ORC West Coast Championship 2025 – Part of the Rolex Big Boat Series

2 March, 2025 - San Francisco, USA - Registration is now open for the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series, which also serves as the ORC West Coast Championship 2025. St. Francis Yacht Club invites ORC sailors from across North America to an intense week of competition on San Francisco Bay from September 10-14. The ORC class has become a key part of this prestigious regatta, attracting some of the best sailors and boats to the West Coast.

ORC on the Rise in North America

In recent years, the ORC rating rule has seen rapid growth in North America, becoming one of the biggest ORC nations worldwide. In addition to the ORC West Coast Championship 2025, this year marks the first-ever ORC 2025 North American Championship, taking place during Block Island Race Week in June.

"It’s fantastic to see how strongly ORC has established itself in North America. We look forward to seeing even more boats competing in the ORC class at the Rolex Big Boat Series, where we will once again crown a worthy West Coast champion," said Felix Weidling, Race Director at St. Francis Yacht Club.

Highlights from the Rolex Big Boat Series

The regatta will feature a wide range of classes, with the ORC division taking center stage as some of the most experienced sailors on the West Coast go head-to-head. The top boats in each ORC division will be crowned ORC West Coast champions, in addition to earning prestigious trophies.

St. Francis Yacht Club's Executive Race Committee Chair, Dave MacEwen, emphasized the significance of the ORC West Coast Championship:

"The Rolex Big Boat Series is always an incredible experience; it’s a unique opportunity to test their skills against the best in the region. We expect excitement from start to finish, with spectacular conditions on San Francisco Bay."

In addition to the thrilling competition, the event will feature social gatherings and networking opportunities for sailors, their teams, and families. Racing kicks off on Thursday with two races per day through Saturday, while Sunday will feature a longer "Bay Tour" course.

Strengthening the ORC Class

To attract even more participants in the ORC class, organizers have made adjustments to the Notice of Race, including accommodating larger yachts under the ORC system and allowing modifications that make it easier for big boats from Southern California and returning Transpac competitors to join.

"We’ve made adjustments to the rules to ensure that ORC continues to grow on the West Coast. We hope more large boats will make their way to San Francisco to compete in the ORC West Coast Championship 2025," Weidling said.

Part of a Growing ORC Scene

Matt Gallagher, ORC Deputy Chairman, draws parallels between the Rolex Big Boat Series and the newly established ORC 2025 North American Championship:

"ORC has proven its strength in international championships, and it’s exciting to see two major ORC championships in North America this year. Both the Rolex Big Boat Series and Block Island Race Week offer challenging sailing, where the ORC system truly showcases its ability to ensure fair racing."

With ORC continuing to gain momentum in North America, the Rolex Big Boat Series and ORC West Coast Championship are expected to become key gathering points for both new and experienced ORC sailors.

For more information and registration, visit St. Francis Yacht Club's website.