Opening Day Flags Bring Color to the Bay
We were hoping for sun, but it was in short supply for much of the day. Regardless, the Bay, boats, and good cheer were all there for sailors who headed out on the Bay for this past weekend’s Opening Day. A rabbi and priest were aboard the 1949 Trumpy motor yacht Aurora V anchored in Belvedere Cove to bless all boats that came by.
Opening Day is an over-100-year-old tradition with fleet blessings on Raccoon Strait organized by the Corinthian Yacht Club, and a Cityfront parade and blessing organized by the Pacific Inter-Club Yachting Association (PICYA). The PICYA will also be hosting the upcoming annual Lipton Cup competition among yacht clubs on June 13–15.
The theme of this year’s Opening Day was “Generations on the Bay,” with the older generation well represented by Hans Roeben of CYC, who just celebrated his 96th birthday in April. He’s spent many years at the helm of his beautifully varnished Baba 35 Helgoland.
If you’re looking to join a yacht club you could visit eight clubs in Alameda this coming Saturday at their Island-Wide Open House. Admission to all clubs is free. Check it out here.
If you didn’t get out for Opening Day this year, make June’s Summer Sailstice your own personal “blessing.” It’s a great way to make sure you get off the dock and spend time on the water. In the meantime, you can still raise your sails and get out on the Bay.
I read this some years ago after wondering what opening day started as… The tradition dates back to the 1890s when floating arks and pleasure boats from the Corinthian Yacht Club paraded out through the passage from the lagoon where they had spent the winter. Interesting stuff!