ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES

September 26 - 29, 2013San Francisco

NOTICE OF RACE

St. Francis Yacht Club

On behalf of the members, officers, and directors of the St. Francis Yacht Club it is my pleasure to invite you and your crew to participate in the 49th annual St. Francis Perpetual Trophy Regatta, known as the Rolex Big Boat Series, to be held September 26th - 29th, 2013.

Thanks to our title sponsor, Rolex Watch, U.S.A., social events with live entertainment are planned each night beginning with a Rolex Commodore’s Reception on Wednesday evening, September 25th. New this year are daily first place trophies to be handed out during our nightly entertainment. Racing for all classes will commence on Thursday, September 26th and continue through Sunday, September 29th. Rolex has again generously provided timepieces for the winners of the St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, the City of San Francisco Trophy, the Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, the Keefe-Kilborn Memorial Trophy, the Richard Rheem Perpetual Trophy, and the Commodore’s Perpetual Trophy. Classes that will be racing for these perpetual trophies and watches will be announced at the Rolex Commodore’s Reception. We will hold the Awards Ceremony after the last race on Sunday.

The enclosed Notice of Race describes the particulars of the 2013 event. Please complete online registration at www.rolexbigboatseries.com as soon as possible to receive more information on the event. If you are planning to race in one of the handicap divisions and have any questions about obtaining a certificate and/or information regarding the rating system, please reference the US Sailing Offshore Office at offshore.ussailing.org for more information. Please get your applications for a measurement certificate in early to ensure that you will have the process completed by the September 18th deadline.

Berthing at the St. Francis Yacht Club will be available at no charge at assigned locations starting on Monday, September 23rd. Should you require berthing prior to September 23rd please make arrangements at one of the many marinas throughout the Bay Area, a listing of which can be found at www.rolexbigboatseries.com/venue

An invitation is also extended to all gentlemen to attend the annual Tinsley Island Stag Cruise, which will be held October 1-4, 2013. If you need further information for either the regatta or cruise, please contact the St. Francis Yacht Club Race Office at 415.563.6363 or raceoffice@stfyc.com. We look forward to seeing you in September.

St. Francis Yacht Club

Commodore James Cascino

Photo courtesy ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Sincerely,

James M. Cascino CommodoreSt. Francis Yacht Club

Each September, sailors from around the world come to test their mettle in San Francisco Bay’s strong breeze and challenging currents at the pinnacle of West Coast yacht racing – the Rolex Big Boat Series, taking place from September 26th - 29th, 2013.

Nestled at the foot of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, St. Francis Yacht Club has been home to the Rolex Big Boat Series for nearly a half century.

Following swiftly on the heels of the 34th America’s Cup finals, the Rolex Big Boat Series showcases top sailing talent and boats, all of whom are eager to win one of the six specially engraved Rolex timepieces given to the winners of the St. Francis Yacht Club's Perpetual Trophies.

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES

No place in San Francisco offers better viewing of yacht racing – whether the America’s Cup or Rolex Big Boat Series – than St. Francis Yacht Club, and this year we are offering all of our registered owners in the Rolex Big Boat Series full guest privileges at our Club during AC34.

The 2013 edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series will host the IRC West Coast Championship, the J/120 North Americans, the HPR Nationals, and the Melges 24 Pre-Worlds.

There may be no better time to be in San Francisco than this summer, and we hope to see you all at the 2013 Rolex Big Boat Series, the Notice of Race and Information for which is included in this booklet.

All photos courtesy ROLEX/Daniel Forster unless otherwise noted

@

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

RULES

1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined by The Racing Rules of Sailing, the Prescriptions of US SAILING and the Deeds of Gift for the following trophies: St. Francis Perpetual, the City of San Francisco Perpetual, the Atlantic Perpetual, the Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual, the Richard Rheem Perpetual, and the Commodore’s Perpetual.

1.2 For One-Design Divisions: the respective class rules will apply, except for J/105 Fleet One Class rules and J/120 Fleet Five Class rules, which will replace the National Association Class Rules.

