Rolex Big Boat Series Day 1

September 16 , 2010

Thick fog shrouded the racing on the first day of the Rolex Big Boat Series. A consistent but relatively weak 15 knots of breeze filled the Slot, allowing for racers to be back at the docks in time for free beer in the late afternoon, and no damage control was needed in what has been an unusually windy summer.

The 1D35s Zsa Zsa and Dark and Stormy chase the King 40 Soozal. ©2010 Stephen Buckingham/norcalsailing.com

"It looked like the fog was starting to lift around noon, but it just came in more by the afternoon," remarked one Cityfront observer. Damage did happen to two Melges 32 competitors, but it wasn't due to the weather. It was a classic port-starbord situation.Doug Douglass’s Goombay Smash from Stamford, CT, had a run in with Londoner Stuart Simpson’s Team Barbarians (sailing for the Royal Torbay Yacht Club) at the weather mark in the first race. Not good for both boats' plans for the Melges 32 Worlds coming up later this month. But both boats should be repaired and running again tomorrow. And we will have more tomorrow also, so stay tuned.

Goombay Smashed. ©2010 Rolex Big Boat Series

For more information see the Rolex Big Boat Series website at www.rolexbigboatseries.com.

The Kernan 44 Wasabi, with designer Tim Kernan aboard, leads IRC-C. ©2010 Stephen Buckingham/norcalsailing.com