San Francisco Bay offers some of the best boating in the world. Every spring, when the weather is warm and the wind is up, boats flock to the water like geese to a pond.
Photo courtesy of PICYA
By April Thygeson
Published: April, 2013
San Francisco Bay offers some of the best boating in the world. Every spring, 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 28 marks the 96th 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 "The Great Race," with an aim towards celebrating the many people and things that make San Francisco so unique. One of the major sponsors for the past 10 years is the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS), a leading advocate for recreational boaters with a wide array of consumer services. This year’s grand marshal is the CEO of BoatUS, Richard Schwartz. Workboats, towboats, fireboats, classic boats and modern boats will all be competing for the distinction of best decorated with six trophies up for grabs.
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 Vice Commodore Lenora Clark at (925) 783-7660 or lenoraclark@aol.com for reservations.
Prior to the decorated boat parade, the 50th annual Blessing of the Fleet will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in front of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Raccoon Straight. The USS Potomac will be the blessing vessel and the SS JeremiahO’Brien will be leading off the blessing this year, making it extra special (for more information on the JeremiahO’Brien Opening Day Cruise see our Around the Bay section on page 26).
Should you be looking for a more hands-on maritime experience, go over to the Treasure Island Sailing Center on Saturday, April 27 to take advantage of free sailboat rides, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. There will be music, games, food and activities for the whole family.
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 is a great place to view the Blessing of the Fleet and there are many restaurants in and around Fisherman’s Wharf and PIER 39 that offer wonderful waterfront views for the decorated boat parade.
No matter what your boating experience, the energy of the day will likely inspire you to learn more about boating or to find a way to spend some time on the Bay, and there are plenty of places in the Bay Area that can help you do just that. A great place to start is by checking the public sails, sailing classes and water sports listings in the monthly Waterfront Adventures section of Bay Crossings (see pages 22-23).
The San Francisco Bay is the great unifier among us Bay Area residents, so don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate its pleasures with your community on Opening Day on the Bay. For more information, visit www.picya.org.
Opening Day on the Bay is great reason to get out on the water and enjoy some of the best sailing in the world, right in our back yard. Photo © Martin Sundberg OCSC SAILING - all rights reserved
The highlight of the festivities on Opening Day on the Bay is the decorated boat parade along the San Francisco waterfront from Crissy Field to PIER 39. Photo courtesy of PICYA
