Rolex on standby

It was four days of racing in September, reveling in the conditions that San Francisco is famous for, but the region's hallmark event of the Rolex Big Boat Series had yet to hand out the trophies for its most populated class - the J/105. Amongst the 110 boats competing in ten classes (four IRC divisions and six one design events), one remaining Steel Submariner Rolex timepiece had been residing in the safe of the St. Francis Yacht Club for the past two months, and not on the winning skipper’s wrist.

When Rolf Kaiser’s crew aboard the J/105 Donkey Jack came to the dock at the end of the regatta, the winning math was indisputable, and the champagne was flowing. However, an alleged infraction involving a tanker crossing during the final race pulled the Donkey Jack team into a protest, effectively ending the party, with a lengthy hearing continuing well past the awards ceremony. When the protest decision went against Kaiser’s team, the St.FYC race officials sensed that this was not the end of it, and have held onto the prizes… until now.

An announcement came out this week from St.FYC, stating that based on the decision of the Appeals Committee of the Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco Bay, the 2008 Rolex Big Boat Series results had been changed, and that Kaiser’s crew had earned top honors in the 31-boat J/105 fleet. Without the pomp and circumstance of the awards ceremony, perhaps there will still be a celebratory glass of champagne waiting at the club’s Front Desk to commemorate the collection of the watch.

* NOTE: It was unknown at this time whether the case would be sent on to the US SAILING Appeals Committee for further review, an option that exists within 15 days of receiving the written decision from the regional committee.