San Francisco Yacht Club Receives St. Petersburg YC Trophy

The San Francisco Yacht Club (SFYC) has been awarded the 2024 St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for outstanding race management at the 2024 Diversified Melges 24 World Championships. The award was given last Thursday, Feb. 6, during the annual US Sailing Awards banquet in San Diego. This is the first time SFYC has won this prestigious award since its inception in 1967. The SFYC joins Richmond Yacht Club (2001 — Byte Class North Americans) as the only Northern California yacht clubs to win the trophy. Representing the club to receive the trophy were Matthew Sessions (regatta chair), Jr. S/C Jenni Dailey (2024 commodore), Forrest Gay (director of sailing) and Mark Foster (regatta PRO).

The 2024 Worlds ran 12 fair races over five days, which came down to the final race to determine the winner. Shoreside hospitality included daily awards presented by local sailing heroes, the “Beer Boat” hydration station for the afternoon return sail, live music, tons of sponsor swag and prizes, morning weather briefings, excellent branding, delicious catering and the SFYC membership, which enthusiastically welcomed 150+ competitors. Nearly 100% of the 31 teams completed the post-regatta competitor survey, offering glowing feedback on the event.

“To say I’m thrilled would be a dramatic understatement,” Regatta Chair Matthew Sessions said of the award. He commented that 1,000+ hours of pre-regatta planning and onsite execution by dozens of volunteers were the reasons for the regatta’s success. The Melges Worlds occupied the SFYC campus for 17 days, choreographed down to the minute to minimize impacts on club operations while maximizing the experience for the competitors.

Chelsea Simms, owner of the Melges 24 Straightarrow, vice chair of Americas (International Melges 24 Class Association) and vice president (US Melges 24 Class Association) added, “On behalf of the Melges 24 Class, we congratulate the San Francisco Yacht Club on receiving the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy — an honor that is very well deserved. The 2024 Melges 24 World Championship was an exceptional regatta in every way, from race management to shoreside hospitality. The SFYC set a new standard, delivering an experience that exceeded Class expectations for sailors and spectators alike.

“As both a competitor and a Class representative, I can confidently say this was the best World Championship I have ever attended. The seamless execution, outstanding facilities and commitment to excellence at every level make it a model event for future Worlds.”

According to US Sailing, “The St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy is awarded to a local sailing organization for exceptional race management at a specific event. Among other factors, the comments of participating sailors weigh heavily in the selection of a winner.

“Emblematic of excellence in race management, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy was originally awarded by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in the late 1960s to recognize the club that ran the best regatta. The trophy was retired for a number of years, then was donated to US Sailing in 1977. The winner is selected on the basis of race management excellence, including evaluation by participating skippers.”

You can learn more about the award at US Sailing, and about the event at 2024 Melges Worlds.