Master Mariners Regatta 2011 on San Francisco Bay + Video

by Ariane Paul on 1 Jun 2011

Master Mariners Regatta 2011 Erik Simonson http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us http://http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us

The Master Mariners Benevolent Association today held its annual parade/regatta on San Francisco Bay and there were 100 pre-WWII sailing vessels that registered in fourteen classes. A visual treat for all and a great opportunity to see a host of these classics put through the paces.

There was a pre-start predicament in which the schooner Tiger tangled with the Farallone Clipper Eventide, and as a result Eventides rig came crashing down right in front of the St. Francis. No one was injured but Eventide was also holed on the starboard side.

The rest of the event, was, well, uneventful, even the weather gods cooperated and the rains which were present prior to the start gave way no pleasant sunshine before returning post race.

It was great to have an increase of participating vessels this year. I believe 77 signed up, though a few were DNS or DNF. I had the pleasure of crewing on the schooner Dauntless this year. Paul Plotts and his crew were very excited to come up from San Diego to join the regatta and love coming up to see their Bay Area friends.

Each year we see a slightly different group of vessels in the regatta. Some are returning with new owners. The increase in schooners this year was nice to see out on the water. The M-Class Pursuit was out there for the regatta this year looking grand. A favorite of mine, the small gaffer Mercy was back and looking good.

This year's MMBA T-shirt cover girl Bright Star took home a first place in its class as well as the Dead Eye perpetual and Ted and Laddie Hall were beaming at the awards party, along with all the first place winners who each won a magnum of Long Meadow Ranch Wine that was donated. The awards party raft-up had the most vessels I had seen at Encinal YC in years and was a lovely sight once the rain stopped and a rainbow was overhead.

A big thank you to our regatta sponsors and the club's that help us out for this race, Encinal YC for the raft-up and party, Sausalito YC for the race committee, and St. Francis YC for our sponsor/skipper luncheon. Next up is our Wooden Boat Show, Sunday, June 19th at Corinthian YC, our annual fund raising event for our benevolent foundation.