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

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Competitor bulletin #4.

Rolex Big Boat Series is just 5 days away!

This is the fourth and final bulletin designed to keep you, and your crew, up to date with regatta related information. As always, feel free to contact StFYC's Race Office at  [email protected]  with any questions.

Competitor Bulletin #3

Rolex Big Boat Series is just 10 days away!

This is the third of several bulletins designed to keep you, and your crew, up to date with regatta related information. As always, feel free to contact StFYC's Race Office at [email protected] with any questions.

Last Call for 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series

Registration closes August 31.

For sailors who’ve competed in Rolex Big Boat Series over its 60-year history, “It’s the most fabulous event there is, period," according to Chris Perkins, who’s raced it since the 1980s and is the 2024 Commodore of event host St. Francis Yacht Club.

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Classes in 2024, competitors, schedule of events.

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• Sunday 09/15

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St. Francis Yacht Club Hosts First Wing Sail Race

“What a great start to a new era of racing at St. Francis Yacht Club,” said Adam Corpuz-Lahne, the club’s new senior sailing director. Thirty-three wing foilers raced a modified slalom course on Friday, June 4.

It was the first event for the ‘wingers’, which have been included in the monthly Windsurf Slalom Series hosted by StFYC . The series is now open to windsurfers and wingers, an up-and-coming sport that’s exploded in popularity over the past year. Winging combines the foiling boards developed for kiteboarding with handheld inflatable wings that offer nimble, easy riding with less gear and lots of speed.

The first event in a summer series of four drew competitors young and old, those new to watersports competition and veteran boarders of all types.

“We had at least double the number of anticipated wing racers, and they all seemed to be having a great time out there,” said Corpuz-Lahne. Conditions were typical of San Francisco Bay Cityfront in the summer — 25-30 knots of westerly winds. “From the water level it was visually spectacular to watch. The wings present something the kites don’t, which is rider proximity to the sail.”

Stefaans Viljoen won the night, but the leaderboard mixed it up over five races, including bullets for Kai Mirel, son of the champion windsurfer Al Mirel, young Opti sensation Henry Vare, and longtime boarder and one of the organizers of StFYC’s Thursday night kite racing, Steve Bodner.

“What a fun event!” said PRO Ian McClelland, who had been race officer for the once-per-month Friday Windsurf Slaloms for two years prior to the pandemic. “It’s been incredible to have a front-row seat for the evolution of this type of racing. On Friday, we had lots of high-speed action, some pretty good wipeouts, and tight racing. We’ll make some adjustments to the track before our next slalom night, July 16.”

Seth Besse, event organizer, said it’s unclear if this is the first wing race hosted by a yacht club — he is aware of a small slalom race on Maui and another in Italy — but this one drew a much larger crowd, which is likely to grow as word gets out.

Upcoming 2021 Windsurf Slalom Series dates are July 16, August 13 and September 10.

The July 16 race has been rescheduled to July 23. Reason unknown

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Leading Yacht Clubs • Working Together • Sharing Experiences

St. Francis Yacht Club Selects Felix Weidling to Lead Race Department

St. Francis Yacht Club

March 30, 2023

With over 140 racing days on the St. Francis Yacht Club regatta calendar, Weidling will now helm one of the busiest regatta programs in the world, at a venue internationally recognized for its impeccable sailing venue, exhilarating conditions and best-in-class regatta management. His ten years managing the complex operations at Kiel Yacht Club should translate well to San Francisco Bay.

Sir Ben Ainslie, one of the most accomplished sailors in the history of the sport and who is currently leading the British team in the 2024 America’s Cup Challenger Selection Series, said of Weidling, “The size of Kiel Week is noteworthy and it attracts some of the biggest names in sailing. Compared to other venues, Kiel Yacht Club has consistently been the best organized and has provided the best experience for all athletes thanks to the direction of Race Secretary Weidling.”

Every year, St. Francis Yacht Club welcomes thousands of sailors racing all types of craft, from large ocean-going yachts, to PHRF sportboats, to one design classes, to dinghies and foil boards. In addition to annual regattas and weekly racing series, in 2023 the club will host the Women’s World Match Racing Tour, the 5o5 World Championships, the inaugural Wingfoil Pacific Coast Championships and Rolex Big Boat Series – the West Coast’s pinnacle regatta.

“For a club of our standing, the position of Race Director requires an individual of extraordinary ability who can rise to the occasion of managing an internationally-recognized organization,” said Beau Vrolyk, 2023 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “Only the best of the best is qualified to maintain the level of detail, planning and excellence that St. Francis Yacht Club requires for its regattas. To that end, it has taken nearly a year to find a suitable candidate. We were searching for an individual who has worked at the highest levels of competitive sailing with experience organizing world-class regattas consistently and professionally. The pool of qualified candidates is quite small and our patience has paid off. We’re looking forward to welcoming Felix Weidling to our shores.”

