User:Ryanaull/St. Francis Yacht Club

St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927 by a group of 21 San Francisco Yachtsman with a vision of a club in the City. Ground was broken for the clubhouse that year, and events were held on members yachts until the club was formally opened in 1928. In 1959, the Club acquired its Tinsley Island Station, located on the Sacramento Delta. Tinsley offers members a warm boating destination to escape the traditional summer fog on the Bay. In 2002, the membership celebrated its 75th anniversary of activity on San Francisco Bay and around the world.

The yachting interests of our 2300-plus members include racing, cruising, sailboarding, kiteboarding, water-skiing and more. Our sailors have challenged and defended for the America’s Cup, brought home Olympic medals, and won prestigious races such as the Whitbread, Transpac and Pacific Cup. Whether cruising in the Mexican Sea of Cortez or racing in the Olympics, a St. Francis burgee is apt to be seen. Because of the active racing and cruising participation of our members, it is said that the sun hardly ever sets on the St. Francis Burgee.

St. Francis Yacht Club is a year-round host of over 40 regattas on San Francisco Bay, including the annual Big Boat Series each September. The club was host to the 2000 US Olympic Sailing Trials, and continues to hosts World and National Championships. St. Francis is also dedicated to the development of young corinthian sailors. Our junior sailing team (ages 10 to 23) races locally and internationally in Optimists, Lasers, Radial Lasers, 29ers, 420’s and Flying Juniors. Each year, our Club hosts the Laser Sailing Symposium, with invitations to the world’s most competitive Laser sailors.

Our San Francisco clubhouse provides a boating and social venue for our members and their guests. It features large deep-water guest docks, outstanding dining and incredible vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. This is the premier location to view yacht racing on the renowned City Front. The Club’s annual calendar includes a wide variety of social events from theme parties, and winemaker dinners, to cruises both locally and far away.

Tinsley Island Station
"In All the World, There's Only One." The St. Francis Yacht Club's Tinsley Island Station offers a private, year-round yacht club experience. The Island's summers are filled with BBQ’s, music, dancing and family fun. Winter season offers a much quieter experience. Winter visitors see the Island's more rustic side as the fog rolls in and the birds and animals of the Delta become more active.

Tinsley Island has enhanced its member services in the past two years and now offers members and guests a full bar and snack bar, fitness center, boat cleaning services and local, live entertainment on Saturday nights. We very much look forward to your visit.

St.FYC History
The St. Francis Yacht Club was founded on a site already rich in local lore. Earlier, while this was still marshland, it was also home to the Stone Boat Yard and the building of a schooner named Yankee. The earthquake of 1906 knocked the Yankee off its cradle, but the boat was picked up and finished.

Today, after repeated terms as a St. Francis flagship, the Yankee can still be seen here, its bow aimed at the Marina Green. The yacht harbor was begun as part of the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915, to mark the opening of the Panama Canal. The Exposition embodied all the exuberance and hope of the day, but only the nearby Palace of Fine Arts remains (presenting occasional maintenance challenges to the City since, like the rest of the fair, it wasn't built to last).

The original St. Francis Clubhouse was finished just barely ahead of the Depression and the lean years that came with it. St. Francis yachts stood patrol duty during World War II, and later they carried the burgee around the world. Today, hardly anything remains of the original Willis Polk structure. Fire and earthquake saw to that. But through the years, the Club served the sport and it anchored the international game of yachting on San Francisco Bay. In 1958, the Club initiated an annual cruise that led to the purchase of a Delta Station on the San Joaquin River, Tinsley Island, where the members go now to work the summer fogbite out of their toes. The Club inaugurated its Perpetual Trophy Regatta in 1963, and this annual September gathering has become our signature event--the Rolex Big Boat Series-- drawing great sailors from all the great ports of the Blue Planet.

People and boats make the sport of yacht racing, and for eight decades, through members, guests, pros, and generation after generation of kids insisting, "I'm not cold; let me try it again," we've known the best of both.

Foundation
The St. Francis Sailing Foundation, a California non-profit charitable foundation was originally founded as The St. Francis Yacht Club Foundation in 1985 at the request of then Commodore Ed Brovelli. The initial officers were Paxton Davis, President; Bill Hoehler, Vice President; Bill LeRoy, Treasurer; and Jim Kennedy, Secretary. The Foundation received its 501(c) (3) federal tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service on September 5, 1985. That IRS exemption remains in effect. Tom Allen became a Board member soon after and has been the key person who works with sailors seeking grants. Bill LeRoy followed Pax Davis as president. Subsequent presidents include Jim Cascino, Bob Billingham, and current president Carolyn Patrick.

The foundation has raised funds by boat donations, individual contributions, and our annual auction. The Board decided to set aside some of the income as an endowment, called the Reserve Fund.

Initially, grants were made to support the 6 Meter program. Since then, we have expanded our grant-giving to include Olympic sailors, junior sailors, handicapped sailors, and regattas. Last year, the Foundation successfully completed a campaign to purchase ten J22s that are leased to the St. Francis Yacht Club to develop team and match racing.

To learn more about the Foundation, how you can participate, and current activities, please click HERE for the website, or HERE for the Foundation's Facebook page.

Regattas
2012 - Notable Races
 * Spring One Design/Spring Keel
 * San Francisco Cup
 * NorCal High School Championship
 * J Fest
 * Intraclub Regatta
 * Elvstrom Zellerbach
 * Stone Cup
 * Woodies Invitational
 * Ronstan Bay Challenge
 * Opti Heavy Weather
 * SF Classic/Ultra Nectar Challenge
 * Masters Match Race Series
 * Kite/Formula Event
 * Aldo Alessio
 * Skiff International
 * Ronstan Bridge to Bridge
 * Rolex Big Boat Series
 * USWMR Championship
 * Club Match Race Championship
 * Jessica Cup
 * Master Match Race Series
 * Fall Dinghy & Olympic Classes
 * Club Team Race Championship
 * Friday Night Windsurfing