st francis yacht club attire

Marine Resources

Tides & currents, weather at the club, dining hours & dress code.

BREAKFAST ON THE DOCKS

Pay with cash or using a Member or Guest Card 0700 – 0930 Thursday through Sunday

GUESTS IN THE CLUB   

Unaccompanied guests, whether participating in the regatta or sponsored by a member, must check in at the Front Desk upon arrival to receive a Guest Card and provide a credit card number for all charges incurred while at the Club. Visiting sailors and unaccompanied guests must have their Guest Cards or Competitor Badge on their person. 

DINING AT ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB

Dining is available in the Main Dining Room, Clippership and Grill Room.

Dining Hours: Wednesday - Friday Lunch: 12:00pm-3:00pm Saturday & Sunday Lunch & Brunch: 11:00am-3:00pm Thursday Prime Rib Night: 5:00pm-8:00pm Wednesday - Sunday Dinner: 5:00pm-8:00pm Sunday Pasta Dinner Night: 5:00pm-8:00pm Last seating at 8:00pm; All service ends at 10:00pm. TAKEAWAY DINING

All menus are also available for takeaway. Place your orders using the StFYC mobile app or from menus at the Front Desk. Order food to-go and enjoy it outside the clubhouse or on the docks!

Takeaway Dining Hours:  Wednesday - Friday: 12:00pm-8:30pm Saturday: 11:00am-8:30pm Sunday: 11:00am-8:00pm

Grill Room: Casual Attire

Permitted: shorts, T-shirts and denim. Not permitted: tank tops, cut-offs, wet suits, foul weather gear, soiled work clothing, bathing suits and wet clothing.  

Clippership: Classy Casual Attire

Permitted: denim Not permitted: shorts, tank tops, T-shirts, foul weather gear, cut-offs, sportswear and flip-flops.  

Main Dining Room: Formal Attire

Jackets are required for gentlemen and comparable dress for ladies. Not permitted: shorts, tank tops, T-shirts, foul weather gear, cut-offs, sportswear and flip-flops

Rolex Big Boat Series is a Platinum-Level Clean Regatta certified by Sailors for the Sea

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In San Francisco, It’s Rich Club, Poor Club

By John Branch

• Sept. 4, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO — Twenty years ago, before its failing finances were rescued by the billionaire Larry Ellison and before it won the America’s Cup, the Golden Gate Yacht Club was just a forlorn building at the end of a quarter-mile jetty. To get there, its members had to pass by the exclusive St. Francis Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious in the world.

The Golden Gate and the St. Francis shared the best views of the bay — the Golden Gate Bridge to the left, Alcatraz to the right, the city perched on hills behind. But in the cloistered world of yacht clubs, they could not have been more different.

The 200 or so Golden Gate members had a key to the building, which meant that its bar was subject to the honor system, but never to last call.

“So you left Union Street with a beautiful lady,” said Bill O’Keeffe, a member since 1972. “And you’d say, ‘How’d you like to come down to my yacht club?’ ”

Dues were $25 a month. Dancing atop the bar was encouraged. Friday night parties sometimes ended with swims in the boat marina, though not always in swim attire — or attire of any kind. Members occasionally lobbed water balloons or shot water guns at boats entering or exiting the marina, especially those flying the colors of the St. Francis.

“It had prestige,” O’Keeffe said of the neighboring club. “We actually shunned prestige.”

That became hard to do when Ellison walked away from negotiations with the St. Francis, where he was a member, to sponsor his quest to win the America’s Cup in 2003. Ellison soon accepted a desperate plea from Norbert Bajurin, the owner of a radiator-repair shop in San Francisco, to join the nearly bankrupt Golden Gate next door.

And when that combination won yachting’s biggest prize in Valencia, Spain, in 2010, on Ellison’s third try, the Golden Gate Yacht Club became the sixth — and unlikeliest — winner in the trophy’s 160-year history.

Golden Gate 1, St. Francis 0.

That day in Spain, Ellison stood behind Bajurin and put his hand on his shoulder as they awaited the winner’s news conference.

