2015 Rolex Big Boat Series Multihull Division

Orion of Tom Siebel gains speed during the 2015 Rolex Big Boat Series 2015 

The 2015 Rolex Big Boat series ended with a professional showdown that continues to grow every year. Multihull Division, the new guys in town running and flying the San Francisco waters since 2012 at the Big Boat Rolex Series delivered a sample of what professional sailing is all about. 

Despite the first days of slow wind conditions over 90 boats delivered impressive sailing. The Golden Gate San Francisco Bridge, Alcatraz and Treasure Islands, a bright San Francisco city background and clear Pacific Ocean blue waters are some of the elements which make up for the unique stage of the Rolex Big Boat Series. Engraved Rolex timepieces -awarded to leading teams have become a symbol of the highest standard, prestige, precision and professional sailing.

Rolex Big Boat Series is a four day buoy and stadium style racing event which continues to attract not only hundreds of sailors but thousands of viewers. Sailing analysts say that the event could go bigger, wider and expand. 

In its 51st Edition the largest turn in was for Class J105 with 27 boats competing for the rewards and first positions. First place for J105s was taken by Jose Cuervo, Mojo sailed in second leaving third for team Risk. J105 sailors also sailed for high stakes for the J105 North American Championship. Other divisions which sailed for victory included ORR A, ORR B, HPR, J111 and J120. But it was the Multihull division -which just 4 racing boats which picked up the most speed. 

On September 19 Rolex Big Boat Series described the performances as a "Spectacular Show of Intense Racing".

Like all divisions Multihulls sailed 5 races. Miller Racing and Orion tied up with 8.0 but it was Miller Racing which took home the Rolex Award. Making the most of sail surface, low winds, tides and the tricky wind zones of San Francisco the two multihulls battled to the final line. Miller Racing came in first in 3 out of 5 races but took points for landing a 3rd position and a second position in two races. Orion saw victory twice and came in second three times gaining enough points to match the lead. 

Smartrecruiters sailing an Extreme 40 took third with 16.0 points and Shadow Team took final position with 21 points. 

   

“The Rolex Big Boat Series is one of the greatest sailing competitions on the planet, run with the precision of a Swiss watch,” Orion Skipper Tom Siebel  stated. Siebel showed up to defend his 2014 Multihull class victory with his massively impressive 70-foot trimaran Orion. 

“San Francisco’s adventurous, innovative and risk-taking spirit is reflected in the sailing scene at this Rolex regatta,” said Siebel. “The Bay is a very exciting place and could be described as the ‘Black Diamond Run’ of sailing venues; it’s challenging with high winds and tricky current and tides,” the businessman with a sailing spirit stated. 

“It’s an amazing visual: the 70-foot trimaran Orion cutting through the water with its windward hull high in the air, three sailors perched atop it, looking like tiny toy soldiers dressed in white with black helmets to match the colossal multihulls paint job. Then comes the bold-red Golden Gate Bridge into the scene, a certified wonder of the modern world...The bridge spans a mile-wide straight, which is boiling with ripping current that Orion must negotiate on its way to a race mark set “outside” of San Francisco Bay, a 60-mile-long, 12-mile-wide estuary that is the primary stage for the Rolex Big Boat Series,” Rolex Big Boat Series reported. 

“Because we’re so fast and so big, the consequences are that we require a lot of forethought to plan our maneuvers well ahead of time,” said Orion’s tactician Charlie Ogletree, who was the USA’s 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Tornado multihull class. “We go three to four times the speed of the other boats in other classes, so they become obstacles that we have to avoid. That’s the challenge, but it’s also the fun.” 

On the Extreme 40 skipper Jerome Ternynck of Smart Recruiters shared the waters behind. While silently Miller took the lead tight and trophy. 

“It’s a shame for us the wind didn’t hold out and that the forecast is light for tomorrow as well, but that’s the reality of the sport, right?,” said Ogletree, noting that on day one, Orion unleashed her awesome power to reach 35 knots of boat speed in 19-20 knots of breeze.

St. Francis Yacht Club Race Director Lynn Lynch explained what it takes to run a Rolex Big Boat Series. 

”As Race Director at the St. Francis Yacht Club, I’ve learned that the Rolex Big Boat Series is capable of presenting its own unique hurdles. From dodging 1,000+ foot container ships to sending 10 classes on different Bay tours without running them into each other, it regularly provides excitement for the organizers,” the Director stated.  

“Within weeks of the conclusion of one RBBS, the planning commences for the next,” Director Lynch promised wonders for the coming 2016 Rolex Big Boat Series.