When boats commit to race in the St. Francis Yacht Club's Rolex Big Boat Series in September, they know its a four race commitment in the big winds of San Francisco Bay. For these classic boats it means everyone on board will be feeling the effects of racing in those conditions. The positive side is being part of a team that knows what an accomplishment it is just to finish the series.

When boats commit to race in the St. Francis Yacht Club's Rolex Big Boat Series in September, they know its a four race commitment in the big winds of San Francisco Bay. For these classic boats it means everyone on board will be feeling the effects of racing in those conditions. The positive side is being part of a team that knows what an accomplishment it is just to finish the series.

When boats commit to race in the St. Francis Yacht Club's Rolex Big Boat Series in September, they know its a four race commitment in the big winds of San Francisco Bay. For these classic boats it means everyone on board will be feeling the effects of racing in those conditions. The positive side is being part of a team that knows what an accomplishment it is just to finish the series.

Every Spring the Corinthian Yacht Club opens their doors for the Master Mariners Benevolent Association to hold their Wooden Boat Show. This event gives the public the chance to see these beautiful wooden sailboats and to talk with the owners about why they have such a passion for their boats. Maybe you'll get the bug and jump in.

Every Spring the Corinthian Yacht Club opens their doors for the Master Mariners Benevolent Association to hold their Wooden Boat Show. This event gives the public the chance to see these beautiful wooden sailboats and to talk with the owners about why they have such a passion for their boats. Maybe you'll get the bug and jump in.

Three generations have a deep bond to Gold Star. That the boat has such deep roots comes from a shared sense of purpose - to have fun on the boat. Even when they race, like they did in the 2025 Fan Francisco Yacht Club's Great Schooner Race, the object is to have fun no matter how they finish. They finished mid- fleet with smiles all around.

There are times when owners needs to sell a classic sailboat but the memories of the good times on the boat keep them for committing. David Crosby cherished Mayan, not just for the times he sailed her but also for the inspiration she brought to his song writing. Here's the story of how Beau Vrolyk became the new owner of Mayan. This is part of the longer documentary project Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection. To learn more about the documentary go to: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

Every year the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon hosts the Master Mariners Benevolent Association's Wooden Boat Show. It's an opportunity for the public to see a fleet of classic wooden boats up close, to hear from the owners, and to expose kids to a kind of sailboat they rarely get to be on. Listen to the owners who love their boats and want to share that love to anyone who wants to hear their stories. You can learn more about the Wind in Their Sails:Death and Resurrection documentary at this URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

What could be better than a blustery summer day on San Francisco Bay for these classic wooden boats to show what they can do. I was on board Kay of Göteborg for this race and it was thrilling to see the crew perform in these conditions. I'm sure you'll enjoy the ride as much as I did. You can learn more about the Wind in Their Sails:Death and Resurrection documentary at this URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

Every year the Master Mariners Benevolent Assoc. organizes a regatta where classic sailboats designed or built before 1937 come out to race on San Fracisco Bay. This year more than 60 boats came out to sail, and yes race! Take a look and see just how exciting racing a classic boat can be. You can learn more about the Wind in Their Sails:Death and Resurrection documentary at this URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

In 2020 Call of the Sea launched the Brigantine Mathew Turner. Their goal is to introduce people of all ages to the life on a square rigged ship from on deck to the yards. Take a look and maybe when you come to Sausalito you'll want to go aloft yourself. Learn more about the Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection documentary about the life cycle of classic wooden sailboats. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

Call of the Sea turned 40 this year and continues its mission of providing life changing on the water experiences to underserved youth. They celebrated by throwing a party that included touring the ships and providing free educational activities, tours of the Bay Model, old time tunes by local favorites the Waterfront Pickers, a youth choir singing sea shanties in pirate costumes, educational activities by the Sailing Science Center, and community representation by Spaulding Marine Center and the Sausalito Working Waterfront!

It takes a very brave, or fool hardy, man to sign on to a square rigged ship bound around Cape Horn. From sweltering in the tropics to freezing in the Roaring Forties, seamen worked hard every day. The square riggers are gone today, but the awe they inspired lives on. You can visit the Balclutha at the San Francisco National Maritime Historical Park at the Hyde Street Pier and learn more at the San Francisco Maritime Museum just a block away. You can learn more about the Wind in Their Sails:Death and Resurrection documentary at this URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

There are still boats sailing, and yes racing, on San Francisco Bay that were built before most of us were even born. They carry on a great tradition of beauty and speed while sailing on one of the world's best natural harbors. You can learn more about the Wind in Their Sails:Death and Resurrection documentary at this URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555224837041

J105 Fleet 1 hosted the 2022 J105 North American Championship and it was a great Fall regatta - warm with enough breeze to be exciting but not so much that gear failure decided the racing. With eleven races and no throw outs, every point was very important and in many cases a team's final standing came down to how they did on the last race. The San Francisco Yacht Club was the host venue and they made the shoreside time special with lots of time and space for sailors to mingle to discuss the day's racing or to take part in the morning debrief. See for yourself - right here, right now!

In 2003, 4 and 5, the J105 flight hired me to shoot their season regattas and to create a short video for each regatta and one overall video encapsulating the season. Here is the Highlights from 2004. For a video I would create for the J105 North Americans, I would include dockside interviews and chase boat footage as well as any GoPro footage off boats that are making their own record of the racing. The running time for the video would be in the range of 6 min. and would be delivered several weeks after the event. For a rough idea of what I would produce, take a look at any of my Big Boat Series videos on my YouTube site.

Tom started sailing when he was just a kid. His first boat was an El Torro. He graduated from that to crewing on Star boats and then moved on to IOR boats. That led to multiple America's Cup campaigns including the St.FYC USA challenge. Late in his sailing career he moved to catamarans and loved the speed. Watching this video will brings back lots of memories for those of us who knew Tom and likely for many others who sailed against him..

In 1986 the StFYC fielded it's first America's Cup Challenge - USA. In this video you will hear from designers, sailors and see lots of action shots both on and off the boat. In one shot you can even see the aluminum hull upside down in Stevens Marine where it was built. Have fun. I know we all did.

So why is the West Marine / US Sailing Open Regatta such a big deal? For the younger sailors it's their opportunity to compete at a high level and build a resume of wins that leads to opportunities to sail at events around the world. This regatta for the IQ Foil class on San Francisco Bay had big winds and currents which was very different from the previous five venues and challenged the sailors, young and old, to be at their very best. The regatta was hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club. Each division sailed 13 races over 3 days and in the conditions San Francisco Bay provides it took all their skills to stay upright and go fast.

This short video looks at Tom Blackaller's prediction that catamarans would soon replace monohulls in the America's Cup regattas.