In addition to bringing top notch skills in regatta planning and logistics to St. Francis Yacht Club, Weidling will also be exporting his expertise in working with a team to develop and launch app-based technologies for registration, race monitoring and management used at Kiel Week. An app for race information tracking systems that improved and expedited race operations during Kiel Week is now used by hundreds of yacht clubs throughout Europe.

“This interest in and ability to innovate is what set Mr. Weidling apart from other candidates and fits within our club’s own tradition of leadership and innovation in the sport of sailing,” said John Meagher, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of St. Francis Yacht Club. “We were looking for someone who’s capable of turning the traditional challenges of race management into opportunities to excel and bring a new level of professionalism.”

A native of Kiel, Germany, Weidling grew up competing in dinghies, eventually graduating to larger ORC boats and crewing an IMX 38, Farr 40 and 12-meter. During his racing career, he competed in the 2007 America‘s Cup in Valencia for United Internet Team Germany, crossed the Atlantic from Newport, RI to Hamburg, Germany, in the HSH Nordbank Blue Race, was Vice European Champion in 12mR class in Barcelona and was world champion in the X-99 one design class. After a decade as Kiel Yacht Club’s Race Secretary, in 2019 he took a position in the real estate industry to try something different and have more free time on the water. He enjoys cruising and sailing recreationally, often with his stepson, Cedric, son, Bo, and wife, Jennifer, who will all be relocating with him to San Francisco. “I’ve participated in and managed regattas all my life and I’m looking forward to the challenge of doing what I do well in a new city, a new country and at a club with such an exciting history and future,” he said. “I am very thankful for the Executive Race Committee at Kiel Yacht Club. Without their support I would not have the opportunity to be here.”

Weidling will commence his new role in March, just in time for the start of the 2023 regatta season at St. Francis Yacht Club, which typically averages a race every two days and culminates in the Rolex Big Boat Series, scheduled for September 13-17 when conditions on San Francisco Bay are ideal for multiple days of racing across multiple fleets.

“Rolex only sponsors the most prestigious regattas in the world,” commented Mounia Mechbal, Vice President of Marketing at Rolex. “As the biggest regatta on the West Coast, the Rolex Big Boat Series needs to be planned meticulously, and properly organized to reflect the international caliber of the talent participating in the event and the prestige of the prizes being awarded. It is not an easy role to undertake and it is not for the uninitiated. We are confident that St. Francis Yacht Club’s pick for Race Director, Mr. Felix Weidling, is an individual of extraordinary ability. His experience with world-class events shows he is one of the few people in the world that can take on the mantle of such a prestigious organization and successfully maintain the prestige of the Rolex brand associated with the Big Boat Series.”