“I could feel his beard on me, and I could feel his breath,” Bajurin said. “And he said, ‘I wonder what the St. Francis is thinking now.’ ”

When the 34th America’s Cup begins on Saturday, pitting Ellison’s Oracle Team USA against Emirates Team New Zealand in a best-of-17 series that could last two weeks, the Golden Gate and the St. Francis will sit, side by side, sharing the best views of the races on San Francisco Bay.

In the coming weeks, if the trophy is successfully defended, it will be carried to a party at the little clubhouse at the end of the spit. But first, it will pass the large yacht-club home of corporate titans and Olympic sailors, past a club with an esteemed history of winning every major sailing race in the world, except the biggest one.

Let’s Make a Deal

The St. Francis had attempted to win the America’s Cup in 2000. The member Paul Cayard skippered AmericaOne into the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, a sort of semifinal to determine who would challenge the defending champion in the America’s Cup. AmericaOne lost.

By then, Ellison, the founder and chief executive of Oracle, had built his résumé with major sailing victories for a team that he financed and sometimes skippered. He bought the assets from the AmericaOne team with the intention of creating the top challenger from the United States for the next America’s Cup, in 2003.

It was presumed that the St. Francis, which Ellison had joined several years earlier, would shepherd his quest. Negotiations were sticky. The two sides were unwilling to cede too much control.

The club wanted to name the boat. It refused to guarantee that Ellison, should his team win the America’s Cup, would be chosen to defend it if and when the race went to San Francisco Bay. It rejected a request to form a board within the St. Francis board of directors that would exclusively handle matters related to the America’s Cup.

Bajurin and other members of the Golden Gate Yacht Club heard whispers and read news media accounts of the failing negotiations. The club was $453,000 in debt.

“Everybody was having a good time, and no one was paying attention to the books,” Bajurin said.

Keys were collected. Booze was locked up. Food service was eliminated. Desperate for cash, the club talked of adding a vending machine, because it might bring in $300 a month. Members who had not quit were asked to advance money to save the club. Some paid. More quit.

Bajurin and other club officers debated whether to place the Golden Gate in bankruptcy or to shutter it entirely. With nothing to lose, Bajurin tried to reach Ellison at Oracle. He never heard back. He found an e-mail address for Bill Erkelens, who led Ellison’s sailing team.

“Golden Gate Yacht Club Available,” he wrote in the subject line. “Our club may be your answer.”

The response came the next day. Erkelens wanted to talk.

“I remember looking at that e-mail for almost two hours, thinking you’ve got to be kidding me,” Bajurin said. “They responded!”

A deal was signed less than three months later, in early 2001. For Ellison, it gave him a club willing to acquiesce to his requests, a club with a location as good as that of the St. Francis.

“We were very flexible, and very broke,” said Ron Matlin, the Golden Gate’s longtime accountant.

The deal saved the Golden Gate. Ellison and his team of 100 immediately joined the yacht club — each paying the $1,000 membership fee and a year’s worth of $90-per-month dues. Bills were slowly paid. Debts were eased. Membership grew again. The clubhouse was spruced up.

“If we hadn’t done the Oracle deal, the club wouldn’t be here,” Matlin said. “No question.”

Ellison is one of the world’s richest people. Bajurin is a Croatian immigrant, more of a fisher than a sailor, a former police officer who took over his father’s radiator shop and now has nine employees. He drives a Nissan truck.

Their unusual pairing spawned a book — “The Billionaire and the Mechanic,” by the San Francisco Chronicle reporter Julian Guthrie — published this year. And it brought the America’s Cup to San Francisco Bay for the first time, right in front of two clubs that share one spit.

Worlds Apart

Both clubs have been decked out for a summer’s worth of warm-up races. The narrow parking lot between them holds temporary bleachers facing the bay, backing to the boat-filled marina they share.

Visitors might not ascertain which club is hosting the event, even if they were allowed inside the ultra-private St. Francis. Past the signs instructing guests to stay outside until escorted in by a member and past the security desk, a large model of Ellison’s 72-foot America’s Cup catamaran sits in the lobby. There are viewing parties during races. The club’s Web site offers “America’s Cup Information” just above the pronouncement that it was recently named the No. 1 yacht club in the country.

If there is America’s Cup envy, the signs are not obvious.

“No one says it,” Brian Madden, a rare member of both clubs, said of the St. Francis. “But you know it’s there. You can sense it.”

