st francis yacht club belvedere

St. Francis Yacht Club

The history of st. francis yacht club  , becoming st. francis, a yacht club in the city, the club buys an island.

With San Francisco summers often foggy, windy and cold, StFYC members started a search for a warmer option in the mid-1950s. In 1958, that destination was secured when a small group of members pooled personal funds and purchased a 21-acre, overgrown island in the Delta for $10,750. Our little slice of heaven on the San Joaquin River, Tinsley Island, was founded. A plaque commemorating those generous visionaries may be found in the lighthouse on Tinsley Island.

WE STARTED SOMETHING BIG

In 1964, St. Francis Yacht Club welcomed eight yachts to the inaugural St. Francis Perpetual Trophy Regatta. Four boats came from Southern California:  Odyssey ,  Kialoa ,  Audacious  and  Kamalii ; and four from Northern California:  Athene ,  Baruna ,  Ocean Queen IV  and  Santana . The regatta was soon nicknamed the “Big Boat Series.” Since then, the Rolex Big Boat Series has earned a reputation as the West Coast’s premier regatta. St. Francis Yacht Club is proud to host hundreds of sailors each September, drawing great sailors from all the great ports of the blue planet to race in our famous front yard.  

93 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE...AND COUNTING

People and boats make the sport of yacht racing, and for 90+ years, through members, guests, pros, and generations of kids insisting, "I'm not cold; let me try it again," we've known the best of both.

THE MISSION OF THE ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB IS TO SERVE AS THE INSPIRATIONAL CENTER OF BOATING ACTIVITIES REGIONALLY AND A LEADER OF YACHTING INTERNATIONALLY. WE HONOR CAMARADERIE, SPORTSMANSHIP, TRADITION AND THE MARITIME HERITAGE OF SAN FRANCISCO IN A PREMIER YACHTING ENVIRONMENT.

Our App enables the sailors to have the boat´s performance tracked live and to be able to review the performance later on. The app can be complemented by a tracking device that you can have on your boat.

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San Francisco Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ In the summer you can sit on the deck and enjoy the water/sun/breeze like a true boater. ” in 4 reviews

“ Full Disclosure : Members since 1996. ” in 2 reviews

“ Funny that a yacht club named San Francisco Yacht Club is located across the bay in Tiburon. ” in 2 reviews

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98 Beach Rd

Belvedere, CA 94920

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This is a private club for members, their guests and members of cooperating clubs. The location is 5 Star. deck looks over the marina and to the bay beyond. We just went for appetizers and drinks. They were very good and came fast. try the coconut shrimp or the chips and salsa. service great as well

The chips and salsa with the coconut shrimp beyond

Friendly staff, great food, wonderful location. The race committee was fantastic and provided a fun weekend for everyone.

This is a very lovely private club venue with a charming, subtle view of San Francisco across the water. Unfortunately, the restaurant is at sea level so diners must look through the yachts to enjoy the view. The second floor dining room view that the Golden Gate Club offers is more captivating. The indoor dining room is elegantly appointed with sailing photos and some excellent paintings on the walls. There is a magnificently hand-sewn quilt depicting sailing scenes from the area and I feel it is a big mistake to have relegated this masterpiece to the ladies' powder. The porch dining is casual and lots of shade is provided. The food and drinks were very good. There are some rather original items on the menu, for example, tacos topped with fried eggs!! The burrata was quite good but not the best I have had. The interior of the mozzarella was not as creamy as it should be. Portions are ample and the bread basket contained a variety of tasty baked items . The butter was served in little balls which is a nice touch. Parking is convenient and the lot is spacious. I cannot comment on cost as we were guests and no check appeared on the table. I was disappointed to have read Phoebe's post that the venue refuses reciprocity. Shame on them if that is true.

This review is for an employee that was very rude to me. I think her name was Lauren. I believe she's new at the front desk. She told me that a party that I wanted to go to, the Tiki party was booked and I couldn't get in. However, that same day a friend of mine and her husband got into the party. I'm wondering what happened. When I asked Lauren about it, she was very rude and shortly said she was sorry. I pay a lot of money to be a member and didn't appreciate the way I was treated by her. She needs to go into another line of work where she doesn't deal with people!

wonderful location and premises. OK food. Bartenders are great, waiters are hit and miss.

