April 2004 Waterfront-Boating Events

By Mary Swift-Swan

1st Benicia Breaks out the Beer First club to start 2004 “Beer Can Race” on weekday evenings. For a full list of participating clubs, see www.baycrossings.com.

2nd Celebrations on the Bay “April Fools” and “TGIF.” Live music, appetizers, three hours of fun.
8-11 p.m., boarding at Jack London Square beginning 7:30 p.m. Advance reservations only
1-877-499-4229.

3rd Salmon Season Opens Monterey Bay. My brother, Tim Swift, will be in heaven. Can see him now in his Grady White fishing out of Monterey on his birthday!

3rd Stockton Yacht Club Opening Day Parade is open to all boaters. Decoration theme is “Delta Daze Siesta Fiesta.” Parade assembles and departs at 2 p.m. from Light 39 on the Stockton Deepwater Channel and runs to the Stockton waterfront to turn around in McLeod Lake. Call (209) 474-2154 for more information.

3rd Antioch Opening Day Parade is a collaboration of the local yacht clubs. All boaters are welcome. The Parade starts at the bridge near buoy 14 at 12:30 p.m., and cruises the Pittsburg shore, disbanding near the Power Plant. Pittsburg Yacht Club is the host for activities after the parade. The decoration theme is “Follow Your Rainbow.” Call (925) 757-1800 for more information.

14-18th Pacific Sail Expo–the Best in the West all sail boat show. Held at Jack London Square. This San Francisco Bay boat show has something for everyone, with over 300 exhibitors with all the newest and best boat toys. There are nonstop seminars: famous cruising couples Jessie and Neal; Gary Jobson, recently inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame; Randy Repass with his 65 couples cutting edge cruising sailboat from Tom Wylie’s newest line; and much more.

17th Salmon Season Opens Pt. Area-Pigeon Pt. Wacky Jackie, other Fisherman’s Wharf boats, and all of the Bay boats will take people out to fish to their hearts delight.

17th Opening Day on the Straits–Benicia Yacht Club is the hub for a full day of fun on the water and off. This year’s theme is “Beach Blanket Benicia.” The boat parade is easy to view from the shoreline. During and after the Parade, all are invited to enjoy entertainment, food, music, and dancing on and around the Benicia Yacht Club at the Benicia Marina. An Arts and Crafts show will be held on the Marina Green throughout the day. Additional highlights to this year’s festivities include an Antique Boat show on the fuel dock and a Vintage Car Show in the Club’s front parking lot. Plus, lots of fun activities for children: face painting, boat rides, jump ’n slide, knot tying, painting, and more. Don’t forget the “Best Decorated Hat” contest. Following the daytime program, BYC members will provide a fabulous outdoor BBQ dinner along with more live music for dancing into the evening.

Don’t have a boat, but would like to ride on someone else’s? That can be arranged. Applications are available at the Club to sign up to participate in the blessing/parade, or to request to be a guest aboard someone else’s boat. Check online at www.beniciayachtclub.com. Contact BYC manager Karen Garrett at (707) 746-0739, or call the Club at (707) 746-6600 for more information.

17th Bethel Island Opening Day Parade, hosted by the San Joaquin Yacht Club. All boaters are welcome. The Parade starts at noon at the clubhouse and proceeds clockwise around Bethel Island. Awards will be given for various classes. Decoration theme is “Disney On The Water.” Other activities include Catfish Racing in the area behind the clubhouse. Call Elmer Carranjo at (925) 684-9985.

22-25th Pacific Powerboat Expo, at Jack London Square, is the premier in-water power yacht show for Northern California. Over 100 yachts to 75 feet and 200 trailer boats on land make this an event for all recreational boating enthusiasts. Tents are full of after-market products, there are fishing seminars, and representatives of a wide variety of marine services. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend. For information call (800) 698-5777.

24th Sailor Ball at Treasure Island On the Bay Area’s Opening Day, dance the night away at Regency Center in San Francisco at this kick-off event to celebrate community sailing. This fund-raising event for Treasure Island Sailing Center will feature a fully hosted bar, live music, dancing, and a silent auction including many trips, sails, sailing gear, artwork, and much, much more! See www.sailorsball.org for more details.

24th Suisun Opening Day Boat Parade, at Suisun City Marina followed by a BBQ at Solano YC, (707) 429-2628.

25th Opening Day on the Bay The Pacific Inter-Club Yachting Association coordinates the Parade on the Central Bay. Viewable from many shorelines. Take a Ferry to Tiburon to watch “The Blessing of the Fleet” beginning at 10 a.m. in Raccoon Straits. The Decorated Boat Parade Assembly gathers next at Blackhauler buoy off of Crissy Field. At noon, the Parade starts from Crissy Field and goes to Pier 39. Shoreline viewing all along the San Francisco waterfront. The Parade ends at Pier 39 where the boats pass the judging committee. A great place to spend the day after watching the boats go by. The theme for 2004 is “Follow your Rainbow.” See www.picya.org for more information.

May 13th Sail San Francisco Maritime Career Fair Where students can meet maritime professionals to learn what it takes to get started and what a Maritime profession offers. Walk on tugs and other types of working vessels. This is the real stuff. Adults welcome. Money raised helps kids.
May 22nd KFOG’s “Kaboom” Fireworks better than July 4th with simulcast music.