St. Francis Yacht Club Hosts 2023 Spring Wingding and Pacific Coast Wingfoil Championships

St. Francis Yacht Club has announced the 2023 Spring Wingding Regatta, open to all wingfoil competitors, to be held April 14-16, 2023. The event builds on the success of 2022’s No Strings Attached Regatta — the first major wingfoil event held on the West Coast — and will also serve as wingfoiling’s inaugural Pacific Coast Championships.

Race organizers are planning a dynamic three-day regatta featuring a combination of course slalom racing, distance racing and freestyle competition. Participants will compete along the San Francisco Cityfront in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, with up to five races per afternoon. In addition, on Saturday, a distance race known as the San Francisco Bay Challenge will take place. This race includes a long windward-leeward Bay tour course that will take competitors from Crissy Field to Berkeley and back. Windsurfers and kitesurfers are also invited to compete in the San Francisco Bay Challenge.

“Wingfoiling has exploded in popularity in the world of watersports enthusiasts, and the simplicity of the gear is drawing new people to this kind of on-the-water activity. St. Francis Yacht Club has always been at the forefront of wind-driven board sports like windsurfing, kitesurfing and kitefoiling, fostering world champions such as Daniela Moroz and Johnny Heineken. Now, we’re committed to growing the sport of wingfoiling and we look forward to seeing the next generation of champions emerge in this thrilling new sport,” StFYC 2023 Commodore Beau Vrolyk said.

The Bay conditions on its doorstep are ideal for the event. “Steady afternoon breeze in the 15-20-knot range, combined with challenging currents and fetch that can kick up surfable waves, surrounded by sublime Northern California scenery, make Spring Wingding a bucket list regatta for eager competitors.”

Regatta Chair Geoff Headington said, “San Francisco Bay will provide epic conditions for wingfoilers from around the world and we’re looking forward to bringing this community together for some fun, fast competition and camaraderie with post-racing parties each night.”

Registrations are now open. Register by March 31, 2023, to receive a discounted entry fee.

The Notice of Race is available here.