of the high winds and her own constant jockeying for position. “But damn good racing!” she added.
The St. Francis Perpetual Trophy - IRC A Class.
Jim Swartz’s TP 52 Vesper from Park City, Utah breezed to a seemingly
easy overall victory, considering it won five out of seven races including today’s.
But Swartz credited it mostly to a well-oiled team that simply knew how to tame
the boat, no matter how high the winds. |
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Jim Swartz’s TP 52 Vesper from Park City, Utah was the winner in
IRC A Class, in the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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His America’s Cup veteran tactician Gavin Brady from Annapolis Maryland, made the comment that San Francisco is the best venue in the world for sailing. “It’s like there are ginormous fans at the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a man-made arena where the wind comes in at 11 am and you can start on time every day,” said Brady. “For the next America’s Cup here, you can just put the AP flag in a glass case and it will never be flown.”
With Vesper having pretty much wrapped up the overall victory, the real
battle was for second today. In the end it was Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay from
George Town, Cayman Islands, who prevailed over Canadian Ashley Wolfe’s Mayhem from
Calgary, Alberta. Both boats were TP 52s’ and were among five competing
in this class, along with two other larger boats and one smaller.
“This has been more fun than other races,” said Cunningham. “It was so close for us with Mayhem and the others, and these 52s’ make the Bay look small.” |
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Peter Cunningham’s TP 52 PowerPlay from George Town, Cayman Islands,
during the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The class sailed 30 miles today and there were some “interesting choices” on where to go. “We were first to Blossom Rock when the wind totally died with a 2 to 3 knot current and the whole fleet condensed,” said Cunningham. “We were ahead of Vesper and Mayhem, and I had déjà-vu all over again. If you get caught in that current, it was classic San Francisco; everything can change so easily.”
Cunningham’s PowerPlay finished second today and posted 15 points to Vesper’s 10 in overall scoring, while Wolfe’s Mayhem posted 18 points.
The City of San Francisco Trophy - IRC B Class.
Skipper Brad Copper of the Tripp 43 TNT from Point Richmond, California, was “totally jazzed” to win his second Rolex watch here after his second-place finish today sewed up the series for him.
“We stuck to the same game plan: focus on the basics, do a good job,” said Copper, noting that this was his fourth Rolex Big Boat Series and his first win was back in 2008. |
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Brad Copper's Tripp 43 TNT from Point Richmond, California, during the
Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Before today’s race, he had a three-point lead over Sy Kleinman’s 54 foot sloop Swiftsure II from Saratoga, California. At the day’s end, Kleinman had narrowed the gap down to two points. Kleinman who turned 90 this summer, has sailed in the Rolex Big Boat Series 30 times to date, and although he no longer steers, he still contributes to the afterguard on the boat he has sailed here for the last 16 years.
“They make me walk the plank,” he said before racing today, using his cane to steady himself as he walked a short, wide board made especially for his traversing the distance between the dock and the boat. “Thank God for big wind,” he said when asked about his feelings over the past few days. “This one’s blowing in our favor; this boat needs a lot of wind.” |
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Ninty year old Sy Kleinman, owner of the 54 foot sloop Swiftsure
II from
Saratoga, California atthe Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco,
California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The Richard
Rheem Perpetual Trophy - IRC C Class.
Andy Costello’s J/125 Double Trouble from Point Richmond, California was the only boat in the series to turn in a perfect score; winning all seven races in the eight-boat sport boat class for the “fast forties.” It also was among four J/125s’ competing in that class, and indeed it was these models, which more typically sail in their own one-design class, that filled the top four spots on the scoreboard. |
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IRC C winner Andy Costello’s J 125 Double Trouble from Point Richmond,
California, in the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Dee Smith’s new Farr 400 Team Premier was decidedly fast, but with a new crew and little time to prepare, it fell short of keeping pace with the veteran teams aboard the J/125s’ and finished fifth overall.
The Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy - IRC D Class.
