Summer Sailstice a Really Big Show

The Vallejo Race has long been touted as the largest race on the Bay, and one of the largest inland races in the nation. But in terms of number of participants, it’s no longer the biggest boating event. That title was usurped this last weekend when an estimated 400 yachts and 2,000 people took part in Summer Sailstice festivities at Treasure Island.

This is the 8th year for Summer Sailstice — the global celebration of sailing on the weekend closest to the summer solstice — and the third year for Treasure Island to host the main local celebration. All you really had to do to take part was just go sailing somewhere in the world Saturday or Sunday. But many yacht clubs, fleets and racing organizations have integrated Sailstice into local races, cruise-ins, raft-ups and so on — in the Bay, across the nation and around the world.

Besides all the sailors, a unique aspect of Sailstice at Treasure Island was how many non-sailors it attracted. With free admission, it was hard to get accurate stats, but organizers we talked to estimated that about a quarter of those who showed up were new to the sport. This is a big increase compared to how many new people attend boat shows. The estimate was corroborated by several brokers who had new yachts open for inspection. They reported that a number of folks admitted it was the first time they had ever been aboard a yacht.

But the shoreside activities were a big attraction of the weekend. There were five musical groups performing at various times, a boat building competition, a highly entertaining pirate lookalike fellow named Captain Jack Spareribs, and plenty of food and drink (portions of all concessions went to TISC’s community outreach programs). On the water, some 80-85 boats crowded into little Clipper Cove to drop anchor or raft up. YRA’s handicap, one-design and wooden boat fleets all used the weekend for ‘counter’ races in their seasons, and upwards of 125 dinghies — Lasers, V-15s, Optis and others — held races in (or just adjacent to) the Cove.

“Everybody we saw, sailors and non-sailors, was happy to be there — including us,” said Dave Moore of Cruising Yachts. “It  was a great day, a nice, relaxed atmosphere and a terrific crowd. I think this event is one of the best things to happen to sailing in a long time.”