st. francis yacht club san francisco california

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Yacht Clubs

St. Francis Yacht Club

Becoming st. francis.

St. Francis Yacht Club was founded in 1927 by a group of 21 San Francisco yachtsmen with a vision of a club in the City. It was an offshoot of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which was founded in 1856 and had its facility in Sausalito, across the Bay. That facility burned to the ground in the mid-twenties and a fierce debate raged after the fire between those who lived in Marin County and those who lived in San Francisco. The city-dwellers wanted to relocate to San Francisco—not surprising given that this was before the Golden Gate Bridge, so SF members had to travel by water to their club. Members from Marin found a suitable location in Belvedere against the wishes of their SF membership and pulled some fast and furious moves to secure the right number of votes to make it happen. This so offended the SF members that they chose to leave San Francisco Yacht Club and form their own club: the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Today, there is great camaraderie between the two clubs and many members belong to both.

For the club’s full history, click here .

St. Francis Yacht Club Honors Hall of Famers

The St. Francis Yacht Club honored their Hall of Famers at a dinner on October 28, 2014 with 200 people attending.

Those honored included National Sailing Hall of Famers Tom Blackaller, Paul Cayard, Stan Honey and John Kostecki, plus America’s Cup Hall of Famers Lucy and Fritz Jewett. Another Hall of Famer, National Sailing Hall of Fame President Gary Jobson, was the Master of Ceremonies.

Here are some photos of the event, courtesy of photographer Igor Capibaribe, and a short video tribute that was played during the dinner.

L-R: St. Francis YC Commodore Bruce Munro, John Kostecki, Stan Honey, Lisa Blackaller, Lucy Jewitt, Paul Cayard, Gary Jobson, St. Francis YC Commodore George Dort

Video: Tribute to the St. Francis Yacht Club Hall of Famers (4:15)  :

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

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Latest News

2024 Race News

Outstanding racing at the 60th edition of rolex big boat series.

Breeze on conditions brought out the best skills and tactics for podium winners.

Right on cue, San Francisco Bay rolled out the most demanding conditions for sailors at the 60th edition of Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club.

Your One Stop Guide for RBBS Race Weekend

Don’t miss out on a minute of the action at the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series. Whether you’re racing, planning on coming to St. Francis Yacht Club to spectate or following along from elsewhere, here’s the info you need to stay in the know.

Hundreds of Sailors Ready to Race in the 60th Edition of Rolex Big Boat Series

Classes racing for Rolexes & perpetual trophies announced during first night of the regatta.

Years Running

Classes in 2024, competitors, schedule of events.

• Wednesday 09/11
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• Sunday 09/15

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St. Francis Yacht Club

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Review Highlights

“ I enjoyed my lunch (Clippership Room) with a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge to the left and Alcatraz to the right. ” in 13 reviews

“ Despite the perception of this place as a haven for middle-aged pretentious white guys, the vibe changes completely on regatta weekends. ” in 3 reviews

“ If you are not a member , then don't bother trying to get in cuz you'll get rolled out the front doors... ” in 21 reviews

Location & Hours

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700 Marina Blvd

San Francisco, CA 94123

Broderick St & Baker St

Marina/Cow Hollow

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About the Business

St. Francis Yacht Club is a private club known throughout the US and the world as one of the premier yacht clubs. Our 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. The Club’s annual calendar includes a variety of social events from theme parties, and winemaker dinners, to cruises both locally and far away. We host numerous world-class regattas every year, which bring sailors from all over the globe to test their skills on the challenging San Francisco Bay. We are also a very popular location for private events ranging from weddings to corporate meetings. Our classic clubhouse, stunning Bay views, outstanding cuisine and warm, welcoming service make us an ideal location to host memorable events. The Club is recognized as the #1 yacht club in the United States by Platinum Clubs of America and also received the distinction of BoardRoom Magazine's Distinguished Emerald Club Award. …