Last year, Donald Payan from Hillsborough, California, won the J/120 class skippering Dayenu. But this year, he took the same boat and entered IRC, wondering how it would go.
The performance of both his boat and team proved the gamble paid off, though Payan called the previous days punishing, due to the physical demands made by the conditions. In the end, he deduced that his decision had been very gratifying. |
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Donald Payan's J 120 Dayenu from Hillsborough, California, wins IRC D Class
with 5 firsts and 2 seconds, in the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco,
California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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“One-design
sailing is more of a chess board situation,” said Payan, “whereas
IRC is more like a rally-you are competing against yourself.”
The Commodore’s Cup - J/105 - One Design Class.
Even after a collision rendered it unable to race yesterday’s two races, Scooter Simmons’ Blackhawk from Belvedere, California, looked solid going into today; with a full 12 point lead ahead of second placed Jason Woodley and Scott Whitney’s Risk from Tiburon, California. This came as a result of being granted redress of a second-place for each of the two races Simmons could not cpmplete yesterday. The lead wasn’t too comforting however, when Blackhawk jumped the start gun and had to restart. |
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Scooter Simmons’ J 105 Blackhawk from Belvedere, California,
winner in the J 105 Class, in the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco,
California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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“We had to make up 12 boats, and then we chose to go to shore for relief from the current, and that was the wrong decision,” said Simmons. “The wind clocked right and by the time we got to the city front, we were so deep it, was the most discouraging thing in the world. Then we knew we had to rope in 10 boats. My crew is just so good that we were able to do it, but it’s not the way you want to win a regatta.”
After a tenth today in the largests fleet in the series with 21-boats, Blackhawk’s lead over Risk was down to seven points. After sailing in the Rolex Big Boat Series six times on three different boats, Simmons said that his goal has always been to win a Rolex watch. “It is the epitomy, the trophy we all want,” he said.
The Express 37 - One Design Class.
Defending champion Kame Richards, skipper of Golden Moon from Alameda, California, said his crew had the skill set to deal with
high winds. This was proven when Richards took a commanding lead in overall point scoring after the gusty conditions of the previous day.
“We didn’t have to do anything spectacular to win overall today,” said Richards, who finished second in today’s
race to Michael Shlens’ Blade Runner from Palos Verdes Estate, California. “We could have finished ninth (out of nine
boats) and still won on a tie-breaker.” |
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Kame Richards, skipper of Golden Moon from Alameda, California wins
the Express 37 Class with 5 first and 2 second place finishes, in,
during the Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Richards added that Blade Runner was only one boat length ahead of him at the finish today after all those miles, and that was typical of the “two-boat problem” he had all regatta. “They are just so good and so fun, and it made this the most enjoyable Rolex Big Boat Regatta ever for me.”
The J/120 - One Design Class.
Mathematically, Barry Lewis’ Chance from Atherton, California only
had to finish today with no letters such as DSQ or DNF added to their score to
win, but they finished fourth for good measure.
Crew member Matt Dingo from Portland, Maine, explained how his team decided not to play “the cone” at Alcatraz, which was the right decision over reaching across to the city front early, despite putting them on the outside of some of the wind shifts. |
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Barry Lewis’ J 120 Chance from Atherton, California, during the
Rolex Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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“It was a little flukier on the side we chose, so we had to step on the gas,” he said, “but that’s what makes the Bay Tour legendary. It’s about what’s going on all over. You’re not retracing any of your steps during 24 miles. It’s only at the Rolex Big Boat Series, and it can be a make it or break it race for a lot of teams.”
Regarded by sailors as one of the world’s premier sailboat racing events, the Rolex Big Boat Series is part of the Rolex Yachting Portfolio that includes over 20 world-class sailing events that take place around the world, including the Rolex Miami OCR; Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup; Rolex Fastnet Race; Rolex Farr 40 World Championship; New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport and Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race, both presented by Rolex; and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. |
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Presented with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner from left to right
are TNT's Brad Copper, Vesper's Jim Swartz, Groovederci's Deenan
Demourkas, Blackhawk's Scooter Simmons, Dayenu's Donald Payan and
Double Trouble's Andy Costello, at the presentations for the Rolex
Big Boat Series, San Francisco, California.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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For more information and results from the Rolex Big Boat Series, go to www.rolexbigboatseries.com. Facebook users can keep up-to-date with the St. Francis Yacht Club’s Racing page at www.facebook.com/pages/St-Francis-Yacht-Club-Racing/106175099461351.
