The Australian 18 skiffs are in San Francisco this week for a regatta. They kicked off the competition today and will be racing through Thursday including a big downwinder against the kitesurfers and windsurfers. Don’t miss it.


More than 150 boats joined in this year’s Sperry Topsider NOOD regatta in San Francisco this past weekend including my favorites, the F18 catamarans. With 20 entrants, the 18 foot catamarans were one of the largest classes in attendance. Click on any of the pictures below to see more regatta photos.



After sailing from China, the yachts racing in the Clipper Round the World race are taking a stopover in San Francisco. I didn’t get a chance to see them race in, but here are a few pictures of them in the harbor. The yachts are scheduled to depart on the next leg to Jamaica on April 19th.



I missed the start of the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race this year, but caught a few pics of the sailors as they were coming in. The race is a 3-way competition between the windsurfers, the Australian 18 skiffs, and the kitesurfers to see who can sail the downwind course from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge in the shortest time.
Here’s Steve Sylvester crossing tacks with the Adventure Cat while sailing back upwind after the race.

And here are the kitesurfers taking the fastest way back upwind – a ride in the RIB.

Today’s racing at College Sailing Nationals was the Women’s semi finals. Teams were competing for 9 spots in the finals taking place later this week. The day started with racing on the B course to offer some protection from the flooding current. Racing in the afternoon was on the A course just off the yacht club.
Today was the last day of the Spring Dinghy regatta at St. Francis Yacht Club. There was a huge fleet of 505s, some 29ers, some small trimarans, and a few other dinghys. The breeze was from the southwest so the windward mark was set just off the breakwall near the yacht club. The offshore winds divided the fleet with some boats going up the right side of the course and some up the left.
It seemed like everyone in San Francisco turned out to welcome the Maltese Falcon to the SF. The bay was covered with sailboats. All of a sudden the three tall masts appeared out of the fog just of Baker Beach. She sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, then past Alcatraz, and then on to Treasure Island. As she passed, all the other sailboats turned to follow. They were no match for the larger boat’s speed and were quickly left fighting against the current.
At low tide today (2pm) the 300ft mega yacht, Maltese Falcon, will sail under the Golden Gate Bridge. At any other time there might not be enough room for her giant masts to fit under. The sailboat is owned by Tom Perkins of Kleiner Perkins venture capital fame. Head down to Crissy Field to check it out or check back later to see my photos.