2026 Rolex Big Boat Series - ORC North American Championship 2026

Sailors, mark your calendars for the 62nd edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series, which in 2026 will also host the ORC North American Championship. From September 16–20, the iconic St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco will welcome top offshore teams from across the continent to race on one of the most spectacular and challenging racecourses in the world — the legendary San Francisco Bay.

Located at the edge of the city’s Marina District, with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, St. Francis Yacht Club offers a world-class venue combining rich sailing tradition with stunning natural beauty. Competitors can expect a mix of exhilarating conditions, warm hospitality, and seamless race organization from one of the most renowned yacht clubs in the United States.

Beyond the racecourse, San Francisco invites you to explore its vibrant culture, dining, and attractions — from Crissy Field and the Palace of Fine Arts just steps away from the clubhouse, to North Beach, Union Square, and the Marin Headlands across the bay.

Get ready for an unforgettable championship experience in one of the world’s great sailing cities.

Since its inception in 1964, the Big Boat Series has been a standard-bearer, showcasing top talent on the water and boats from around the world. As sailing trends evolve, so too does the regatta. It remains on the cutting edge of sailing by continually adding new classes and championships to its lineup. It hosted the glory days of IOR and IMS racing. It has accommodated Maxis, Sleds and America’s Cup class boats as well as fiercely competitive one-design racing. The event survived the economic ups and downs of the 1980s and soared in entries in the late 90s and early 2000s, reaching a record 115 entries in 2003. In 2005, after three years as presenting sponsor, Rolex Watch U.S.A. became the title sponsor.

Throughout the 2000s, the Big Boat series served double-duty for national and world championships including Rolex US-IRC Nationals (2009), Melges 32 Pre-Worlds (2010), Farr 30 Worlds (2011) and US-IRC North Americans (2012). In 2013, the event directly succeeded the 34th America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay, serving as the HPR National Championship, the J/120 North American Championship, the IRC West Coast Championship and the pre-worlds for the Melges 24 Class. In 2022, St. Francis Yacht Club initiated the use of the ORC handicap formula to align with international racing trends.

The St. Francis Yacht Club is an internationally renowned private club with nearly a century of sailing excellence and world-class hospitality. Founded in 1927, the Club has a proud history of hosting distinguished championships for a wide variety of boats and classes, from one-design fleets to major international offshore events—all set against the iconic backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge.