Traditional Opening of San Francisco Bay Sailing Season Signal for Fun Times on the Bay
Bang goes the evening gun – It’s race time!
By Mary Swift
Published: April, 2002
A new season of sailboat racing season starts in April on San Francisco Bay, with a packed schedule full of opportunities. It is possible, be you willing, to race every weeknight and weekend day April through September. Long distance sailing options abound with great ways to use up vacation for a 3 days to 2 weeks.
Racing represents the social side of sailing. Depending on your goals – or your mood – the experience can be intense or simply laid back. Whatever you choose – to be boat #1, or just the boat having the most fun, it’s a great way to unwind from the day and connect with nature amidst the overwhelming beauty of San Francisco Bay.
Many say if you learn to sail San Francisco Bay, you can sail anywhere. There’s no doubting that becoming a skilled sailor in these waters commands well-deserved respect world wide. Many places have tides. A few places have strong wind. San Francisco is one of the very few that has both – and in abundance. We have one rowdy and unpredictable bit of water hereabouts.
Most sailing is easy and fun, particularly when the winds die down in the evening. It’s an active sport that keeps you in shape too. So how do you get a ride? Go where they are racing and ask a race coordinator of the sponsoring club to help you catch a ride. It’s common in Benicia for new comers to show with refreshments, soft non-black soled shoes a windbreaker and some kind of gloves and stand on the fuel dock. All the boats pass on their way to the starting line and try to take on all who show. If you know how to sail your chances of being asked back greatly increase (there are top schools all around the Bay Area). It’s serious fun – no – really it is. If racing is new or you’re an old salt, here is the San Francisco Bay Area week-day race schedule.
Beer Can Races 2002
Monday Night
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Bay View Yacht Club Monday Night Madness (San Francisco) John Super (415) 243-0426 |
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Tahoe Yacht Club Night Lasers (Lake Tahoe) Dan Houseman (530) 583-9111 |
Tuesday Night
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Sausalito Yacht Club Sunset Series Tim Prouty |
Wednesday Night
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Folsom Lake Yacht Club Fun Races (Sacramento) John Pomimiroo, john@poimiroo.com |
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Golden Gate Yacht Club Folkboat Wednesday (San Francisco) Ed Welch (415) 851-3800 |
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Monterey Yacht Club Night Series |
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Oakland Yacht Club Sweet 16 Midweek (Alameda) George Gurrola (510) 843-9417 |
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Richmond Yacht Club Night Series, Eric Arens (510) 841-6022 |
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San Francisco Yacht Club Family Dinghy Series (Tiburon/Belvedere) Quentin Pollock (415) 435-9525 |
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Santa Cruz Yacht Club Night Races Larry Weaver (831) 423-8111 |
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Sequoia Yacht Club Night Series (Redwood City) John Farnsworth (650) 366-9911 |
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Tahoe Yacht Club Night Beer Can Series Gary Redelberger (530) 583-9132 |
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Vallejo Yacht Club Night Beer Can Series Bill Thomas (707) 643-11254 |
Thursday Night
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Benicia Yacht Club Night Race Series Joe Marra (707) 748-1235 |
Friday Night
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Berkeley Yacht Club Night Races Paul Kamen (510) 540-7968 |
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Corinthian Yacht Club Night Series (Tiburon) Cliff Donoho (415) 789-9206 |
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Encinal Yacht Club Twilight Series (Alameda) Les Raos (925) 930-0247 |
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Island Yacht Club Night on the Estuary, (Alameda) David Hand (925) 820-5637 |
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Golden Gate Yacht Club Night Series (San Francisco) David Haskin (650) 856-0808 |
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St. Francis Yacht Club Night Windsurfing (San Francisco) John Craig (415) 563-6363 |
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South Beach Yacht Club Night Series (San Francisco) Joel Davis (415) 999-1019 |
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Tiburon Yacht Club Night Series, Gerry Gunn (415) 435-6038 |
Many weekend events are scheduled: contact a club near you for more information.
You want to get to know someone a bit before getting on a boat with them. An annual mixer happens on April 11th at the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco Marina district. GGYC is host this year to the Latitude 38 magazine’s Crew List party. Want to sail locally, or maybe even someday head out the Gate, turn left till the butter melts? This event is designed to hook up people looking for sailing partners. The event is from 6-9 pm, expect a small host fee, all are welcome.
There are at least 98 registered clubs in the Bay Area and we have not heard from New York/New Jersey yet. If we missed a weeknight fun race in your area, drop a line to Mary Swift swiftswan@aol.com.