1.3.1 An IRC endorsed certificate is required and the IRC Rules, Parts A, B, and C shall apply for the IRC classes. Yachts shall submit a copy of their IRC endorsed certificate not later than Wednesday, September 18th, 2013. No alteration in a yacht’s TCC will be permitted after this date, with the following exceptions: as a rating protest, to correct Rating Office errors, or with prior written permission of the Organizing Authority (to be granted only in extreme circumstances with an accompanying $500 fee). IRC Sail Limitations: For the purpose of IRC Rules 26.1.5(d) and (e) this regatta is on consecutive days and the sails carried shall remain the same.

1.3 For handicap divisions:

1.0

1.4 Competitors shall wear personal flotation devices while afloat, except when below deck or briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Wet suits and dry suits are not personal flotation devices. This changes the preamble to Part 4 and rule 40.

1.5 If there is a conflict between languages, the English text will take precedence.

1.3.2 For the HPR class or other handicap monohull classes, yachts shall submit a copy of their endorsed certificate not later than Wednesday, September 18th, 2013. No alteration in a yacht’s TCC will be permitted after this date, with the following exceptions: as a rating protest, to correct Rating Office errors, or with prior written permission of the Organizing Authority (to be granted only in extreme circumstances with an accompanying $500 fee).

1.3.3 For the Multihull classes a yacht is required to provide a current BAMA rating no later than September 18th, 2013. No alteration in a yacht’s TCC will be permitted after this date, with the following exceptions: as a rating protest, to correct Rating Office errors, or with prior written permis¬sion of the Organizing Authority (to be granted only in extreme circumstances with an accompanying $500 fee).

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

RULES1.0

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

ADVERTISING

ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY

FEES

2.1 Advertising for timepieces other than for Rolex, our title sponsor, is strongly discouraged.

2.2 Boats shall be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organizing Authority.

Participation in this event is by invitation only. Competitors may apply for entry online at www.rolexbigboatseries.com. Entries will be notified of their acceptance by the Organizing Authority.

Entry fee is $20 per foot of overall boat length, rounded up to the nearest foot. All checks must be in U.S. DOLLARS drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to: St. Francis Yacht Club. Payment is due on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 for all entries. After that date, an additional $250 late fee will apply. There are no exceptions to the late fee. All guests must obtain a guest pass at registration in order to gain access to the Club throughout the week. Each crew member will receive a competitor badge, and each boat will receive a few complimentary guest passes. Additional guest passes may be purchased during registration.

2.0 4.0

3.0

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

5.0 CLASS DIVISIONS 6.0 REGATTA SCHEDULE

Wednesday, September 251000 - 1900 Registration & Check-In1800 - 1830 Skippers & Navigators Briefing1830 - 1930 Rolex Commodore’s Reception

Thursday, September 261100 Racing Begins - Two Races Planned1700 - 2000 Rolex Party

Friday, September 271100 Racing Begins - Two Races Planned1700 - 1830 Mt. Gay Cocktail Party

Saturday, September 281100 Racing Begins - Two Races Planned1630 - 1730 No-Host Cocktails1930 Crew Dinner (Sign-up at Registration & Check-In)

Sunday, September 291100 Racing Begins - Bay Tour Race Scheduled1600 Rolex Trophy Ceremony

5.1 Entrants will be divided into two groupings as follows: One Design Racing: J/120, Farr 400, Farr 30, J/111, Express 37, One Design 35, J/105, J/70 and Melges 24. Handicap Racing: Yachts 35’ LOA and above will be divided into divisions at the discretion of the Organizing Authority. The Organizing Authority plans to offer both IRC and HPR divisions. Additional classes may be added at the discretion of the Organizing Authority. Multihull Handicap Racing: Yachts 33’ LOA and above including the pole with a rating of -45 or faster that hold a valid BAMA rating.

5.2 A minimum of 6 boats per class will be required for a class start. If 6 boats per class are not entered by Wednesday, September 18th, 2013, the entered boats may be assigned to the appropriate handicap division, provided they hold a valid endorsed certificate from US Sailing. Otherwise, the Organizing Authority may judge them ineligible to be scored.

