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St. Francis Yacht Club

700 Marina Blvd

San Francisco , CA 94123

(415) 563-6363

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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The Sailing Museum & Hall of Fame

365 Thames Street

Newport, RI 02840

401.324.5761

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In San Francisco, It’s Rich Club, Poor Club

By John Branch

• Sept. 4, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO — Twenty years ago, before its failing finances were rescued by the billionaire Larry Ellison and before it won the America’s Cup, the Golden Gate Yacht Club was just a forlorn building at the end of a quarter-mile jetty. To get there, its members had to pass by the exclusive St. Francis Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious in the world.

The Golden Gate and the St. Francis shared the best views of the bay — the Golden Gate Bridge to the left, Alcatraz to the right, the city perched on hills behind. But in the cloistered world of yacht clubs, they could not have been more different.

The 200 or so Golden Gate members had a key to the building, which meant that its bar was subject to the honor system, but never to last call.

“So you left Union Street with a beautiful lady,” said Bill O’Keeffe, a member since 1972. “And you’d say, ‘How’d you like to come down to my yacht club?’ ”

Dues were $25 a month. Dancing atop the bar was encouraged. Friday night parties sometimes ended with swims in the boat marina, though not always in swim attire — or attire of any kind. Members occasionally lobbed water balloons or shot water guns at boats entering or exiting the marina, especially those flying the colors of the St. Francis.

“It had prestige,” O’Keeffe said of the neighboring club. “We actually shunned prestige.”

That became hard to do when Ellison walked away from negotiations with the St. Francis, where he was a member, to sponsor his quest to win the America’s Cup in 2003. Ellison soon accepted a desperate plea from Norbert Bajurin, the owner of a radiator-repair shop in San Francisco, to join the nearly bankrupt Golden Gate next door.

And when that combination won yachting’s biggest prize in Valencia, Spain, in 2010, on Ellison’s third try, the Golden Gate Yacht Club became the sixth — and unlikeliest — winner in the trophy’s 160-year history.

Golden Gate 1, St. Francis 0.

That day in Spain, Ellison stood behind Bajurin and put his hand on his shoulder as they awaited the winner’s news conference.

“I could feel his beard on me, and I could feel his breath,” Bajurin said. “And he said, ‘I wonder what the St. Francis is thinking now.’ ”

When the 34th America’s Cup begins on Saturday, pitting Ellison’s Oracle Team USA against Emirates Team New Zealand in a best-of-17 series that could last two weeks, the Golden Gate and the St. Francis will sit, side by side, sharing the best views of the races on San Francisco Bay.

In the coming weeks, if the trophy is successfully defended, it will be carried to a party at the little clubhouse at the end of the spit. But first, it will pass the large yacht-club home of corporate titans and Olympic sailors, past a club with an esteemed history of winning every major sailing race in the world, except the biggest one.

Let’s Make a Deal

The St. Francis had attempted to win the America’s Cup in 2000. The member Paul Cayard skippered AmericaOne into the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, a sort of semifinal to determine who would challenge the defending champion in the America’s Cup. AmericaOne lost.

By then, Ellison, the founder and chief executive of Oracle, had built his résumé with major sailing victories for a team that he financed and sometimes skippered. He bought the assets from the AmericaOne team with the intention of creating the top challenger from the United States for the next America’s Cup, in 2003.

It was presumed that the St. Francis, which Ellison had joined several years earlier, would shepherd his quest. Negotiations were sticky. The two sides were unwilling to cede too much control.

The club wanted to name the boat. It refused to guarantee that Ellison, should his team win the America’s Cup, would be chosen to defend it if and when the race went to San Francisco Bay. It rejected a request to form a board within the St. Francis board of directors that would exclusively handle matters related to the America’s Cup.

Bajurin and other members of the Golden Gate Yacht Club heard whispers and read news media accounts of the failing negotiations. The club was $453,000 in debt.

“Everybody was having a good time, and no one was paying attention to the books,” Bajurin said.

