Videos by Don Wieneke
The Starting Line
The Largest Fleet in our 17-Years
Just imagine what our anchorage and harbor looked like in the early days of locating to Belvedere Cove, filled with lovely classic vessels. Fast forward to August 23, as we again hosted the Belvedere Classic Regatta and the Great San Francisco Schooner Race, this year with a record sign up of 25 boats, including 6 from our Club.
Since its founding in 2008, the Great San Francisco Schooner Race, which now includes the Belvedere Classic Regatta, brings together sailors and maritime history aficionados to honor the craftsmanship and stories behind these extraordinary vessels, and to watch them compete on the water in the second of three classic regattas on the Bay.
This year’s race started calmly off Angel Island on a bright sunny day in a flood with an 8-12 knot breeze. After beating upwind to their respective weather marks, all three fleets headed down to Blossom Rock where the winds behind Alcatraz piped up to 20+ knots. It was time to change sail configurations to complete the course!
The Classics 1 division (PHRF <196) was tightly contested with the first 6 boats all finishing within 9 minutes. First place went to Jim Borger and crew on Neja. SFYC Director Richard Pearce and Mark Pearce finished 2nd aboard Fjaer.
The Classics 2 division (PHRF ≥196) was even closer with the first 4 boats all finishing within 5 minutes of each other. First place went to Bill Claussen and crew on Cuckoo. Lachlan MacLean and Jock MacLean finished 2nd aboard Oriole.
The schooner division was a bit more spread out, but every year the start times are adjusted to get them closer together as this division races in pursuit style. First place went to Kennett Wadsworth and team on Wiletie. Jeff and Janet Hawkins, who have been competing here since 2010, came in second on Jakatan.
Mark your calendar for Aug 22 so you don’t miss this in 2026- the boats, the race, the BBQ, and the music.
Our Sponsors
As a community of people dedicated to the preservation of these classic yachts and the tradition of sailing on the San Francisco Bay, we are lucky to have the support of key friends and partners.
Photos by Phil Mills
Photos by Helen Galli
Jim Borger and the NEJA crew accepting first place in the Classics 1 division with SFYC Staff Commodore John Swain and Vice Commodore Jeff Cusack.
Carl Flemming, accepting on behalf of Bill Claussen for CUCKOO taking first place in Classics 2 division, with SFYC Staff Commodore John Swain and Vice Commodore Jeff Cusack.
Friends of WILETIE accepting for Kenneth Wadsworth taking first place in the Great Schooner Race.
Jeff Hawkins and Janet Strauss who took second place in the Great Schooner Race on JAKATAN, with SFYC Vice Commodore Jeff Cusack.
Sean and Jack Reynolds and crew of ROXY, accepting honors as the newest participating schooner, with SFYC Vice Commodore Jeff Cusack and Staff Commodore John Swain.