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

7.0 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The Sailing Instructions will be available after 1700 on Wednesday, September 25, 2013.

8.0 RACING AREA & COURSES

Race courses will be set on central San Francisco Bay and its approaches using both inflatable and fixed government marks. A Bay Tour course is planned for all fleets on Sunday, September 29, 2013.

9.0 PENALTY SYSTEM

Decisions of the jury will be final as provided in Rule 70.5.

10.0 SCORING

Each boat’s series score will be the sum of her scores for all races. This changes Appendix A2.

7.0

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

NOTICE OF RACE

BERTHING & TRAILER STORAGE

All yachts competing in the event may be moored free of charge at pre-assigned locations beginning on Monday, September 23rd until one night after racing concludes. Please note that the parking area surrounding the yacht club is City property. Competitors planning to keep a storage trailer in the City parking lot should visit the Race Office immediately upon arrival for an overnight parking permit. Trailers without permits may be towed. All boats and trailers shall be stored at the direction of the StFYC Dock Master.

PRIZES

Trophies will be awarded based on fleet participation. A Boat of the Day award will be presented for each day's top performer.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The Organizing Authority and its sponsors will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact the StFYC Race Office at 415.563.6363, email raceoffice@stfyc.com or visit www.rolexbigboatseries.com and www.stfyc.com

11.0

12.0

14.0

13.0

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

INFORMATION

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES

ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB

With the Golden Gate Bridge as its scenic backdrop, the St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927, and has been host to many of the most prestigious national and international championships in sailing.

For nearly five decades, St. Francis Yacht Club has been advancing its marquee regatta, the Rolex Big Boat Series, into one of the finest regattas in the country in partnership with title sponsor Rolex Watch U.S.A.

St. Francis Yacht Club is widely recognized as the premier yacht racing club in the country, achieved with the outstanding expertise of our racing office and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

In 1964, the St. Francis Yacht Club inaugurated its Perpetual Trophy Regatta. Now in its 49th edition, this annual September gathering has become our signature event – the Rolex Big Boat Series – drawing great sailors from around the globe.

Keeping pace with the evolution of boats and classes over the years, the Rolex Big Boat Series features four days of racing for monohulls and multihulls under IRC, HPR, and BAMA handicaps, along with multiple one design classes. Host to last year's IRC North American Championship, St. Francis Yacht Club this year will host the Melges 24 Pre-Worlds as part of the Rolex Big Boat Series. The Melges 24 Worlds will immediately follow from September 30th to October 5th, to be hosted at the San Francisco Yacht Club.

1

2

ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES 2013

INFORMATION

A Media Center will be provided at the St. Francis Yacht Club. All accredited media representatives are welcome. For accreditation, submit request at www.rolexbigboatseries.com. All media inquiries should be directed to:

MEDIA PRO INTERNATIONAL41 Memorial Blvd.,Newport, RI 02840 USA+1 401-849-0220 barby.macgowan@mediaprownewport.comwww.mediapronewport.com

PERPETUAL TROPHIES

TRAVEL

MEDIA

Photos courtesy ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi Competitors and Media are urged to make travel and lodging arrangements early. Facilities that may assist you in planning your travel:

http://www.sftravel.com/Official San Francisco Travel Guide

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/Booking and Travel Guide

http://www.rolexbigboatseries.com/venueArea lodging

St. Francis Perpetual TrophyAwarded annually since the inception of the Big Boat Series to handicapped yachts over 40 feet.

City of San Francisco TrophyOne of the two golden spades used to break ground for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Richard Rheem Perpetual TrophyIn honor of Richard Rheem’s famous yacht Morning Star, elapsed time winner in the 1949and 1955 Transpac races to Honolulu.

Keefe-Kilborn TrophyEstablished in 1976 to honor Harold Keefeand Ray Kilborn.

Atlantic Perpetual TrophyThe ship’s bell of the yacht Atlantic, longtime Transatlantic Ocean record holder.

Commodore’s CupCreated to encourage competitionin one-design racing on San Francisco Bay.

53

4