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Overall rating

102 reviews

I get invited to some pretty cool things because of my job. One of the "cool things" was a thank-you dinner for the San Francisco Little League's coaches and volunteers. Not wanting to go alone, since I only knew the president of the SFLL, I took my boss, who decided to wear a pink shirt, since he knew he would probably be the only gay male there. We pulled up to the St. Francis Yacht Club after winding through the Presidio. There was plenty of parking, and even though it was mostly overcast, the dusk light made Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge shimmer. Upon entering, it felt like an old-school members-only club with tall wooden double doors, and then plush green carpeting. We were in the Golden Gate Room, which was to the left of the entrance, and the doors opened out to the patio directly overlooking Crissy Field. With the hardwood floors, high ceilings and great view, this would be an ideal location for a wedding reception. "Vicky, this is the PERFECT kind of event and place for a single girl to meet guys!" "Um, these guys are ALL DADS and they're ALL MARRIED." "Oh. Well maybe there'll be at least one cute one." "I think at this point, I'd be better off as your wing-woman." "Am I the only guy wearing pink? YES I AM." "Well, there's a guy wearing salmon." "That's it. I'm going to pretend to be your date, because if one more old guy checks you out, I'm going to be sick." "I don't think you'll be able to pull that off, because you're wearing a pink shirt. Should've thought about that one." We had dinner provided by the club, and the food was AWESOME. We started off with a spinach salad topped with a vinaigrette, beets, soft goat's milk cheese (my guess) and pine nuts. Possibly one of the best salads I've had, I think, and I'm not really a fan of salads (it makes me feel like a horse when I shove a forkful of green leaves into my mouth). Our main dishes were delicious too: I had the chicken breast, which was roasted and then topped with a savory gravy, accompanied by roasted red potatoes and a tomato-corn-bell pepper type of salsa. The chicken was a bit dry, but the gravy made it all the better. My boss had the salmon, and he said it was the first time that it wasn't overcooked. It came with fingerling potatoes and carrots in a green puree (not sure what it was, but everyone at our table ate everything). Finally we were ready to leave because dessert hadn't come out yet, so we just assumed that they weren't going to serve any. After we said our goodbyes, we started heading towards the door and were about 3 feet away when I spotted the wait staff bringing out plates of a delicious square chocolate cake. "WAIT, we CAN'T leave yet! They're bringing out DESSERT!" So we sat back down at the table and explained to everyone that we were staying just for the dessert. And we were SO glad we did: the cake-looking thing turned out to be a black forest and vanilla mousse cake (2 inches of the black forest chocolatey mousse on the bottom, with a centimeter of vanilla mousse on top), coated entirely with a dark chocolate ganache, and served with a circle of dark chocolate syrup and crushed macadamia nuts. IT. WAS. HEAVEN. So, full of food, drinks and conversation about baseball (we were like, "wtf is the lower farm league?" the whole time), we left. A great location, great food, and plenty of parking in San Francisco? The St. Francis Yacht Club gets my high marks for being a wonderful place in the city! And if anyone is wondering, no, I didn't meet any young single guys.

The not so great part: It's in a far-off part of the Marina where cabs never go, so it'll be really hard to get to and from if you're at an event where you'll be having cocktails. The absolutely fantastic part: On a clear day, I truly believe this may be the best view in all of San Francisco. With the crashing waves and the bridge in the distance, this is the stuff people dream about when they think of this beautiful city. So, I'd say the good definitely outweighs the bad. I don't have a yacht but I had the chance to visit this locale for a wedding rehearsal dinner and we were lucky enough to have it on one of the warmest days of the year so far. It was absolutely breathtaking. As for the dinner and service, it was just fine - but it's really all about the view!

I put a deposit down to hold my wedding here. I then cancelled the engagement and was under a contract which the manager did not make an exception to cancel. So, I decided to hold a Halloween party (October of 2015). Their events manager went on leave so I had to deal with her replacement after many, many unreturned calls. They tried to up-sell me on everything. The food for the price I paid was ridiculously meager. Despite knowing my situation, they did not tell me that I would be refunded the difference of whatever was not spent. Had I known that, I would not have tried to spend the entire deposit to make the most of the sunken cost. The bartender was friendly - that is about the only thing I can say for this place.

"Lock up the good Scotch, Buffy!" If I were a pretentious, sea-faring socialite-type who wore pearls and, crap, what do preppies wear? Right, a sweater over my shoulders, I would join the St. Francis Yacht Club. Boy, they have a great view at that place! Only, I would permanently guest-list all my friends so they wouldn't have to wait for me to show up in order to have a cocktail. Which is what I did last night. Waited. For a cocktail. Until the guest of honor and her card-carrying club member arrived. It was a long and painful 20 minutes... I think we were beginning to frighten the cocktail waitress. Like we were gonna mutiny or something. So, yeah. I'd guest-list my friends. And laugh a lot. Loudly. And propose many champagne-fueled toasts and clink glasses and laugh some more! There wasn't too much of that going on in the place before my unruly & rambunctious pals showed up. A bit stuffy & uptight, the blue-bloods at the St. Francis Yacht Club are. But no one had us thrown out, so they can't be all bad.

The food is mediocre. The people are pretentious and horrible (I'm talking Bentleys in the parking lot sort of place) Outside tables are horribly windy Servers ignore you unless you "look the part" So why three stars then, you may ask. Why not just 1? The view is gorgeous The gossip is fantastic The drinks are the strongest I've had in my life. Therefore: Mussels in a lemon butter sauce for lunch: $20 Grey Goose and tonic that was 75 or 80% alcohol: God only knows Going to a private club at 20 years old, not getting carded, AND charging lunch to the company account: Priceless.

Went there for a cocktail reception and the sushi was just awful. I didn't finish what was on my plate which I rarely ever do. Other dishes were so-so as well, breading falling off the shrimp, and pasta that I could make better at home. Big disappointment for such a classy venue, and I'm sure they paid a fortune for the room and food.

I called to ask about a venue for my wedding and before i could finish introducing myself put on hold. The woman on the phone who did not introduce herself told me it was a members only club. I proceeded to thank her anyways and she hung up. Wow !

This is SPECIFICALLY a review for the buffet-style dinner at their restaurant. Wow, I most definitely have experienced better, especially for that price. The shrimp was so tough I thought I was eating rubber, the roast beef was overcooked, as in way past dead, on the outside but bloody as heck on the inside. The bread was barley better than stale and the crackers for the cheese were soggy. I mean all of it looked ok but don't put it in your mouth. Meh, my friend's mom was footing the bill. Reedemingly, the view of the bridge is magnificent, especially at night when it's all lit up.

I came here as a guest for a company event. This review is based on the experience and view of the location only. The room that my company had rented oversees the Golden Gate bridge and you can also see the Alcatraz. At the time we had the event, there was people who was wind sufing and it was a great view. It was an amazing experience since my company had paid for the event and no out of pocket cost to me :). The food that was served was great! Had the 3 course meal and service was exceptional. I did not give it a 5 star because I don't know the pricings of the food and beverages.

So... my alma mater hosted an event here thanks to a rich, i mean a generous yacht club member/alum who sponsored the thing. Straight off the bat, you smell exclusivity :) I yelped before I went and considering none of my friends had ever been, I asked the wise Mamasita what she thought of the place -- and like a ridiculously-expensive-ass piece of jewelry or marriage, she said she considered it a thing you should try once. (should is becoming could, nowadays but onwards.) So on i went... Granted we were super lucky to find ourselves situated on the dock -- the window of the main mingling area is right by the water -- with no fog and a perfect, clear, beautiful view of the GGB, the space was just a well-kept, upscale version of a recreational or city hall building of sorts. Blue carpet, conference rooms, walls with paintings, windows into the courtyard... I think the outside is more interesting than the inside though. Obviously, food will depend on the venue and budget, but hors d'ouevres were so-so and my vegetarian friends went underfed due to poor choices :( The pile-it-yourself meat slices, veggie sticks, and cheese buffets were nicely stocked and I couldn't even make it to the bar. My group wasn't VIP enough so I didn't get to taste their main food.... ugh. Useless, i tell you!! But if you're considering an event here, just make sure they have ample vegetarian options. The stars are mainly for the view of the water, spacious parking, the night sky after the venue ended, and the laughs from our accidental ride to GGB when we missed our turn... good times.

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