Opening Day on the Bay, on Sunday in April 27, is the official opening day of the Northern Californian sailing season and will feature over 200 boats, beautifully decorated and adorned, heading across San Francisco Bay in parade formation starting at 12:00 p.m. Dating back to 1917 and organized by the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association, the parade sails from the shadows of the Golden Gate Bridge to just past Pier 39.
Published: April, 2008
The procession regularly features tug boats, clean-up boats and tour boats, with visitors and spectators onboard. Judges are on hand to dish out prizes for the décor and imagination of the colorful vessels. This year’s theme is Mother Goose and Friends visit San Francisco Bay. Any vessels can take part as long as they register beforehand. For more details go to www.picya.org or call (925) 323-7282.
Hundreds of recreational and special interest boats will participate in this year’s festivities and the Presidential Yacht Potomac, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famed Floating White House will also be out in force on Opening Day on the Bay. Join them aboard this National Historic Landmark for a 3 1/2-hour cruise from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate the official opening of a new boating season with the blessing of the fleet, and the parade of ships on San Francisco Bay. The cruise includes a gourmet box lunch and soft drinks. Tickets are $80 per person. Proceeds benefit the Potomac’s educational programs and a portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. The Potomac is located at Jack London Square in Oakland. Space is limited and advance purchase is strongly advised. For more information or to purchase tickets please call (510) 627-1215 or check out their website at www.usspotomac.org.