He sometimes wears a Golden Gate Yacht Club sweater into the St. Francis, receiving some playful jeers. “It’s like winning the Super Bowl,” Madden said. “We could have had it, but we just gave it to the other team.”

Members of both clubs said there was no hostility between the two. Rivalries are usually between equals, and no one believes that the St. Francis and the Golden Gate have ever been the same thing, beyond location and an affection for open water.

The St. Francis has roughly 2,300 members, and initiation fees — kept private — are said to be as high as $30,000, less for younger prospects as it tries to attract a more youthful crowd. It is not unlike a fancy golf or tennis country club, with a marina and bay view instead of courts and grass. (And, a few hours away by boat on the San Joaquin River, is club-owned Tinsley Island, with full facilities and space for 100 boats.)

Cellphones are not permitted. Neither are hats. It has a full dining room — jackets required — and its kitchen might be larger than the entire 7,000 square feet of the Golden Gate. There is a relatively casual bar and grill on the lower level, and a sprawling mix of rooms — a chart room built like an estate library, meeting rooms paneled in dark wood, walls lined with trophies and boat models and historic photographs and paintings. There is a gift shop. The lower level has locker rooms, a workout room and a sauna. There are set hours each day, and the schedule is flush with regattas, dinners, auctions and wine tastings.

In the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 2011, it had revenue of $12.9 million, according to Internal Revenue Service filings.

The Golden Gate, by comparison, reported revenue of about $662,000 in 2011. Membership has grown to about 425. Initiation fees are about $2,500, and monthly dues are $125.

“They’re 10 times the size,” the longtime Golden Gate member Ned Barrett said of the St. Francis. “And have 10 times the resources.”

Amid its newfound prestige — no longer shunned, but sheepishly noted — the Golden Gate tries to cling to its blue-collar sensibilities. Gone, perhaps, are the days when a member’s birthday would be greeted by a woman jumping from a cake — one a few years ago then moved to the roof to promote and sell her various talents — but members hope to retain its sleepy, everybody-knows-your-name personality. Hours of operation are flexible. The general manager Bob Mulhern will close the doors at night if there is no one around. Some days, only a few members stop by.

The building was closed for several months this year and renovated in time for the America’s Cup crowds, with new floors, furniture and an elevator, mostly. Still, jeans are allowed. So are cellphones and hats. And while dancing atop the bar occurs with less frequency, it is still welcomed.

“At the St. Francis, you would be put on probation for six months,” said John Yelda, a well-known charter-boat captain and sailboat racer who is a member of both clubs.

Yelda keeps his boats in the marina behind the clubs. (One way to tell club members apart? Golden Gate members are the ones working on their boats; St. Francis members usually hire someone else, several people said, only half joking.) His routine often includes an afternoon beer at the Golden Gate and dinner at the St. Francis.

“We have two yacht clubs, side by side,” Yelda said. “This is a blessing.”

The difference, to him, is one of taste.

“The Golden Gate is like a little boutique hotel,” Yelda said. “It’s very friendly, small, intimate. Everybody knows you. St. Francis Yacht Club is more like a Four Seasons hotel. It has a lot more members, and has exquisite service. You don’t know everyone there, but the staff knows you.”

Madden, a 45-year-old electrician, joined the Golden Gate 20 years ago, when he was single and had a hand-me-down boat he bought for $4,500. He joined the St. Francis 10 years later, where he subsequently married, where his children celebrate birthdays, and where the family eats formal holiday meals at Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

People with a lot of money, Madden said, merely want the nicest things. That goes for houses, cars and yacht clubs.

“If you have the money, you’re not going to the Golden Gate,” he said. “You’re going to run to the St. Francis.”

But not everyone. David Anderman is a weekend sailor and the general manager for Lucasfilm. He has been credited with negotiating the company’s $4 billion acquisition by Disney in 2012. Married with two daughters, ages 9 and 11, Anderman looked carefully at both clubs a couple of years ago before choosing the Golden Gate.

“Really, it’s all about where you want to be and who you want to be with,” he said.

His family sat at a table nearby, overlooking the sailboats racing on the bay. Out the corner window, they could see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance and the St. Francis Yacht Club next door.