.            ) ( ) 2000-2024   •   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 Related Posts Positive sign for women’s team racing → Offering a bigger experience of sailing → New Sailing event at the 2032 Olympics? → Combat sailing on Easter weekend → © 2024 Scuttlebutt Sailing News. Inbox Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. made by VSSL Agency . Privacy Statement Advertise With Us Get Your Sailing News Fix! Your download by email. Your Name... Your Email... * Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Home  News  Host Spotlight: St. Francis Yacht Club   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/   Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. --> 335 IMAGES St. Francis Yacht Club to welcome first stop for 2023 Women's World Home Home St. Francis Yacht Club Team Racing: Pictures from the Sonar Long Island Racing Returns to St. Francis Yacht Club Regattas & Results COMMENTS Regattas & Results FRANCIS YACHT CLUB. 700 Marina Boulevard. 415-563-6363. 415-563-8670. [email protected]. St Francis Yacht Club. Home Racing. Each year, StFYC's top race management team hosts 130 days of competition or more, including national and international sailing championships for everything from classics to kiteboards. ... Generations of St. Francis Yacht Club sailors would agree. Our professional coaching staff offers youth sailing opportunities year-round with ... Home The St. Francis Yacht Club is one of the most esteemed yacht clubs in the world, steeped in tradition but known for innovation. Our members are sailors, racers, cruisers and stewards of the sea. ... whatever the occasion: dinner overlooking racing on the Bay, dancing at a Club event with superb live entertainment, or entertaining at a private ... Race Committee The St. Francis Yacht Club Race Committee is renowned for running some of the best sailboat, kiting and windsurfing races in the world. Comprised of over 200 member and non-member volunteers, our Race Committee's dedication to the sport shows in the 140+ days they spend on the water each year. St. Francis Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club - Racing, San Francisco, California. 3,240 likes · 139 talking about this · 1,724 were here. Located on San Francisco Bay, near... Located on San Francisco Bay, near the Golden Gate Bridge, StFYC is considered a... St. Francis Yacht Club Announces Action-Packed 2024 Regatta Season 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. St. Francis Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club, located on the shores of San Francisco Bay, plays host to over 150 days of racing a year, in addition to dozens of club events. We also host hundreds of private events ... St. Francis Yacht Club announces action-packed 2024 Regatta Season 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. St. Francis Yacht Club Founded in 1927, St. Francis Yacht Club is widely regarded as one of the top racing venues in the country. In addition to enjoying a worldwide reputation for on-water and in-club excellence ... Rolex Big Boat Series Last Call for 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series. Registration closes August 31. For sailors who've competed in Rolex Big Boat Series over its 60-year history, "It's the most fabulous event there is, period," according to Chris Perkins, who's raced it since the 1980s and is the 2024 Commodore of event host St. Francis Yacht Club. Read. St. Francis Yacht Club The St. Francis Yacht Club is a private sailing club located in San Francisco. History ... StFYC has added two outdoor eating areas: The Race Deck, located on the rooftop of the Clubhouse, and the Courtyard, centrally located and protected from the strong winds of San Francisco Bay. Sailboat racing at StFYC First Wing Race Launches at St. Francis Yacht Club Photos: Bryan McDonald "What a great start to a new era of racing at StFYC," said St. Francis Yacht Club Senior Sailing Director Adam Corpuz-Lahne after 33 wing foilers completed a modified slalom course on Friday, June 4, 2021. The race was part of a new monthly Wind Slalom Series open to windsurfers and "wingers", an up and-coming sport that's exploded in popularity over the past year. St. Francis Yacht Club Hosts First Wing Sail Race By Amanda Witherell | June 11, 2021 | San Francisco, CA | 1. "What a great start to a new era of racing at St. Francis Yacht Club," said Adam Corpuz-Lahne, the club's new senior sailing director. Thirty-three wing foilers raced a modified slalom course on Friday, June 4. A surprisingly large wing racing fleet rounds mark A last Friday night. St. Francis Yacht Club Selects Felix Weidling to Lead Race Department St. Francis Yacht Club has selected Felix Weidling to lead its Race Department and serve as Race Director. Weidling comes to San Francisco from Kiel Yacht Club, where he served for a decade as Race Secretary and organized various world and continental championships in addition to Kiel Week, an annual nine-day sailing event that draws 4,500 boats, 1,800 sailors and 300,000 spectators, plus ... 100 Days of Racing @ St. Francis Yacht Club in 2024! TEAM RACING A highlight of the 2024 season will be the Cornerstone Cup (August 23-25). It is a four-way international team racing event, sailing in the fleet of J/22s between the New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Thames Yacht Club, and host St. Francis Yacht Club. St. Francis Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, CA. 6,675 likes · 89 talking about this. Our mission is to serve as the inspirational center of boating activities regionally and a leader of yachting... 2023 Rolex Big Boat Series St. Francis Yacht Club San Francisco, CA, USA September 13-17, 2023: Online Registration Form - Closed For Entry, please ... Start 1; Start 2; Start 3; Start 4; Start 5; Start 6; Start 7: Results Race 1; Results Race 2; Results Race 3; Results Race 4; Results Race 5; Results Race 6; Results Race 7: Online Scoring Inquiry Filing. Scrolling ... Sailing season opener makes a comeback, live and on the water For the first race aboard his new 52-foot racing sloop, Bill Dana finished out of the top 10, and there was a good reason. ... Fifteen boats representing the St. Francis Yacht Club left the harbor ... St. Francis Yacht Club's 2024 Season 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 ... St. Francis Yacht Club (@stfyc) • Instagram photos and videos 5,526 Followers, 858 Following, 1,541 Posts - St. Francis Yacht Club (@stfyc) on Instagram: "Honoring camaraderie, sportsmanship, ... As a leader in the yacht racing world, StFYC is charged with preserving the many traditions of the sport, while also exploring the leading-edge of new craft, new racing formats, all of which was at the forefront ... PDF MAINSHEET MAINSHEET. PRODUCED BY: JamiesonMae Communications. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: y V. lascoST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB T: 415-563-6363 F: 415-563-8670. CA 94123Connec. St. Francis Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club - Racing St. Francis Yacht Club Private Members' Group. @stfyc @bigboatseries. aitsWow,the year is passin. Host Spotlight: St. Francis Yacht Club 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. ... "The committee and I are planning three full days of racing across windward leeward, slalom, and long-distance courses, as ... C420 Race Clinics St. Francis Yacht Club annually organizes multiple three-day race clinics to get the race team ready for Nationals and North Americans, or your next regatta. 2024 Summer Mini Clinic Dates Mini Clinic #1 (June 18 - 20): Morning: Laser Fundamentals Afternoon: Wing Foiling Fun Mini Clinic #2 (June 25 - 27): Morning: Laser Fundamentals catamaran gulet powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht