Rites of Spring 2026: A Record-Breaking Renewal at Oakland Yacht Club
If the 2026 sailing season was looking for a bellwether, it found a resounding one last Saturday, March 21, at the Oakland Yacht Club’s annual Rites of Spring. This year’s edition, the first race of the YRA PHRF Bay Series, didn’t just signal the return of spring — it signaled a major surge in Bay Area racing enthusiasm.
We were thrilled to see 36 boats registered for the event, nearly doubling our participation from last year. But the real story wasn’t just on the entry list; it was on the starting line. In a rare “perfect attendance” showing, every single one of the 36 registered boats made it to the starting area east of Treasure Island.
Tactical Starts and the I-Flag
The conditions provided a classic Central Bay challenge, and the race committee kept the sailors on their toes. We flew plenty of flags this year, most notably the “I” flag. With Rule 30.1 in effect, the “round-the-ends” requirement ensured a clean, competitive start for all fleets, effectively banning dip starts and keeping the pressure high from the first gun at 1255 hours.
Fleets were sent on two different courses, ranging from 13.8 to 14.5 nautical miles. The sight of 36 boats maneuvering through the flood and the surprisingly windy Slot was a testament to the skill level present in this year’s fleet.
Determination and Course.
The afternoon was a test of endurance and tactical patience. While five boats ultimately had to retire, the remaining 31 showed incredible grit, tirelessly working the shifts and current to reach the finish line.
In Fleet A (Santana 22), Hank Lindemann’s Anemone took the top spot in a tight, two-and-a-half-hour-long one-design battle, finishing only eight seconds ahead of High & Dry. Fleet B (Non-Spinnaker) saw Nicholas Crescimanno’s Wylie 31 Custom Moonshadow claim victory, leading a large nine-boat fleet across the line.
Over in the spinnaker divisions, Cal 20 Can O’Whoopass dominated Fleet C, proving once again that these small boats are fierce competitors in Central Bay breeze. Don Ahrens’ Farr 36 Red Cloud took honors in Fleet D, while Nesrin Basoz’s J/111 Swift Ness lived up to her name, securing the win in the high-performance Fleet E. The multihulls were represented by Truls Myklebust’s Explorer 44 Caliente, which posted a blistering elapsed time of two-and-a-half hours to take Fleet F.
Celebration at OYC
The fun didn’t end at the finish line. At 1830 hours the festivities moved to the Oakland Yacht Club, where racers shared stories of the day’s tactical triumphs and “almost” moments over drinks and awards.
The 2026 Rites of Spring wasn’t just a race; it was a celebration of a growing, vibrant sailing community. If this turnout is any indication of the year to come, the S.F. Bay Series is going to be one for the history books.
You can see the full results here.