Funny that a yacht club named San Francisco Yacht Club is located across the bay in Tiburon. But this club is actually the oldest club in the Bay and the predecessor to the St. Francis Yacht Club, which IS located in San Francisco. SFYC is a charming contrast to St.FYC in that the club house is a low-key single story building with casual almost residental-like layout. Indeed, it's located in a residential neighborhood so it had to blend in with the million dollar houses surrounding the club. I enjoy arriving at SFYC early on regatta weekends and have a full breakfast on the patio and enjoy the warm morning sun before the pre-regatta hussle begins. It's very casual, friendly and has easy access and parking in contrast to the more downtown location of Corinthian YC down the road. Food is very good, wait staff is friendly. I particularly like to have a cup of coffee there on Sunday mornings sitting by the docks in the sun, the air is fresh, breakfast is good and just enjoy the calm and size out the competitors before the race. The only down side is the shower facilities are a little cramped given the size of the club, but workable. Walking to down town is a wee bit of a hike from SFYC but not terribly stressful. It's nice to check out the neighborhood and local color while walking. The other bonus is there's easy access to grocery and other stores for quick provisioning if you are without transport other than boat.

If you're not a member then you can't come here unless you're with a member. So we had a couple of drinks after the Giants game and wow... ordered almost 12 drinks and the tab was only $30. I was told that this isn't your "ordinary bar" and were they right. The patrons and staff are super friendly as well.. great views.. stiff drinks.. maybe I should be a member....

The views here are really spectacular, the patrons are a little snobbish. Staff were nice and friendly, a little abrupt with us at times, but we were a group of 20 ish people and so I imagine it wasn't the best crowd to service on a football sunday. Bar tender wasn't experienced in drinks which is disappointing, and the chef made a decision to serve me a burnt english muffin with my eggs benedict, which is really a shame when you consider the price; it doesn't take that long to re do it, and yes, you think the egg will hide it, but that shouldn't be an excuse for serving burnt food. I would have said something about it if someone had made it round to check on me. Also, it never ceases to amaze me when restaurants carry just one or two hot sauces, you have so many dishes, with so many different ways to customers to compliment them! Diversify. Please.

Disappointed in the decision to serve a burnt English muffin assuming it wouldn't be seen owing to the eggs florentine.

A private club that offers a nice dining experience. They also rotate the food on the menu so if you go here often it's not always the same.

Bread and butter while you wait for your food.

I just had the most delicious, fresh tuna tartar and Phil's famous Mai Tai!! Excellent food and service! Thanks Reny and team:))

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Yacht Clubs

San Francisco Yacht Club

Founded in 1869, the San Francisco Yacht Club is the oldest yacht club on the West Coast and the first yacht club west of the Mississippi. Today, more than 150 years and several newer locations later, SFYC is nestled on the shore of Belvedere Cove and remains rooted in its deep maritime history. The San Francisco Yacht Club is one of the leading yacht clubs in North America. Known for its sublime setting, superb harbor and community of members dedicated to life on the water, The SFYC operates year-round. The Club’s facilities include docks, a dry-sail area, a Clubhouse, Regatta Center and Cove House, completed in 2020.

The SFYC Auxiliary, comprised of female members, is proud of its 68 years of service to the San Francisco Yacht Club. Founded in 1953, this group provides social opportunities for members and their families, and facilitates fundraising activities to benefit youth sailing and other projects.

Stories from San Francisco Yacht Club

The original anchorage and clubhouse were located in San Francisco near Mission Rock, but inadequate depth of water and increasing industrial growth in the area resulted in a move to Sausalito. Waterfront property was purchased and a new clubhouse erected, but it was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1897.

Increasing ferry traffic and congestion contributed to a decision to move again in 1926. One group, headed by Commodore Clifford Smith, felt that Belvedere Cove would be an ideal location. Another group felt that the Club should move back to San Francisco and lease land from the city on the marina. After considerable discussion, the Belvedere site was finally selected. Those who opposed the move resigned and formed the St. Francis Yacht Club. A small clubhouse on the Belvedere site was completed in 1934 and is still part of the present building.