Keys were collected. Booze was locked up. Food service was eliminated. Desperate for cash, the club talked of adding a vending machine, because it might bring in $300 a month. Members who had not quit were asked to advance money to save the club. Some paid. More quit.

Bajurin and other club officers debated whether to place the Golden Gate in bankruptcy or to shutter it entirely. With nothing to lose, Bajurin tried to reach Ellison at Oracle. He never heard back. He found an e-mail address for Bill Erkelens, who led Ellison’s sailing team.

“Golden Gate Yacht Club Available,” he wrote in the subject line. “Our club may be your answer.”

The response came the next day. Erkelens wanted to talk.

“I remember looking at that e-mail for almost two hours, thinking you’ve got to be kidding me,” Bajurin said. “They responded!”

A deal was signed less than three months later, in early 2001. For Ellison, it gave him a club willing to acquiesce to his requests, a club with a location as good as that of the St. Francis.

“We were very flexible, and very broke,” said Ron Matlin, the Golden Gate’s longtime accountant.

The deal saved the Golden Gate. Ellison and his team of 100 immediately joined the yacht club — each paying the $1,000 membership fee and a year’s worth of $90-per-month dues. Bills were slowly paid. Debts were eased. Membership grew again. The clubhouse was spruced up.

“If we hadn’t done the Oracle deal, the club wouldn’t be here,” Matlin said. “No question.”

Ellison is one of the world’s richest people. Bajurin is a Croatian immigrant, more of a fisher than a sailor, a former police officer who took over his father’s radiator shop and now has nine employees. He drives a Nissan truck.

Their unusual pairing spawned a book — “The Billionaire and the Mechanic,” by the San Francisco Chronicle reporter Julian Guthrie — published this year. And it brought the America’s Cup to San Francisco Bay for the first time, right in front of two clubs that share one spit.

Worlds Apart

Both clubs have been decked out for a summer’s worth of warm-up races. The narrow parking lot between them holds temporary bleachers facing the bay, backing to the boat-filled marina they share.

Visitors might not ascertain which club is hosting the event, even if they were allowed inside the ultra-private St. Francis. Past the signs instructing guests to stay outside until escorted in by a member and past the security desk, a large model of Ellison’s 72-foot America’s Cup catamaran sits in the lobby. There are viewing parties during races. The club’s Web site offers “America’s Cup Information” just above the pronouncement that it was recently named the No. 1 yacht club in the country.

If there is America’s Cup envy, the signs are not obvious.

“No one says it,” Brian Madden, a rare member of both clubs, said of the St. Francis. “But you know it’s there. You can sense it.”

He sometimes wears a Golden Gate Yacht Club sweater into the St. Francis, receiving some playful jeers. “It’s like winning the Super Bowl,” Madden said. “We could have had it, but we just gave it to the other team.”

Members of both clubs said there was no hostility between the two. Rivalries are usually between equals, and no one believes that the St. Francis and the Golden Gate have ever been the same thing, beyond location and an affection for open water.

The St. Francis has roughly 2,300 members, and initiation fees — kept private — are said to be as high as $30,000, less for younger prospects as it tries to attract a more youthful crowd. It is not unlike a fancy golf or tennis country club, with a marina and bay view instead of courts and grass. (And, a few hours away by boat on the San Joaquin River, is club-owned Tinsley Island, with full facilities and space for 100 boats.)

Cellphones are not permitted. Neither are hats. It has a full dining room — jackets required — and its kitchen might be larger than the entire 7,000 square feet of the Golden Gate. There is a relatively casual bar and grill on the lower level, and a sprawling mix of rooms — a chart room built like an estate library, meeting rooms paneled in dark wood, walls lined with trophies and boat models and historic photographs and paintings. There is a gift shop. The lower level has locker rooms, a workout room and a sauna. There are set hours each day, and the schedule is flush with regattas, dinners, auctions and wine tastings.

In the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 2011, it had revenue of $12.9 million, according to Internal Revenue Service filings.

The Golden Gate, by comparison, reported revenue of about $662,000 in 2011. Membership has grown to about 425. Initiation fees are about $2,500, and monthly dues are $125.

“They’re 10 times the size,” the longtime Golden Gate member Ned Barrett said of the St. Francis. “And have 10 times the resources.”

Amid its newfound prestige — no longer shunned, but sheepishly noted — the Golden Gate tries to cling to its blue-collar sensibilities. Gone, perhaps, are the days when a member’s birthday would be greeted by a woman jumping from a cake — one a few years ago then moved to the roof to promote and sell her various talents — but members hope to retain its sleepy, everybody-knows-your-name personality. Hours of operation are flexible. The general manager Bob Mulhern will close the doors at night if there is no one around. Some days, only a few members stop by.

The building was closed for several months this year and renovated in time for the America’s Cup crowds, with new floors, furniture and an elevator, mostly. Still, jeans are allowed. So are cellphones and hats. And while dancing atop the bar occurs with less frequency, it is still welcomed.

“At the St. Francis, you would be put on probation for six months,” said John Yelda, a well-known charter-boat captain and sailboat racer who is a member of both clubs.

Yelda keeps his boats in the marina behind the clubs. (One way to tell club members apart? Golden Gate members are the ones working on their boats; St. Francis members usually hire someone else, several people said, only half joking.) His routine often includes an afternoon beer at the Golden Gate and dinner at the St. Francis.

“We have two yacht clubs, side by side,” Yelda said. “This is a blessing.”

The difference, to him, is one of taste.

“The Golden Gate is like a little boutique hotel,” Yelda said. “It’s very friendly, small, intimate. Everybody knows you. St. Francis Yacht Club is more like a Four Seasons hotel. It has a lot more members, and has exquisite service. You don’t know everyone there, but the staff knows you.”

Madden, a 45-year-old electrician, joined the Golden Gate 20 years ago, when he was single and had a hand-me-down boat he bought for $4,500. He joined the St. Francis 10 years later, where he subsequently married, where his children celebrate birthdays, and where the family eats formal holiday meals at Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

People with a lot of money, Madden said, merely want the nicest things. That goes for houses, cars and yacht clubs.

“If you have the money, you’re not going to the Golden Gate,” he said. “You’re going to run to the St. Francis.”

But not everyone. David Anderman is a weekend sailor and the general manager for Lucasfilm. He has been credited with negotiating the company’s $4 billion acquisition by Disney in 2012. Married with two daughters, ages 9 and 11, Anderman looked carefully at both clubs a couple of years ago before choosing the Golden Gate.

“Really, it’s all about where you want to be and who you want to be with,” he said.

His family sat at a table nearby, overlooking the sailboats racing on the bay. Out the corner window, they could see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance and the St. Francis Yacht Club next door.

“It doesn’t hurt that it’s the home of the America’s Cup,” Anderman said. “I have to say, half the time you come out, they’ve got the America’s Cup trophy sitting right there.”

He scrolled through his phone and showed photographs he had taken with the three-foot trophy, made of sterling silver in 1848.

Bajurin stood near the bar, grinning with pride. The day’s races were soon over, but the day’s 120 members and guests were in no hurry to leave.

“Look at these guys,” he said. “They’re having the time of their lives. They’ve got the America’s Cup.”

His smiling eyes filled with tears.

“Right now, we’re running with it,” Bajurin said. “We’re having a good time. If we lose, yeah, we’ll be sad. But we’ll always be part of history.”

Latest News

• Foundation Community Claims 2023 Cl ...

Foundation Community Claims 2023 Club Trophies

The St Francis Sailing Foundation is very proud of it’s community of athletes who took home important trophies for 2023 awarded by the St Francis Yacht Club this week. Mike Martin, StFSF board member and his crew Adam Lowry shared the Jerome B. White Yachtsman of the Year Trophy. Grantee Hans Henken won the ROBERT C. EVANS MEMORIAL TROPHY, and grantee Daniela Moroz won the St. Francis Yacht Club Yachtswoman of the Year Trophy. Way to go!

