the st francis yacht club

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Yacht Clubs

St. Francis Yacht Club

Becoming st. francis.

St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927 by a group of 21 San Francisco yachtsmen with a vision of a club in the City. It was an offshoot of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which was founded in 1856 and had its facility in Sausalito, across the Bay. That facility burned to the ground in the mid-twenties and a fierce debate raged after the fire between those who lived in Marin County and those who lived in San Francisco. The city-dwellers wanted to relocate to San Francisco—not surprising given that this was before the Golden Gate Bridge, so SF members had to travel by water to their club. Members from Marin found a suitable location in Belvedere against the wishes of their SF membership and pulled some fast and furious moves to secure the right number of votes to make it happen. This so offended the SF members that they chose to leave San Francisco Yacht Club and form their own club: the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Today, there is great camaraderie between the two clubs and many members belong to both.

For the club’s full history, click here .

St. Francis Yacht Club Honors Hall of Famers

The St. Francis Yacht Club honored their Hall of Famers at a dinner on October 28, 2014 with 200 people attending.

Those honored included National Sailing Hall of Famers Tom Blackaller, Paul Cayard, Stan Honey and John Kostecki, plus America’s Cup Hall of Famers Lucy and Fritz Jewett. Another Hall of Famer, National Sailing Hall of Fame President Gary Jobson, was the Master of Ceremonies.

Here are some photos of the event, courtesy of photographer Igor Capibaribe, and a short video tribute that was played during the dinner.

L-R: St. Francis YC Commodore Bruce Munro, John Kostecki, Stan Honey, Lisa Blackaller, Lucy Jewitt, Paul Cayard, Gary Jobson, St. Francis YC Commodore George Dort

Video: Tribute to the St. Francis Yacht Club Hall of Famers (4:15)  :

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St. Francis Yacht Club Announces Action-Packed 2024 Regatta Season

St. Francis Yacht Club

January 18, 2024

Mark your calendars and make your plans to compete at one of the top sailing venues in the world in 2024. St. Francis Yacht Club has released a 2024 regatta schedule that’s comprehensive in its inclusion of various types of sailing—from board sports and dinghies, to keelboats and classic yachts, to team and match racing. Local, national and international sailors will have a plethora of opportunities to test their skills on the challenging waters of San Francisco Bay.

“Our mission is to be a leader in yachting and inviting the most talented sailors in the world to our shores and to our club is our highest calling. We’re looking forward to another stellar season of racing on San Francisco Bay,” said Chris Perkins, incoming Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club.

While sailors of various disciplines will have multiple opportunities to challenge each other in weekly series and seasonal regattas, St. Francis Yacht Club will also host several high-profile events, such as the US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship (August 2-4), the International Knarr Championship (August 31-September 7) and the 60th anniversary of their signature Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15). The club will also host stops for the US Match Racing Championship (October 4-6), the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5) and SailGP (July 13-14).

“With over 100 days of racing on the calendar, we run a very busy racing schedule, and from a race management perspective, we are always looking for ways to improve. In 2024, we’re focusing more on quality versus quantity, by combining some events to deliver a top-level experience from the moment a sailor arrives at St. Francis Yacht Club, through their time on the water and after racing, enjoying the parties and amenities ashore. We want an outstanding experience at all points,” said Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club.

DINGHIES Small-boat sailors can look forward to Spring Dinghy (May 18-19) and Fall Dinghy (October 26-27) running repeated courses during both events to provide an opportunity to improve on the same playing field as the year progresses. The Elvström/Zellerbach Regatta will be combined with Spring Dinghy to draw a larger pool of competitors in the invited one design classes. The club’s popular Opti Heavy Weather Slalom & Regatta also returns (June 21-23) to test the smallest boats in the big summer winds of San Francisco Bay.

BOARD SPORTS After the success of the inaugural Wingding Regatta in 2023, the event will return in early August of 2024 as the Wingding US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship, the first national wingfoiling event in the United States for this board sport. Foiling enthusiasts will enjoy the weekly Thursday racing series, which began decades ago when windsurfing was the hot new sport, and which now draws a loyal following of foiling kites, wings and windsurfers. For those looking for a full-send experience, Ronstan Bridge to Bridge is scheduled for August 29, when the westerlies are typically strong enough to sail a foilboard from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge faster than a bird flies—will someone make it in under 10 minutes this year?