Planning for the present harbor began in 1933 and completed in 1957, when funds were available. The San Francisco Yacht Club, with its tranquil setting in Belvedere Cove and its superb harbor, is widely recognized as the premier yachting facility on the West Coast. It operates a year-round facility including the harbor, a dry sail area, a full-service restaurant and bar.

The Club has a very active junior sailing program and all members, whether they own boats or not, are committed to the Corinthian traditions of yachting.

Robert Heller

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10 reviews of San Francisco Yacht Club

Business Details

Tina C. Lundh

415-435-9133

[email protected]

98 Beach Road,Belvedere,CA,94920,United States,

Business name : San Francisco Yacht Club

Founded in 1869, The San Francisco Yacht Club is the oldest club on the Pacific Coast. The original anchorage and clubhouse were located in San Francisco near Mission Rock, but inadequate depth of water and increasing industrial growth in the area resulted in a move to Sausalito. Waterfront property was purchased and a new clubhouse erected, but it was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1897.

The rebuilt building is still standing and now houses a restaurant currently called Trident. Increasing ferry traffic and congestion contributed to a decision to move again in 1926. One group, headed by Commodore Clifford Smith, felt that Belvedere Cove would be an ideal location. Another group felt that the Club should move back to San Francisco and lease land from the City on the Marina.

After considerable discussion the Belvedere site was finally selected. Those who opposed the move resigned and formed the St. Francis Yacht Club. A small clubhouse on the Belvedere site was completed in 1934 and is still part of the present building.

Planning for the present 190 berth harbor was begun in 1933 and completed in 1957 when funds were available. The San Francisco Yacht Club, with its tranquil setting in Belvedere Cove and its superb harbor, is widely recognized as the premier yachting facility on the West Coast. It operates a year round facility including the harbor, a dry sail area, a full service restaurant and bar. The Club’s exterior and interior were completely remodeled in 2007.

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Sports | Sailing in Marin: Racing in prestigious…

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Sports | Sailing in Marin: Racing in prestigious Resolute Cup gets underway

New York Yacht Club's Resolute Cup: short course racing in 23-foot Sonars. (PAUL TODD/OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM)

Corinthian Yacht Club (Tiburon) fields first team to Resolute Cup including Jen Canestra (left), Daniel Thielman (center), and Auric Horneman. (Courtesy of Daniel Thielman)

New York Yacht Club's Resolute Cup: short course racing in 23-foot Sonars. (PAUL TODD/OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM)

As the 2024 sailboat racing season winds down the podium is still up for grabs at a key national regatta: the Resolute Cup, a biennial regatta sailed out of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Harbour Court (Newport, RI) venue. As the qualifier for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, sailing’s premiere international Corinthian big-boat regatta, the Resolute Cup is one of the most important amateur sailing events on the national racing calendar.

Some 28 clubs from around the country will send their top amateur sailors to duke it out on Newport’s Narragansett Bay from Sept. 9-14, sailing short courses in 23-foot Sonars. Representing the Corinthian Yacht Club (Tiburon), Daniel Thielman, skipper, will race with his team including Jen Canestra, Auric Horneman and Nick Voss.

Thielman has been on a winning streak this year, taking multiple championships in the Melges 20 class where he’s also the defending world champion; he also won the 2024 IC37 National Championship in a talent- stacked fleet.

This year, however, marks the first time that his club has fielded a team in the Resolute Cup motivated by Thielman’s goal to qualify and compete in the prestigious NYYC Invitational Cup.

“Last year, members of our Corinthian Yacht Club purchased an IC37 in hopes of someday qualifying and competing in the Invitational Cup,” Thielman, a Tiburon resident, says. “After a year of preparation, we have a team that is ready to make our qualifying bid in the Resolute Cup. My trimmers – Jen and Auric – are my most trusted teammates for over 10 years of racing Melges boats together. We hope that adding Nick as a tactician, with his many years of junior, college, and yacht club team racing experience, will give us the edge we need to be competitive in all aspects of our sailing.”

Larkspur resident Scott Sellers will be fielding a team from the Little Traverse Yacht Club (MI), where he grew up sailing. Sellers and his family are avid sailors; his 16-year-old daughter skipper Merritt is a junior at San Domenico. Merritt, along with crew 15-year-old Elsie Schroeder from Corte Madera (Redwood High) recently won the C420 North Americans, a significant national high school event.

Sellers has twice previously raced the Resolute Cup and has team-raced for the St Francis Yacht Club at Harbour Court so he’s familiar with the territory.

Sellers has put together a crew of long-time racing friends including Holt Condon as tactician, Patrick Farrell who crewed for him at the 2016 Resolute Cup, and Merritt Keffer, a J70 sailor who was a trimmer on the first women’s America’s Cup team in 1995.

“For me the Resolute Cup will be a lot of fun, really good competition, and a unique experience so I was excited to do it again this year,” Sellers says, all the while cautioning, “As a team we have not been able to practice at all; our first day sailing together in a long time will be on the practice day. But I’ve sailed a lot of Sonars between the team racing and match racing I have done at Harbour Court over the years, so I feel comfortable in the boat. In 2016, the Resolute was sailed half in J70s and half in Sonars; even though I had a J70 at the time, I think we did better in the Sonar!”

Thielman acknowledges that racing in the Sonar, a symmetric displacement boat, will be the biggest obstacle that the CYC team faces in the Resolute Cup.

“Every boat we own, and every fleet we compete in has been asymmetric kites by design,” Thielman says. “We have had limited practices on J22s to prepare, but with our aggressive championship race schedule in other fleets, we are mostly going to be winging it with a symmetric kite. We have combined as a team more than 450 days on the water in the past year alone, so we hope that somehow translates into success!”

San Francisco Yacht Club (Belvedere) has competed in five Resolute Cup events since 2010, taking a podium place in 2012 (third overall). Heading up the team is skipper Shawn Bennett (Tiburon), a veteran Resolute Cup competitor. He is joined by crew Matt Frymier (Belvedere), Molly Carapiet, and Greg “Radar” Felton (Tiburon); the team will be looking to best their previous Resolute Cup results.

From Mill Valley, Kennedy Placek will be racing for the first time with a team skippered by Tracy Usher representing the St Francis Yacht Club. Placek started sailing in Optis when she was eight and began competing when she was ten, sailing through high school (she attended Branson) and eventually sailed at Stanford where she was an All-American and captain of the sailing team in her senior year. Now 28 and fully involved with her career, Placek says she finds little time to sail these days so is looking forward to racing the Resolute Cup.

“Hopefully I will be good enough!” Placek smiles. “I will be doing bow. I am mainly used to sailing dinghies. I have done some J22 sailing, and I don’t have experience in the Sonar, but I was a crew in college so obviously some of the skills are transferable. I went from sailing almost every day and every weekend to essentially nothing post-grad so I’m mostly looking forward to just being out on the water!”

Sellers says each of the three teams from the Bay will be rooting for each other regardless of the battle on the water.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun being around a lot of friendly faces including Bay Area faces even though we will be competing against each other. On the racecourse between races, you can share notes and help each other recognizing that you are competing against many other clubs so there’s room to be friendly with your local teams!”

Teams will sail a rotation against each other until the top 14 are broken out sometime on Saturday to sail in medal races worth double points. Camaraderie is a key component of the Resolute Cup; nightly social activities are hosted on the grounds of the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court.

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A Parade Of Festive Illuminated Boats Will Set Sail On The SF Bay This Holiday Season

St. Francis Yacht Club's annual Lighted Boat Parade will take to the San Francisco Bay on December 15, 2023.

San Francisco’s annual Lighted Boat Parade returns this Friday, December 15th, at 6 pm. This beloved holiday event hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club dates back to 1994 and is a welcome sight along the waterfront every year.

A procession of about 2 dozen illuminated boats will set sail from Pier 39 around 6 pm and cruise along the waterfront to Crissy Field. Once they reach Crissy Field, the lighted boats will turn around and sail back to Pier 39. The lighted boat parade is a beloved tradition and great for enjoying holiday lights in a uniquely coastal way. The procession goes leisurely, taking about 2-3 hours. You can bring a picnic and watch the glowing boats for the evening. Just don’t forget some layers and a blanket to keep you warm.