The ROBERT C. EVANS MEMORIAL TROPHY recognizes the most outstanding achievement of a skipper racing under the StFYC burgee in a national or international small boat championship regatta during the preceding year. Hans Henken  has spent the majority of his career competing on the US Sailing Team in the 49er class with a goal of making it into the Olympics – for which he qualified last weekend! Hans Henken will be representing the US in France this year. He was a gold medal-winner at the 2023 Pan Am Games, but he’s not limited to small skiff racing. In SailGP’s F50 catamarans, he served as Flight Controller on Team USA during the 2023 season. A proud Member of StFYC, he never fails to enter regattas under our burgee.

The ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB YACHTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR TROPHY consists of the Presto Cup won by W.F. Stone at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, with a base donated by Karl and Lois Limbach. It is awarded to the woman Member or partner of a Member for her contribution to the sport of yachting in the broadest sense of the definition. Not only did  Daniela Moroz  qualify the United States for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women’s Kite category, but she was also the first American sailor to do so this year, and the first American kitefoiler ever. Additional accomplishments this year include winning Gold at the Pan Am Games, and first in the Women’s Kite class at the Miami and Clearwater stops of the US Open Sailing Series. At the World Sailing Championships, she was fifth overall. Year after year, this accomplished sailor continues to impress us with her victories, determination, and talent.

JEROME B. WHITE YACHTSMAN OF THE YEAR TROPHY is awarded to the Member who has made the greatest contribution during the preceding calendar year to the sport of yachting in the broadest sense of the definition. Mike Martin and Adam Lowry will share the Jerome B. White Yachtsman of the Year Trophy in 2023. This duo of longtime StFYC Members and sailing partners had another amazing season on the water. They won the 505 World Championship, held here at StFYC. It was a tough challenge right up to the final race. They also won the Pre-Worlds. They topped the podium at the Elvstrom-Zellerbach Regatta and the Columbia Gorge Regatta. At our Fall Dinghy Regatta, they were third in class. Though we know them well as podium-topping 5O5 sailors, they are also accomplished kitefoilers. At the US Open Sailing Series at StFYC, Mike was first in the Open Kite, just ahead of Adam, who was second – so they both got to share the podium in that sport, too!

Content: courtesy St Francis Yacht Club Photo: courtesy StFYC, L to R: Adam Lowry, Mike Martin, Linda Moroz for Daniela Moroz, Hans Henken

Smooth Sailing: The 5 Best Yacht Clubs in San Fran

San Francisco is known for its beautiful coastline and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. It's no wonder that the city is home to some of the best yacht clubs in the country.

These clubs offer a variety of amenities and services to their members, from sailing lessons to social events to fine dining.

Yacht clubs in San Francisco range from traditional and exclusive to more laid-back and welcoming. Each club has its own unique atmosphere and caters to different interests and lifestyles.

Some clubs focus more on racing and competition, while others prioritize leisurely cruises and social gatherings.

In addition to the sailing opportunities, yacht clubs in San Francisco offer spectacular views of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Many of these clubs are located in prime waterfront locations, providing members with easy access to the bay and all the exciting activities it has to offer.

Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner looking to learn, there's a yacht club in San Francisco that's perfect for you.

Joining a club is a great way to meet new people, enjoy the beauty of the bay, and take part in a timeless tradition that has been a part of San Francisco's culture for centuries.

1. St. Francis Yacht Club

The St. Francis Yacht Club is a stunning venue for yachting events, with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The club has sailing lessons for kids and hosts many water sports events throughout the year.

The staff and members are open, friendly, and helpful to all visitors.

The restaurant serves excellent food with a great wine list, and the workout facility on-site is fantastic. The club is a San Francisco institution that is well worth a visit.

