More San Francisco Sailing History on the Bay
The thing about history is that there is more of it every day. In a recent ‘Lectronic Latitude we posted just a few from a treasure trove of historical photos uncovered by the Wulzen family. Their father, Frank Wulzen, was a photographer and captured many terrific photos from the ’30s and ’40s, including the one below, which they believe is the Star of France and likely the last square rigger being towed out the Gate for scrap. The story appeared in the San Francisco Examiner on November 3, 1932.
The San Francisco Examiner says the Star of France was built in Ireland in the 1880s, was brought around Cape Horn, and was one of the last iron “Star” ships launched. When the Alaska Packer fishing fleets ended their trips, which sailed from the docks by Alameda’s Fortman Marina to Alaska, they idled in Alameda for many years.
Chris Boome sent in one of his favorite photos from yesteryear — a classic schooner sailing on San Francisco Bay.
Boome purchased this shot of the centerboard schooner CHISPA at a StFYC auction in the 1980s. The caption says she is one of the great schooners of the ’80s (the 1880s) and shows her power-beating across the channel to Meiggs Wharf, which in the day was an exceptionally long, L-shaped pier built by Henry Mieggs. It stretched 1,600 to 2,000 feet into the Bay by North Beach, off the northeast corner of San Francisco.
The caption goes on to say, “Contrary to popular impression, these big centerboarders were at their best in a real breeze and going to windward, and boats of the CHSPA‘s general model dominated the races on San Francisco Bay in the days when waterline length was the only consideration in handicapping.”
As Scoop Nisker used to say on KFOG, “If you don’t like the news today, go out and make some of your own.”
This is the Complete history and ultimate fate of the Star of France. She was not broken up for scrap. http://www.cawreckdivers.org/Wrecks/Olympic.htm
The Star of France was cut down to a fishing barge in 1932 and towed to San Pedro by the freighter, James Griffiths. Since her rigging was cut down prior to her tow south, this photo, if it is of the Star of France, was taken while under tow, likely coming back into SF Bay given the poor reefing of her sails. Louis Rothernberg did try to buy her, but the sale fell through and she was ultimately purchased by the Hermosa Beach Amusement Co., renamed Olympic II and anchored off Hermosa Beach until 1940, when she was moved to about three miles off San Pedro. It was here in September 4, 1940 that the Japanese freighter, Sakito Maru, ran her down in the fog and sunk her with the loss of 8 lives. The wreck rests in 100′ and remains a popular diving site. Steve [email protected]