Race at SYC

Competition, speed, strategy, tactics, precision boat handling and excitement; that is sailboat racing.  Our races are usually started and finished from our committee boat, Mercury, positioned to ensure the best racing conditions available alongside the scenic Marin Headlands adjacent to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Our bar and galley are open after all races, providing a great venue for post-race analysis and bragging.

We manage our events with an on-the-water race committee and resources that are second to none. In addition to club races we support other organizations including the MMBA (Master Mariners’ Benevolent Association), CBRA (Classic Boat Racing Association), Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association, and J105 Fleet 1.

Our year-round calendar has races for seasoned campaigners and novice racers that include:

Chili Midwinter series: This monthly Sunday series from November through March is the perfect way to beat the winter blues, keep your race crew in trim, and introduce new members to the team. Complimentary chili back at the clubhouse warms you up following an afternoon on the water!

Jaws Pursuit Race: The first race of the Spring, start and finish off the club deck and race around San Francisco Bay. It’s a pursuit race with a low-stress staggered start and “simultaneous” finishes. SYC members compete for the “Jaws” trophy. Sign up, get competitive, improve your skills, and have fun on the water and back at the club.

Twin Island Series: Three races in April, July, and October with a “Bay Tour” course around Alcatraz and Angel Island.  You choose your direction around the islands with a club deck finish followed by “Island-style” festivities at the club.  As a tribute to our youthful club founders there are additional ‘junior crew trophies’ to be won.
Thursday Night Sunset Series: Eight races on alternate Thursday nights in Spring and Summer help set aside work pressures for mid-week competition, capped off with the drinks at the bar and burgers. The Spring Series starts late April and the Summer Series starts late July.
SYC Auxiliary Woman Skipper’s Regatta: Women-only at the helm, but you can have any mix of crew you like. This is a multi-division, single race regatta, aligned with Women’s Equality Day, and has courses suited to the wide variety of boats that take part. A lively post-race party at the club is always guaranteed.
SYC Classic Boat Invitational Series: A series for the elder statesmen of the CBRA; Birds, Bears, Knarrs, Folkboats and IODs in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Winter One Design Series: Organized in conjunction with RegattaPRO this four-race series from November to February is targeted at the various J-fleets in the Bay along with some of their sporty cousins and allows skippers to keep their crews “race-ready” over the winter.
Master Mariners Annual Regatta: The Sausalito Yacht Club continues its long tradition of supporting this spectacular event on Memorial Day Weekend, supplying Mercury and the Race Committee to officiate. Approximately 70 wooden vessels from 19 to 122 feet and of traditional design and construction (most built before 1950) participate. The race begins at the City Front near the St Francis Yacht Club around noon and finishes off the east side of Treasure Island.
Rear Commodore’s Race to Vallejo: An excellent party at the Vallejo Yacht Club, preceded by a 20 mile downwind race / cruise from our home waters close to Angel Island in mid-June.

Check out still photographs by SYC member Roxanne at https://roxshots.smugmug.com/Sail-Boat-Racing/SYC-Racing.