2. Golden Gate Yacht Club

Golden Gate Yacht Club is a fantastic destination for yacht enthusiasts. The club boasts a stunning view of the San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The staff is professional, helpful, and friendly, making the experience enjoyable for all.

The food and drink are of high quality and are served with great service.

The club hosted the America's Cup on the Bay, making it a must-visit location for sailing enthusiasts. The club is also a great venue for private events and parties.

3. Treasure Island Yacht Club

Treasure Island Yacht Club is a top-notch club that offers a great location for yacht enthusiasts to dock and explore.

The club's Port Captain, Bill, is a pleasure to work with and makes planning cruise ins a breeze.

The club's annual New Year's cruise is a must-attend event, complete with delicious clam chowder.

If you're looking for a great yacht club to visit, be sure to stop by Treasure Island Yacht Club.

4. Mariposa Hunters Point Yacht Club

Mariposa Hunters Point Yacht Club is a local gem that offers a laid-back atmosphere with reasonable prices. The club has a bar, kitchen, stage, and outdoor patio with a great view of the bay.

They offer sailing classes for kids and host numerous events and parties. It's a members-only club, but guests of members are welcome.

The club is located within walking distance of AT&T Park and the Chase Center. It's a great place for private parties and a good spot to tie up for a few hours.

If you're looking for a fun and friendly yacht club, Mariposa Hunters Point Yacht Club is definitely worth checking out.

5. South Beach Yacht Club

South Beach Yacht Club is a must-visit for boaters in the area. The club boasts well-appointed facilities and a lively atmosphere that is sure to impress guests.

With stunning views of the Bay Bridge from the expansive second-level deck, the club is an ideal spot to spend the day or evening.

While the food may be a bit bland, it is nicely prepared, and the friendly members make up for any shortcomings.

If you're lucky enough to get an invite, a visit to South Beach Yacht Club is definitely worth your time.

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St. Francis Yacht Club

Stories from the St. Francis Yacht Club

St. Francis Yacht Club 700 Marina Boulevard San Francisco, CA 94123-1044 (415) 563-6363

Website: www.stfyc.org

ST. FRANCIS YACHT CLUB BECOMES NSHOF FOUNDING MEMBER

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) :

BACK TO YACHT CLUB STORIES PAGE

St. Andrews Yacht Club is in the process of progress

P ANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club went up in flames back in November, this week the fire was reported to be accidental and the case is closed. Now yacht club members are figuring out their next steps.

St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club members are picking up the pieces and looking toward the future.

“The yacht club burned down November 12th back in 2023,” said Michael Wynn, St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club Commodore.

With the investigation into the fire now closed they are working on plans to rebuild.

“The membership here and as well as our community partnership have been working tirelessly to try and rebuild the club for the benefit of our community and our membership,” said Wynn.

The St Andrews Bay Yacht Club is in the process of progress, the club’s commodore says they are in the works of getting back on their feet from the fire. One of the ways they are doing so is by extending onto their sailing center.

“Since day one we’ve been dedicated to making sure that our staff have a place to come back to work and our loyal members who have been here for generations have a place where they can come enjoy,” said Wynn.

Wynn says what’s left of the yacht club will soon be torn down.

“We are hoping to unveil what the future is going to look like this summer,” said Wynn.

As they rebuild the city is making improvements in the area too. Earlier this year, we reported Panama City fire officials faced challenges extinguishing the flames due to nearby fire hydrants being out.

City leaders say they are in the process of fixing that problem.

“We have almost 2000 hydrants around the city,” said Jonathan Hayes, City manager of Panama City. “You know back at the end of last year around November we had 80 to 85 that were out. By the end of year, we [have] gotten that down to the low 70s and as of today we have around 53 or 52 that are out right now we have 53 out. hydrants being out is a normal part of infrastructure in any city or county.”

As the city addresses the hydrants, yacht club members look forward to new plans, and a new building, to celebrate in the future.

Club members say there is no final date for when the new club will be built, however, they are working as fast as they can.

St. Andrews Yacht Club update

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