The best viewing is along Pier 39, the parking lot east of St. Francis Yacht Club, the Marina Green, Crissy Field, and Aquatic Park. If you have a boat, then be sure to grab a front-row seat right on the water. The St. Francis Yacht Club is members-only, so the public has no viewing opportunities inside the yacht house.

If you miss the procession on the SF Bay, consider catching the San Mateo Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 16, at 5 pm. The best viewing is along the berm in front of the Coyote Point Yacht Club. You can also check out Winter Fest in Sausalito, which hosts a boat parade on December 9 starting at 6 pm .\

About the St. Francis Yacht Club

The St. Francis Yacht Club began in 1927 as an offshoot of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which dates back to 1869 . In the 1920s, a debate emerged between its members about relocating the club to San Francisco from its original location in Sausalito. After all, this was pre-Golden Gate Bridge, and it was a long commute across the Bay.

The Marin County club members resisted the move, and the club eventually split into two groups : The San Francisco members started the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, and the Marin County members relocated the San Francisco Yacht Club to Belvedere. These days, the two clubs have a great relationship, and many members belong to both.

The St. Francis Yacht Club hosts the Rolex Big Boat Series every year, which is known as a premier regatta on the West Coast. The event happens every September, bringing hundreds of sailors to San Francisco.

By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn

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Inspiring Talk at the St. Francis Yacht Club

• Post author: The Little Optimist
• Post published: 24/07/2024
• Post category: Blog
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Yesterday, the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club hosted a memorable “Wednesday Yachting Luncheon,” featuring an inspiring talk by Greg. Kathy Trafton, Vice Chair of the Wednesday Yachting Luncheon and Special Speakers Series, expressed her gratitude for Greg’s impactful presentation. She noted, “You are an inspiring speaker, it was a pleasure to hear about your life and the tremendous things you are doing. I wish you all the best in your endeavours!”

Founded in 1927, the St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) has a storied history rooted in a commitment to the maritime heritage of San Francisco. Established when members of the San Francisco Yacht Club decided to relocate their clubhouse from Sausalito to Belvedere, California, the club sought to escape the growing commercial activity of Sausalito. Today, the St. Francis Yacht Club stands as the inspirational center of boating activities in the region and a leader in yachting internationally.

The club’s mission is to promote camaraderie, sportsmanship, and tradition within a premier yachting environment. This rich heritage provided the perfect backdrop for Greg’s compelling story of overcoming severe health challenges. His journey of resilience and positivity resonated deeply with the audience, embodying the values the club holds dear.

Greg’s story is a testament to thriving through adversity and inspiring others to do the same. His words at the St. Francis Yacht Club left a lasting impact, motivating many to be better, happier, and more compassionate individuals. The event exemplified the club’s mission to be a beacon of inspiration and leadership in the yachting community.

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St Francis Sailing Foundation Supports First Regionally-Focused ODP Clinic

Jack Sutter & Charlotte Versavel rip it up on the Bay

Without a doubt, a 2017 highlight for experienced youth sailors was the first regionally-focused Olympic Development Heavy Weather Clinic held in September and hosted by the St Francis Yacht Club (with the support of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation and the Belvedere Cove Foundation). 40 youth sailors ages 15-20 from around the country attended the 3-day camp. Significantly, it was first time that US Sailing extended participation in its training camps to local regional programs.

The goal was to have ODP coaches and sailors work alongside the local sailors and coaches to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing on both levels. Participants were on the water from 10-2pm daily sailing 29ers, Lasers and Nacras, followed by a debrief. Coaches included Grant Spanhake, Kevin Hall, David Liebenberg, Dane Wilson, Caleb Paine, Mark Andrews and Pete Melvin. Here, San Francisco Bay Area sailors Jack Sutter, Charlotte Versavel, Will Glasson and Chloe Holder reflect on their experience.

15-year old Jack Sutter from Benecia, Calif., is a member of the St FYC and RYC. He’s a sophomore at St. Patrick-St Vincent High School. Jack sailed the clinic in the Nacra 15 with crew Charlotte Versavel.