“It doesn’t hurt that it’s the home of the America’s Cup,” Anderman said. “I have to say, half the time you come out, they’ve got the America’s Cup trophy sitting right there.”

He scrolled through his phone and showed photographs he had taken with the three-foot trophy, made of sterling silver in 1848.

Bajurin stood near the bar, grinning with pride. The day’s races were soon over, but the day’s 120 members and guests were in no hurry to leave.

“Look at these guys,” he said. “They’re having the time of their lives. They’ve got the America’s Cup.”

His smiling eyes filled with tears.

“Right now, we’re running with it,” Bajurin said. “We’re having a good time. If we lose, yeah, we’ll be sad. But we’ll always be part of history.”

• Real Weddings

An Elegant, Contemporary Wedding at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California

Erin Hewitt (26 and a choreographer and youth dance teacher) and Sean Gentry’s (30 and a lawyer) wedding was the perfect mix of classic and modern with lots of playful personal touches woven throughout. The day kicked off with a ceremony at the Palace of Fine Arts, where Erin and Sean were wed by a close friend and exchanged their own personalized vows. The St. Francis Yacht Club played host to the reception, offering breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. “Because most of our family and friends would be traveling to come to our wedding,” says Erin, “we wanted to find a place that was truly unique to San Francisco.” A color palette of navy blue, coral, blush, cream and gold paired with fresh bunches of hydrangeas, roses, dahlias and lisianthuses by Fig and Twine to add a pop of bright color to both impressive spaces. Music was a top priority for the couple, who hired Friction Quartet to play during the ceremony, ukulele duo The Paper Dolls to get guests into the mood to celebrate during cocktail hour and a DJ, Four Leaf Entertainment, to keep everyone dancing all night long. Erin and Sean are both dancers, so a top-notch first dance was high on their must-have list. They worked with a ballroom dance instructor to choreograph a fun Foxtrot to surprise their guests. “It looked great on the wedding day and our friends and family kept asking for an encore!” says Erin. Another favorite detail was the Polaroid guest book. “We had Polaroid cameras people could use to take pictures of themselves and a scrapbook to put the pictures in with their message to us,” says Erin. “It was wonderful to have this keepsake to take home that night, rather than pictures you have to wait for. This is still one of our favorite mementos from the wedding.” A tip for the taking from Erin: “Your wedding will cost more than you expect! Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions and negotiate, especially when picking your reception venue. Pick a few important things to focus on and try to be flexible about everything else.”

All-White Everything—Inside This Monochromatic Wedding at The Guild in Kansas City, Missouri

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In late 2017, the 90-year-old tradition-steeped St. Francis Yacht Club elected its first woman commodore as a "candidate of change." Theresa Brandner assumed the helm in January. "Commodore Brandner," as she’ll be addressed formally at the club, races the J/105 Walloping Swede .

At the same annual general meeting that inducted Commodore Brandner, another J/105 racer, Nicole Breault, became the first woman to be awarded the Jerome B. White Yachtsman of the Year perpetual trophy. Besides serving as tactician, main trimmer and sometimes skipper on Arbitrage, Breault has been a match-racing marvel. She is currently the top-ranked woman match racer in the US, and is #2 in the open rankings. She’s giving back to the sport too, having created and coached the Women’s Learn-to-Sail course and the Women’s Match Race Clinegatta.

"This is an historic year for the St. Francis Yacht Club," writes Brandner. "The club is proud to recognize Nicole for her remarkable achievements on the water. I’ve raced against her, and she is seriously tough competition but always Corinthian. We are both passionate about sailing and StFYC’s continued leadership in the yachting community both in the San Francisco Bay Area and worldwide."

"I’ve been racing all my life," said Breault, "and I’ve only ever wanted to be among the best of the best and earn their respect by winning on the water. I’ve had to face the fact that when I race against the guys, it’s not always easy. But I’ve always put my best out on the water and I try to not make it about gender." For more, see www.stfyc.com .

When the California Dreamin’ Series got underway last weekend with the first of three match-race regattas, Breault and her all-female crew edged out Charlie Welsh of Newport Harbor YC in a tie-breaker. Nicole’s husband Bruce Stone came in third. The event was hosted by San Diego YC in J/22s. StFYC will host the second of three stops on March 10-11, then the series wraps up in Long Beach on April 7-8.

