San Francisco Bay offers some of the best boating in the world. In the summer, when the weather is warm and the wind is up, boats flock to the water like geese to a pond.
The decorated boat parade and blessing of the fleet are the main events at Opening Day on the Bay. This year spectators will gather along Crissy field on Sunday, April 29 to view the parade from noon to 3 p.m. Photo courtesy of PICYA
By April Thygeson
Published: April, 2012
San Francisco Bay offers some of the best boating in the world. In the summer, when the weather is warm and the wind is up, boats flock to the water like geese to a pond. To commemorate the beginning of the boating season, the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association (PICYA) hosts a high-spirited celebration. This year, Sunday, April 29 marks the 95th annual Opening Day on the Bay.
Whether you live aboard or have never set foot on a boat, there are many ways for you and your family to enjoy the festivities. Yacht clubs and marinas will be bustling with celebrants. Sailboats, powerboats, tugboats, kayaks and even paddle boarders will pepper the water. Hydrophiles and boating enthusiasts will be out in full force in celebration of water recreation.
The main event is the decorated boat parade and blessing of the fleet. From noon to 3 p.m., spectators will gather at Crissy Field to watch over 120 yachts strut their stuff in single file along the San Francisco waterfront. This year’s theme is "American Spirit," with an aim towards celebrating the many people and properties that make San Francisco so unique. The first female tugboat captain on the Bay, Jan Tiura, is this year’s grand marshal. Workboats, towboats, fireboats, classic boats and modern boats will all be competing for the distinction of best decorated.
Last year’s theme was "Giants of the Bay," which was a nod to San Francisco’s baseball team. The Giants’ recent World Series win added to the revelatory spirit of the day and the boats were impressively adorned. There was so much orange and black, it felt like a Halloween parade in April.
To get out on the water yourself and see the boat parade up close, join PICYA Directors and their guests on the California Hornblower, one of Hornblower’s largest yachts, for a light breakfast and gourmet lunch. Contact Deanna Desin, (415) 892-2639 or (415) 608-2639, andees1@earthlink.net for reservations.
If you’re in the East Bay, the USS Potomac, F.D.R.’s presidential yacht, will be hosting a "Characters of the Bay" cruise. Board the "floating White House" in Jack London Square and spend three hours on the water with some of the Bay Area’s most noteworthy and entertaining characters. A gourmet boxed lunch will be also be served. Visit www.usspotomac.org for more information.
Should you be looking for a more hands-on maritime experience, go over to the Treasure Island Sailing Center to take advantage of their free sailboat rides, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. There will be music, games, and activities for the whole family, with a BBQ lunch available for $3 per person.
Maybe you’re a landlubber who would prefer to stay as dry as possible. If so, grab some friends and head down to pretty much any waterfront eatery. Sam’s Anchor Café in Tiburon was teeming with revelers on Opening Day last year. Even if you went by yourself, you were bound to make some new friends.
No matter what your boating experience, the energy of the day will likely inspire you to learn more about boating, and there are plenty of schools on the Bay that can help you do just that. For an introduction to sailing or to hone your skipper skills, try OCSC Sailing, located in the Berkeley marina. The school’s location means it gets the best wind available and it has been turning out highly competent sailors for over thirty years. Club Nautique, Tradewinds Sailing, Modern Sailing and Spinnaker Sailing are other good options. Club Nautique also offers charters and lessons in powerboating.
The San Francisco Bay is the great unifier among us Bay Area residents. No matter what your level of familiarity with life on the water, don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate its pleasures with your community on April 29. Whether you spend Opening Day on a ship or on the shore, remember to be safe, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and have fun!
April Thygeson grew up sailing on San Francisco Bay where she honed the skills to travel far and wide by sea. She is a team member at OCSC Sailing in Berkeley.
Humphrey the Whale even returned to San Francisco Bay during last year’s decorated boat parade. Photo courtesy of PICYA
No matter if it is a pleasure cruise on the Potomac (background) or spending the day on a fishing boat out of Fisherman’s Wharf, there is something for everybody on San Francisco Bay. Photo by Joel Williams