KEELBOATS Keelboat enthusiasts will be busy this season, beginning with Spring Fest & Stone Cup (April 6-7) and the start of California Race Week’s CA 500 (May 25) and Spinnaker Cup (May 26). IODs, Folkboats and Knarrs can look forward to the Woodies Invitational (June 28-30), and the Knarrs play again August 31-September 7, at the 52nd International Knarr Championship, just ahead of Rolex Big Boat Series, which also hosts a Classic Yachts division.

In past years Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta and Aldo Alessio were held the same weekend, to serve as a tuneup to Rolex Big Boat Series. This year, the two events will split, with Swiftsure remaining in the tuneup position (August 17-18) and Aldo Alessio held as an offshore return race for Rolex Big Boat Series competitors (September 21). J/Boat fleets will be busy all year, and the J/105 Women’s Skipper Invitational (May 11) will be run for the third time, encouraging greater helm time for talented female sailors.

The J/105 class will likely be the largest fleet competing at Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15), which will celebrate its diamond anniversary with a week of world-class competition and stellar post-race celebrations. Various one design classes, ORC-rated boats, and classic yachts will be invited to compete, with registration opening in early 2024.

MATCH RACING With its fleet of J/22s now expanded to 13 boats, St. Francis Yacht Club remains a prime host for match racing events, including stops of the California Dreamin’ Series (March 16-17) and the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5). The US Match Racing Championship also returns to San Francisco Bay (October 4-6).

TEAM RACING A highlight in the 2024 season will be the Cornerstone Cup (August 23-25), a four-way international team racing event between New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Thames Yacht Club and host St. Francis Yacht Club. Last run in San Francisco in 2015, the event features top-level competition and interclub camaraderie. Team racers can also look forward to an inaugural San Francisco Sailing League Regatta (June 8-9), which will import a popular European format to the West Coast for the first time.

Make your plans to compete at St. Francis Yacht Club this upcoming regatta season.

VIEW THE 2024 REGATTA SCHEDULE

Home  News  Host Spotlight: St. Francis Yacht Club  

Host Spotlight: St. Francis Yacht Club  

Located in the heart of San Francisco, the St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) is one of the premier sailing clubs in the United States and a leader in WingFoiling. Established in 1927, the club has grown to become a beacon for sailors from around the world, known for its rich history, stunning location, and vibrant sailing community.  

StFYC is set to host the 2024 U.S. WingFoil Championship, the inaugural rendition of the event August 9 – 11, 2024.  

“We are creating the first ever US National Championship for WingFoiling, the sailing world’s newest and most dynamic sport,” said Geoff Headington, US WingFoil Championship Committee Chair. “ StFYC has been at the forefront of the sport’s development, and the team has been planning the Championship for more than a year.”   

“Dozens of members and staff have been participating in weekly WingFoiling series held throughout the summer,” said StFYC’s race director, Felix Weidling.  

St. Francis Yacht Club was founded by a group of San Francisco sailors who envisioned a club dedicated to the spirit of yachting. The club’s first clubhouse was a modest facility located on the city’s waterfront. Over the years, the club expanded and modernized, eventually relocating to its current iconic location on the Marina Green, with a picturesque view of the Golden Gate Bridge.   

“The committee and I are planning three full days of racing across windward leeward, slalom, and long-distance courses, as well as plenty of off-the-water activities. We will also be showcasing the cutting edge of the sport through freestyle exhibitions and discussion panels,” Says Headington.  

St. Francis Yacht Club’s commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of its operations. The club’s staff, from the professional race management team to the culinary experts in the kitchen, provide the highest level of service to members and guests alike. This dedication extends to the club’s role in promoting the sport of sailing and supporting the broader maritime community through hosting events, such as the WingFoil Championship.  

“WingFoiling has a bright future, and the St. Francis Yacht Club is committed to supporting it,” said Headington. “We are excited to play a role in developing the sport here in the US and hope to coordinate with partners here and globally to follow the path blazed by formula kite racing, which is in the Olympic Games for the first time in 2024.”   

As St. Francis Yacht Club approaches its centennial, it continues to evolve and innovate while staying true to its rich heritage. The Headington’s vision for the future includes plans to “support WingFoiling with a strong foundation of competition in the US, so that our US athletes have the experience needed to compete on the world stage and non-US competitors are attracted to visit our shores.”  

For more details, visit the official event page: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/championships/2024-u-s-wingfoil-championship/  

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Right on cue, San Francisco Bay rolled out the most demanding conditions for sailors at the 60th edition of Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club.

Your One Stop Guide for RBBS Race Weekend

Don’t miss out on a minute of the action at the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series. Whether you’re racing, planning on coming to St. Francis Yacht Club to spectate or following along from elsewhere, here’s the info you need to stay in the know.

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