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City Shrinks Salesforce Tower Responding to complaints from a bevy of Bay Area residents (especially sailors) about the impact the Salesforce tower has made on the San Francisco skyline, city officials have reduced the size of the colossal new building so that it’s never taller than existing skyscrapers.

Relief: The February ‘Latitude’ Is Out We always look forward to the beginning of the month, when we can put a fresh magazine on the top of the stack in the ‘reading room’.

How Regattas Succeed Most regattas succeed with a few basic ingredients — a good venue, decent sailing conditions and good race committee work, but, as always, the most important ingredient is the people.

A Parade Of Festive Illuminated Boats Will Set Sail On The SF Bay This Holiday Season

St. Francis Yacht Club's annual Lighted Boat Parade will take to the San Francisco Bay on December 15, 2023.

San Francisco’s annual Lighted Boat Parade returns this Friday, December 15th, at 6 pm. This beloved holiday event hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club dates back to 1994 and is a welcome sight along the waterfront every year.

A procession of about 2 dozen illuminated boats will set sail from Pier 39 around 6 pm and cruise along the waterfront to Crissy Field. Once they reach Crissy Field, the lighted boats will turn around and sail back to Pier 39. The lighted boat parade is a beloved tradition and great for enjoying holiday lights in a uniquely coastal way. The procession goes leisurely, taking about 2-3 hours. You can bring a picnic and watch the glowing boats for the evening. Just don’t forget some layers and a blanket to keep you warm.

The best viewing is along Pier 39, the parking lot east of St. Francis Yacht Club, the Marina Green, Crissy Field, and Aquatic Park. If you have a boat, then be sure to grab a front-row seat right on the water. The St. Francis Yacht Club is members-only, so the public has no viewing opportunities inside the yacht house.

If you miss the procession on the SF Bay, consider catching the San Mateo Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 16, at 5 pm. The best viewing is along the berm in front of the Coyote Point Yacht Club. You can also check out Winter Fest in Sausalito, which hosts a boat parade on December 9 starting at 6 pm .\

About the St. Francis Yacht Club

The St. Francis Yacht Club began in 1927 as an offshoot of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which dates back to 1869 . In the 1920s, a debate emerged between its members about relocating the club to San Francisco from its original location in Sausalito. After all, this was pre-Golden Gate Bridge, and it was a long commute across the Bay.

The Marin County club members resisted the move, and the club eventually split into two groups : The San Francisco members started the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, and the Marin County members relocated the San Francisco Yacht Club to Belvedere. These days, the two clubs have a great relationship, and many members belong to both.

The St. Francis Yacht Club hosts the Rolex Big Boat Series every year, which is known as a premier regatta on the West Coast. The event happens every September, bringing hundreds of sailors to San Francisco.

By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

Published on December 21st, 2023 | by Assoc Editor

St. Francis Yacht Club’s 2024 Season

Published on December 21st, 2023 by Assoc Editor -->

San Francisco, CA (December 21, 2023) – St. Francis Yacht Club has released a 2024 regatta schedule that’s comprehensive in its inclusion of various types of sailing; from board sports and dinghies, to keelboats and classic yachts, to team and match racing. Local, national and international sailors will have a plethora of opportunities to test their skills on the challenging waters of San Francisco Bay.

“Our mission is to be a leader in yachting and inviting the most talented sailors in the world to our shores and to our club is our highest calling. We’re looking forward to another stellar season of racing on San Francisco Bay,” said Chris Perkins, incoming Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club.

While sailors of various disciplines will have multiple opportunities to challenge each other in weekly series and seasonal regattas, St. Francis Yacht Club will also host several high-profile events, such as the US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship (August 2-4), the International Knarr Championship (August 31-September 7) and the 60th anniversary of their signature Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15). The club will also host stops for the US Match Racing Championship (October 4-6), the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5) and SailGP (July 13-14).

“With over 100 days of racing on the calendar, we run a very busy racing schedule, and from a race management perspective, we are always looking for ways to improve. In 2024, we’re focusing more on quality versus quantity, by combining some events to deliver a top-level experience from the moment a sailor arrives at St. Francis Yacht Club, through their time on the water and after racing, enjoying the parties and amenities ashore. We want an outstanding experience at all points,” said Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club.

