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Host Spotlight: St. Francis Yacht Club  

Located in the heart of San Francisco, the St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) is one of the premier sailing clubs in the United States and a leader in WingFoiling. Established in 1927, the club has grown to become a beacon for sailors from around the world, known for its rich history, stunning location, and vibrant sailing community.  

StFYC is set to host the 2024 U.S. WingFoil Championship, the inaugural rendition of the event August 9 – 11, 2024.  

“We are creating the first ever US National Championship for WingFoiling, the sailing world’s newest and most dynamic sport,” said Geoff Headington, US WingFoil Championship Committee Chair. “ StFYC has been at the forefront of the sport’s development, and the team has been planning the Championship for more than a year.”   

“Dozens of members and staff have been participating in weekly WingFoiling series held throughout the summer,” said StFYC’s race director, Felix Weidling.  

St. Francis Yacht Club was founded by a group of San Francisco sailors who envisioned a club dedicated to the spirit of yachting. The club’s first clubhouse was a modest facility located on the city’s waterfront. Over the years, the club expanded and modernized, eventually relocating to its current iconic location on the Marina Green, with a picturesque view of the Golden Gate Bridge.   

“The committee and I are planning three full days of racing across windward leeward, slalom, and long-distance courses, as well as plenty of off-the-water activities. We will also be showcasing the cutting edge of the sport through freestyle exhibitions and discussion panels,” Says Headington.  

St. Francis Yacht Club’s commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of its operations. The club’s staff, from the professional race management team to the culinary experts in the kitchen, provide the highest level of service to members and guests alike. This dedication extends to the club’s role in promoting the sport of sailing and supporting the broader maritime community through hosting events, such as the WingFoil Championship.  

“WingFoiling has a bright future, and the St. Francis Yacht Club is committed to supporting it,” said Headington. “We are excited to play a role in developing the sport here in the US and hope to coordinate with partners here and globally to follow the path blazed by formula kite racing, which is in the Olympic Games for the first time in 2024.”   

As St. Francis Yacht Club approaches its centennial, it continues to evolve and innovate while staying true to its rich heritage. The Headington’s vision for the future includes plans to “support WingFoiling with a strong foundation of competition in the US, so that our US athletes have the experience needed to compete on the world stage and non-US competitors are attracted to visit our shores.”  

For more details, visit the official event page: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/championships/2024-u-s-wingfoil-championship/  

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St. Francis Yacht Club announces action-packed 2024 Regatta Season

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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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