St. Francis Yacht Club to host Star Worlds

by Scott Marx on 12 Sep 2006 The St. Francis Yacht Club will proudly host the 2006 Wells Fargo Private Bank Star World Championships from September 27th – October 8th. The regatta, which will feature some of the world’s greatest sailors racing in one of the most exciting fleets in history, is sponsored by Wells Fargo Private Bank.

For more than 150 years, Wells Fargo has helped generations of families build, manage, preserve and transfer their wealth. Today, Wells Fargo Private Bank is the financial partner of choice for individuals and families with complex wealth management and planning needs, providing unparalleled service and support. Wells Fargo Private Bank is well-versed in managing the intricacies of a significant legacy.

'The Star is one of the most prolific keelboats in the world for a reason, quite simply, it is a incredible boat to sail,' stated Richard Pfaff, Commodore of the St. Francis Yacht Club. 'The 2006 Star World Championships will feature some of the most exciting racing on the bay this Fall.'

Designed in 1911, the Star is the oldest Olympic class having first been used in competition in 1932 and it is still at the heart of Olympic sailing today. Supported by a worldwide association the Star as a class is one of the best organized in sailing, with over 7,500 yachts built over its 80 year history and 2000+ actively racing today. Many of the world’s top sailors past and present have been involved in the Star Class. It’s list of former World Champions and Olympic medalists reads like the Who’s Who of yachting. But the class is made up of a variety of sailors of all ages and skill levels.

'For over 70 years the Star Class has represented the pinnacle of one-design racing. This reputation is built by its World Champions; names like Straulino, Knowles, Elvström, Conner, North, Ficker, Buchan and more recently Brun, Grael, Reynolds and Macdonnald. The Star Class is truly the class of champions,' commented Paul Cayard, Olympian and America’s Cup Helmsman. 'With more than 75 years of yachting and racing traditions, the St. Francis is excited to be bringing yet another world class regatta to San Francisco Bay,' he added.
The annual regatta schedule at the St. Francis is one of the most aggressive regatta calendars in the world. Part of the attraction of racing at the St. Francis Yacht Club is the excellent and challenging racing conditions unique to San Francisco Bay. Both physically beautiful and naturally demanding, the bay provides a racer with the ultimate in wind, current and weather conditions for truly competitive, exciting sailing.

The course will be set in the Berkeley Circle racing area of San Francisco Bay. The regatta will be governed by rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing for 2005-2008 (RRS) and the rules of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. Course types will be Olympic courses applicable to Stars such as the Olympic trapezoid (with outer loop or with inner loop). More information is located on the St Francis Yacht Club web site at www.stfyc.com.

About the St. Francis Yacht Club
Founded in 1927, the St. Francis Yacht Club is steeped in over 75 years of yachting and racing traditions. From the start, the St. Francis Yacht Club's membership roster has included many of the Bay Area's most prominent citizens and greatest sailors. Early racers for the St. Francis included such champions as L.A. Norris, Mark Fontana, Myron Spaulding, Arthur Rousseau, Painless Parker and Lester Stone. Today, it is names like Paul Cayard, John Kostecki, John Bertrand, Stan Honey, Morgan Larson, and Russ Silvestri who continue to keep the St. Francis name in the forefront of world-class sailing. The annual regatta schedule at the St. Francis is one of the most aggressive regatta calendars in the world. Part of the attraction of racing at St. Francis Yacht Club is the excellent and challenging racing conditions unique to San Francisco Bay. With the skyline of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, the St. Francis Yacht Club prides itself on being able to provide all visitors with every comfort and amenity while dazzling them with their surroundings.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $500 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,200 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the highest credit-rated bank in the U.S., receiving an 'Aaa' by Moody’s Investors Service – its top credit rating – and 'AA+' by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.