World-class race management includes ensuring all events meet or exceed international standards. “We spend a lot of time in the off-season liaising with officials at US Sailing, the Offshore Racing Congress and other organizing authorities to ensure our race management aligns with top industry standards and that we continue to be a leader in the space,” said Dave MacEwen, incoming Chair of St. Francis Yacht Club’s Executive Race Committee. “We also aim to foster sailors from youth through grand masters in the many disciplines of our sport, which is why we invest in such a diverse and dynamic regatta season.”

DINGHIES Small-boat sailors can look forward to Spring Dinghy (May 18-19) and Fall Dinghy (October 26-27) running repeated courses during both events to provide an opportunity to improve on the same playing field as the year progresses. The Elvström/Zellerbach Regatta will be combined with Spring Dinghy to draw a larger pool of competitors in the invited one design classes. The club’s popular Opti Heavy Weather Slalom & Regatta also returns (June 21-23) to test the smallest boats in the big summer winds of San Francisco Bay.

BOARD SPORTS After the success of the inaugural Wingding Regatta in 2023, the event will return in early August of 2024 as the Wingding US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship, the first national wingfoiling event in the United States for this board sport. Foiling enthusiasts will enjoy the weekly Thursday racing series, which began decades ago when windsurfing was the hot new sport, and which now draws a loyal following of foiling kites, wings and windsurfers. For those looking for a full-send experience, Ronstan Bridge to Bridge is scheduled for August 29, when the westerlies are typically strong enough to sail a foilboard from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge faster than a bird flies—will someone make it in under 10 minutes this year?

KEELBOATS Keelboat enthusiasts will be busy this season, beginning with Spring Fest & Stone Cup (April 6-7) and the start of California Race Week’s CA 500 (May 25) and Spinnaker Cup (May 26). IODs, Folkboats and Knarrs can look forward to the Woodies Invitational (June 28-30), and the Knarrs play again August 31-September 7, at the 52nd International Knarr Championship, just ahead of Rolex Big Boat Series, which also hosts a Classic Yachts division.

In past years Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta and Aldo Alessio were held the same weekend, to serve as a tuneup to Rolex Big Boat Series. This year, the two events will split, with Swiftsure remaining in the tuneup position (August 17-18) and Aldo Alessio held as an offshore return race for Rolex Big Boat Series competitors (September 21). J/Boat fleets will be busy all year, and the J/105 Women’s Skipper Invitational (May 11) will be run for the third time, encouraging greater helm time for talented female sailors.

The J/105 class will likely be the largest fleet competing at Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15), which will celebrate its diamond anniversary with a week of world-class competition and stellar post-race celebrations. Various one design classes, ORC-rated boats, and classic yachts will be invited to compete, with registration opening in early 2024.

MATCH RACING With its fleet of J/22s now expanded to 13 boats, St. Francis Yacht Club remains a prime host for match racing events, including stops of the California Dreamin’ Series (March 16-17) and the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5). The US Match Racing Championship also returns to San Francisco Bay (October 4-6).

TEAM RACING A highlight in the 2024 season will be the Cornerstone Cup (August 23-25), a four-way international team racing event between New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Thames Yacht Club and host St. Francis Yacht Club. Last run in San Francisco in 2015, the event features top-level competition and interclub camaraderie. Team racers can also look forward to an inaugural San Francisco Sailing League Regatta (June 8-9), which will import a popular European format to the West Coast for the first time.

Details: https://www.stfyc.com/racing

Tags: St Francis Yacht Club

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St. Francis Yacht Club Announces Action-Packed 2024 Regatta Season

St. Francis Yacht Club

January 18, 2024

Mark your calendars and make your plans to compete at one of the top sailing venues in the world in 2024. St. Francis Yacht Club has released a 2024 regatta schedule that’s comprehensive in its inclusion of various types of sailing—from board sports and dinghies, to keelboats and classic yachts, to team and match racing. Local, national and international sailors will have a plethora of opportunities to test their skills on the challenging waters of San Francisco Bay.

“Our mission is to be a leader in yachting and inviting the most talented sailors in the world to our shores and to our club is our highest calling. We’re looking forward to another stellar season of racing on San Francisco Bay,” said Chris Perkins, incoming Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club.