Final Results - Rolex Big Boat Series, September 8-11, 2011.
IRC A (IRC - 8 Boats)
1. Vesper, TP 52, Jim Swartz from Park City, UT, USA - 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 for 10.
2. PowerPlay, TP 52, Peter Cunningham , George Town, Grand Cayman, CAY - 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 2, 2 for 15.
3. Mayhem, TP 52, Ashley Wolfe from Calgary, AB, CAN - 2, 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3 for 18.
IRC B (IRC - 9 Boats)
1. TNT, Custom Tripp 43, Brad Copper from Point Richmond, CA, USA - 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 for 11.
2. Swiftsure ll, Sloop 54, Sy Kleinman from Saratoga, CA, USA - 2, 1, 5, 2, 1, 1, 1/RDG for 13.
3. BustinLoose, Sydney 38, Jeff Pulford from Salinas, Ca, USA - 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 4 for 23.
IRC C (IRC - 8 Boats)
1. Double Trouble, J 125, Andy Costello from Point Richmond, CA, USA - 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 for 7.
2. Resolute, J 125, Tim Fuller from Murrieta, CA, USA - 4, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 for 17.
3. August Ice, J 125, Richard Ferris from Tahoe City, CA, USA - 2, 4, 5, 4, 5, 3, 3 for 26.
IRC D (IRC - 8 Boats)
1. Dayenu, J 120, Donald Payan from Hillsborough, CA, USA - 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1 for 9.
2. Tupelo Honey, Elan 40, Gerard Sheridan from San Francisco, CA, USA - 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1, 9/SCP for 25.
3. Mirthmaker, Archambault A35, Douglas Holm and Kirk Denebeim from Corte Madera, CA, USA - 2, 2, 1, 2, 9/DSQ, 4, 6 for 26.
J 105 (One Design - 21 Boats)
1. Blackhawk, Scooter Simmons from Belvedere, CA, USA - 4, 1, 2, 1, 2/RDG, 2/RDG, 10 for 22.
2. Risk, Jason Woodley and Scott Whitney from Tiburon, CA, USA - 7, 3, 8, 2, 3, 1, 5 for 29.
3. Donkey Jack, Edward Conrads, Kaiser and Ryan from San Francisco, CA, USA - 1, 4, 6, 10, 4, 8, 1 for 34.
J 120 (One Design - 7 Boats)
1. Chance, Barry Lewis from Atherton, CA, USA - 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 for 14.
2. Mr. Magoo, Stephen Madeira from Menlo Park, CA, USA - 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 2 for 17.
3. Peregrine, David Halliwill from New York, NY, USA - 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1 for 19.
Express 37 (One Design - 9 Boats)
1. Golden Moon, Kame Richards from Alameda, CA, USA - 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 for 10.
2. Blade Runner, Michael Shlens from Palos Verdes Est., CA, USA - 4, 3, 4, 2, 2, 1, 1 for 17.
3. Expeditious, Bartz Schneider from Crystal Bay, NV, USA - 2, 1, 3, 3, 10/DNF, 10/DNF, 4 for 33.
Farr 30 (One Design - 12 Boats)
1. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas from Santa Barbara, CA, USA - 7, 8, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 5, 2, 1, 4 for 34.
2. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson from Boston, MA, USA - 3, 1, 5, 3, 4, 2, 3, 1, 3, 10, 3 for 38.
3. Eight Ball, Scott Easom from San Rafael, CA, USA - 2, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 2, 8, 4, 3, 7 for 41. |
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| Outimage and Rolex © 2011 |
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