“Our coaches, Leandro Spina and Pete Melvin (designer of the Nacra) were always helpful and we learned so much from them. The boat is very new and there are many different ways to sail it. It’s exciting to sail a new boat design where you are allowed to discover new techniques and the fastest way to sail the boat. The coaches helped us refine our upwind and downwind sailing as well as tuning and adjusting the boat for its best performance. The boat has so many ways to depower and we learned all about it in very descriptive powerpoint presentations and morning meetings.

Rigging under watchful eye of Caleb Paine, Olympic bronze medalist

The coaches were always around for questions no matter what class they were teaching. Each day Charlotte and I had many questions and we always discovered something new. The conditions at the city front were completely random. I’ve never sailed upwind with 90 degree hot air in my face on San Francisco Bay! The second day we had more wind but the last day was nuking and choppy. In the afternoon of the last day we sailed the boats across the bay to Richmond Yacht Club. It was very windy and sketchy but the best downwind sail ever! Charlotte and I were so stoked on sailing the city front and ripping around the Bay!”

14-year old Charlotte Versavel from Palo Alto, Calif., is a member of the St. FYC and RYC, and a 9 th grader at Palo Alto High School. Prior to the ODP Clinic, she and Jack practiced every weekend for over a month out of St. FYC, and were excited to compare their boat speed and maneuvers to the rest of the Nacra 15 fleet. The pair are aiming to represent St. FYC and the United States at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

“We were happy to find that our maneuvers were overall much better than most of the teams, and that our upwind boat speed was also really good. Downwind, Jack and I were unbeatable, which was awesome, especially considering the amount of time we have been sailing together, and the experience we have as a team. By observing the other teams, Jack and I figured out how to  improve our accelerations a lot. We also learned that we will need to work more on our racing skills. The coaches, especially Pete, Fuzz, Adam, and Leandro, were really helpful, answering and explaining our questions and encouraging us to try new things on and off the water.

ODP training on the San Francisco city front

Jack and I want to thank the Foundation for providing us with coach and safety boats in the lead up and during the clinic. We would like to thank the Club for hosting the clinic, and for allowing us to keep our boat and trailer in the lot for over a month. We are grateful to US Sailing for putting on the Clinic and to Pam Healy for organizing it. We thank our coach Adam for challenging us to try out new things, and also our parents for driving and supporting.”

16-year old Chloe Holder is from San Anselmo, Calif., and is a junior at Redwood High School. She’s been sailing since she was 9 and currently sails out of St. FYC. She is looking forward to participating in college sailing in the future, so the clinic was an awesome opportunity for her.

“I learned a ton. We had amazing coaches and it was really great to compete against some of the best kids in the US. We had meetings every morning before sailing, and were able to apply what we learned in the boat. Every team improved greatly throughout the course of the weekend. It was an incredible opportunity and I learned a lot. Thanks to the St. Francis Sailing Foundation for sponsoring such a fantastic clinic.”

Caleb Paine shares his winning tips…

15-year old Will Glasson is a sophomore at Palo Alto High School and a junior member at St. FYC. He’s originally from Maine but has lived in California for the last six years. He started out sailing Opti’s at the Ventura Yacht Club then joined Molly Vandemoer’s program at the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (Palo Alto, Calif.) when he moved to the area two years ago. There he got into FJ’s and Club 420s. About a year ago he started in the 29er Program at Richmond Yacht Club where he got hooked…

“It was probably the best decision I have made in my sailing career as it has opened up so many more opportunities. Since then I have attended CISA and competed in Midwinters West, US nationals, and 29er Worlds. The ODP Clinic was my first time sailing with my new partner, which faced us with many challenges such as communication, timing, and defining roles, all of which we improved greatly over the weekend with the help of all the great coaching we were receiving. By the end of the weekend, we were pretty much able to keep up with the rest of the group which was extremely rewarding.

ODP sailors experience all conditions on SF Bay

It was really refreshing to sail on city front and awesome to have such high-level coaches and sailors and a venue like StFYC. This allowed for one of the most productive clinics I have participated in. Thank you so much to everyone at US. Sailing and StFYC for putting a great clinic.”