While sailors of various disciplines will have multiple opportunities to challenge each other in weekly series and seasonal regattas, St. Francis Yacht Club will also host several high-profile events, such as the US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship (August 2-4), the International Knarr Championship (August 31-September 7) and the 60th anniversary of their signature Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15). The club will also host stops for the US Match Racing Championship (October 4-6), the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5) and SailGP (July 13-14).

“With over 100 days of racing on the calendar, we run a very busy racing schedule, and from a race management perspective, we are always looking for ways to improve. In 2024, we’re focusing more on quality versus quantity, by combining some events to deliver a top-level experience from the moment a sailor arrives at St. Francis Yacht Club, through their time on the water and after racing, enjoying the parties and amenities ashore. We want an outstanding experience at all points,” said Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club.

DINGHIES Small-boat sailors can look forward to Spring Dinghy (May 18-19) and Fall Dinghy (October 26-27) running repeated courses during both events to provide an opportunity to improve on the same playing field as the year progresses. The Elvström/Zellerbach Regatta will be combined with Spring Dinghy to draw a larger pool of competitors in the invited one design classes. The club’s popular Opti Heavy Weather Slalom & Regatta also returns (June 21-23) to test the smallest boats in the big summer winds of San Francisco Bay.

BOARD SPORTS After the success of the inaugural Wingding Regatta in 2023, the event will return in early August of 2024 as the Wingding US Sailing Wingfoiling Championship, the first national wingfoiling event in the United States for this board sport. Foiling enthusiasts will enjoy the weekly Thursday racing series, which began decades ago when windsurfing was the hot new sport, and which now draws a loyal following of foiling kites, wings and windsurfers. For those looking for a full-send experience, Ronstan Bridge to Bridge is scheduled for August 29, when the westerlies are typically strong enough to sail a foilboard from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge faster than a bird flies—will someone make it in under 10 minutes this year?

KEELBOATS Keelboat enthusiasts will be busy this season, beginning with Spring Fest & Stone Cup (April 6-7) and the start of California Race Week’s CA 500 (May 25) and Spinnaker Cup (May 26). IODs, Folkboats and Knarrs can look forward to the Woodies Invitational (June 28-30), and the Knarrs play again August 31-September 7, at the 52nd International Knarr Championship, just ahead of Rolex Big Boat Series, which also hosts a Classic Yachts division.

In past years Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta and Aldo Alessio were held the same weekend, to serve as a tuneup to Rolex Big Boat Series. This year, the two events will split, with Swiftsure remaining in the tuneup position (August 17-18) and Aldo Alessio held as an offshore return race for Rolex Big Boat Series competitors (September 21). J/Boat fleets will be busy all year, and the J/105 Women’s Skipper Invitational (May 11) will be run for the third time, encouraging greater helm time for talented female sailors.

The J/105 class will likely be the largest fleet competing at Rolex Big Boat Series (September 11-15), which will celebrate its diamond anniversary with a week of world-class competition and stellar post-race celebrations. Various one design classes, ORC-rated boats, and classic yachts will be invited to compete, with registration opening in early 2024.

MATCH RACING With its fleet of J/22s now expanded to 13 boats, St. Francis Yacht Club remains a prime host for match racing events, including stops of the California Dreamin’ Series (March 16-17) and the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (May 1-5). The US Match Racing Championship also returns to San Francisco Bay (October 4-6).

TEAM RACING A highlight in the 2024 season will be the Cornerstone Cup (August 23-25), a four-way international team racing event between New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Thames Yacht Club and host St. Francis Yacht Club. Last run in San Francisco in 2015, the event features top-level competition and interclub camaraderie. Team racers can also look forward to an inaugural San Francisco Sailing League Regatta (June 8-9), which will import a popular European format to the West Coast for the first time.

Make your plans to compete at St. Francis Yacht Club this upcoming regatta season.

VIEW THE 2024 REGATTA SCHEDULE

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Restaurant-Yacht Chaika

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Pleasantly surprised, service is good so is the food. Great selection of Fusion food, a mixture of Italian, Japanese, European, Asian etc. A pleasantly nice dining experience, highly recommended, a must try!

Thank you for your feedback and invite you to have lunch or dinner again aboard the ship in an atmosphere of high standards of yacht hospitality.

everything was perfect - the food, the service, the desserts were the best, nice atmosphere and the location - magical

Best food, best view in Moscow. absolutely faultless from arrival to finish. Best risotto i had for many years absolutely perfectly cooked. The view on Ukrainian hotel and the white house by night is amazing

Had to wait for the food for 1.5 hours and then another 20 minutes for the check. Finally called for the manager and he offered... a 10% discount as a compensation. Simply pathetic! The food is mediocre at best. Not bad per se, but one... would expect something better considering the prices. There are many places to eat in area that are much better. Avoid this one at all costs. More

Hello, Alexander Your comment is extremely important for us, thank you a lot for it. We are terribly sorry for your time that you`ve spent waiting your order and we have already taken actions to improve quality of our service and it would be realy... More

Food is very expensive,very pretentious, doesn't worth that money. Portions are very small. We ordered ravioli and there were 4! Four raviolis! For almost 15 euros. Then we asked to bring us dessert menu but nothing, they didn't even bothered, so we payed and left... without dessert. Very poor service for that price. More

This is a very good restaurant. The food is really good, maybe the best in Moscow. The service is also good. The view from the restaurant is great. The prices are very high.

I often visit this restaurant and must say it’s one of the best in Moscow in terms of quality and service. Staff really try hard to make sure that you are happy and satisfied. Customer service is a huge problem in Moscow but Chaika sets... a great example for others in the industry! Food is delicious and the menu has lots of options for everyone! Atmosphere is great and view is beautiful on the embankment. Special thanks to German & Oleg! More

Thank you for your feedback! Again aboard the yacht restaurant "Chaika" in accordance with the high standards of yacht hospitality.

Highly recommended, great location in the city center of Moscow with a superb atmosphere. Too many menu choices, though all delicious!

Thx a lot for your review! We are looking forward to see you in our restaurants.

Visited this lovely restaurant with a friend of mine. It was relaxingly warm August evening - so the place on the river seemed like a good idea. We came quite early and the restaurant was not full. The hostesses kindly offered several places to sit... and we chose to sit on the sofas. We had some wine, which was good. We struggled a bit when deciding about the food as few options (scallops) were not available. Fish on ice on display did not look very fresh. To be honest it was an unusually hot August and it is probably understandable that some see food options were not available. However, we did manage to order something and sat waiting and looking onto the river. My long-legged friend struggled sitting at the low sofa and the manager noticed that, offering as a very good, proper table beside the open window. It was nice touch and I was very pleased by their polite observations and immediate reaction to solve the problem. Food was quite good and presentation was perfect. Perhaps I can something about the food, but 1 visit is not enough to criticize or make a definitive opinion. Overall, quality place, which of course, does not come cheap. I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. More

Good afternoon! Thank you for your detailed feedback! We are looking forward to seeing you again, we are sure that you will be delighted with our dishes!

I've been here several times during two business trip in Moscow. The overall quality for both service and food is absolutely top-notch, plus the location is very unique.

Hello! Thank you for your feedback! We are looking forward to visiting again!

Located on a boat at Krasnopresenskaya River Bank this 5 Star Restaurant transforms into a party location due to multiple groups hosting events. Impressive wine selection, Asian and European kitchen...

Thx a lot! We are waiting for you!

It is a nice place to gather specially at the lounge The service and staff very good I like the river view The food is almost like all restaurants in Russia they serve different cuisine. Staring Russian appetizer till Asian dishes Presentation and taste amazing... I consider it overpriced little bit More

Good location. Nice views. Good choice of food and drinks. European and Asian menu. Nice service. Pricey enough.

Had a large group dinner here. Food was above average and service quite good. The real attraction is the view of Moscow from the river on a nice night. Great place for a larger group dinner. More

Hello, John We are really pleased by reading that you and your friends were satisfied by our service, client`s experience is the highest value for us. We will be happy to see you again, come and enjoy some new dishes from our chef and nice... More

The luxurious atmosphere of this place, the view and the location make it quite outstanding. We had dinner here with friends and the dishes were amazing, accompanied by a chilled bottle of Chablis, it really made me feel as if it was a part of... the classic Russian movie. More

RESTAURANT-YACHT CHAIKA, Moscow - Presnensky - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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