And now to the West Coast

2009 US-IRC Nationals set for Rolex Big Boat Series

As the prizegiving for St. Francis Yacht Club’s 2008 Rolex Big Boat Series got underway last weekend, Luiz Kahl, Executive Director of the US-IRC Foundation and Norman Davant, Regatta Chairman of the Rolex Big Boat Series, surprised the audience with the announcement that the 2009 Rolex Big Boat Series will also be the 2009 Rolex US-IRC National Championship.

“Having experienced the 2008 Rolex Big Boat Series first hand, I couldn’t be more pleased with our decision” said Kahl. “The St. Francis Yacht Club runs a magnificent event in a spectacular location and facilities. The venue offers great sailing conditions and the Race Committee does a fabulous job with the race and course management. I would definitely mark the 2009 Rolex Big Boat Series and Rolex US-IRC National Championship in my calendar as the one 2009 regatta not to miss!”

“We're excited to host the Rolex US-IRC National Championship next year,” said John Siegel, Chairman of the Executive Race Committee of the St. Francis Yacht Club and Founder of the San Francisco Bay IRC Owners Association. “We are happy about how IRC racing is growing in California. The numbers are growing slowly, but steadily. Next year we'll probably lose the Sydney 38s to one design status, but hope to make it up with other participants including some Transpac Race returnees. I'm happy to report that the best-sailed boats continue to win under IRC.”

The first Rolex US-IRC National Championship was held in 2007 on the East coast in conjunction with the Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex. The second annual National Championship was held this summer with the Little Traverse YC’s Annual Regatta in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

The move to the west coast in 2009 completes the cycle, giving sailors all across the country the opportunity to participate in IRC racing at a championship level. Sailors from around the world are invited to race with us. Their IRC certificate is an international passport for a yacht, enabling it to travel across national and international borders using the same certificate wherever it goes.