The Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club is a true endurance test: four straight days of battling the Bay to find the fastest routes in each one design fleet. The 62nd series was held September 14 - 20, 2026 on the San Francisco Bay.
This year, Modern Sailing’s own Uanoa Nelson, who grew our Racing Program and is now a USCG Licensed Captain and ASA Instructor, joined the fierce competition as a main trimmer on J/88 Team Fly skippered by boat owner Tom Richman.
We caught up with Uanoa to learn more about his experience and what racing at the highest level of the Bay is truly like.
Behind the Scenes: The Crew of J/88 Team Fly
- Tom Richman (Driver/Boat owner)
- Julian Soto (Tactician)
- Rik Williams (Pit)
- Olivier Rozay (Spinnaker/Jib Trimmer)
- Callie Norberg (Bow)
- Tim Kordas (Main Trimmer / Bow)
- Uanoa Nelson (Main Trimmer)
It takes a talented crew to sail a competitive boat, and sometimes a little bit of serendipity to make it happen. Tom Richman led by example at the helm with the return of tactician Julian Soto who sharpened his tactical edge in national competition in the ILCA/Laser fleet. In pit was MSC Member and Club Skipper Rik Williams (alternate on Team Fly in 2024), while Olivier Rozay kept the boat powered up through every shift as main spinnaker and jib trimmer. Tim Kordas has been a staple on Team Fly since 2023 when he was recognized as Modern Sailing’s first-ever "Top Racer" award winner.
Uanoa met Callie Norberg when she walked into Modern Sailing Berkeley to discuss her sailing goals. Tom Richman happened to walk in a moment later and invited her on the spot to fly a spinnaker, and she spontaneously jumped at the chance. She’s been racing on Team Fly ever since!
Day 1 Breakdown: High Stakes, Smart Adjustments
Even getting to the start line proved to be an adventure. Fearing Bay Area traffic would make him late on his very first morning, Uanoa scrambled to the BART station to shave off extra minutes (as a great racer does). He pulled up right on time, opening the car door just as Tom walked by to head down to the dock. Together with the arriving crew, they prepped the rig, set the halyards, and headed toward the St. Francis YC starting line.
With 7 boats in the J/88 division starting right behind a massive 30-boat J/105 fleet, the race committee utilized remote-controlled robotic marks to adjust line sizing between classes.
A heavy 1.5-knot flood current was pulling boats backward away from the starting line. Tactician Julian Soto called a high-stakes approach: holding Team Fly on port tack above the line during the 2-minute warning, then executing a crisp tack with 30 seconds to go to hit the line at full speed close-hauled.
A trick to keep Uanoa's endurance high through the day, Tom told him to expect five races scheduled, though they were set for three back-to-back heats:
Race 1 (11:10 AM, ~50 mins): The team struggled to carry momentum through their tacks in light 7–12 knot breeze, finishing 6th. While their downwind spinnaker runs were solid, carefully following lifts and headers to avoid stalling, the team realized the boat was losing speed by pinching too tight coming out of tacks.
Race 2 (12:10 PM, ~1 hr): Adapting quickly, Tom modified his technique: falling off slightly after every tack to let the sails fill before bringing the J/88 back up to a tight close-hauled point of sail. The strategy paid off immediately, boosting their speed to beat a boat and take 5th place.
Race 3 (1:25 PM, 2.5 hrs): The final marathon race featured a massive current shift. Team Fly built an incredible lead on the first lap, but lost precious momentum during the spinnaker drop and jib unfurl at the leeward mark, ultimately crossing the line in 4th place.
The ability to analyze mistakes, adapt on the "Fly" (pun intended), and improve results with every single race made for an exhilarating first day on the water.
MSC Community Final Results
While Uanoa covered opening day, the rest of the crew spent four days battling classic Bay conditions. We are so proud of all our Modern Sailing instructors, members, and staff who represented us across the fleet!
Classics Division: MSC Instructor Mark Jordan and member Cyril Kollock took 3rd Place aboard the classic schooner Wiletie!
Express 37 Division:
- MSC Instructor Katie Cornetta & member Jessica Barros took 2nd Place aboard Team Golden Moon!
- MSC Instructor Kira Maixner took 3rd Place aboard Team Spindrift V!
- MSC Instructor Philip Strause placed 5th Place aboard Team Mudshark!
J/88 Division: Tom Richman, Olivier Rozay, Tim Kordas, Rik Williams, Uanoa, and crew finished 6th Place aboard Team Fly.
J/105 Division: Member Paolo Juvara and crew finished 23rd Place in a stacked 30-boat fleet aboard Team Chao Pescao.
At heart, the Rolex Big Boat Series is a testament to the growth, grit, and camaraderie that defines Bay Area sailing. Seeing our incredible instructors who shaped our Racing Program over the years, our members, and staff members like Uanoa competing side-by-side on high-performance race craft proves the Modern Sailing pathway from learning the basics can bring you alongside top-tier sailors. Whether you're making subtle tactical adjustments between heats or sharing dockside stories after a grueling day on the Bay, every race is a stepping stone.
Congratulations to all our Modern Sailing racers who competed in the series! It's wonderful to see the incredible skill, passion, and true sportsmanship of our sailing community!
