Our History:

The current version of the Richardson Bay Yacht Club was founded in 1978 but despite our relatively recent past, we have claims to some of the earliest history of San Francisco Bay yachting.  Take our burgee, presented to us by the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association, it was first flown by the California Yacht Club of Alameda founded in 1893 and one of the five original clubs of the PICYA.

Then there is our name. An earlier Richardson Bay Yacht Club graced the Bay from 1936 to 1941, with their headquarters in the hulk of the Barkentine “Echo” beached in Richardson Bay. The rent was only $10 a month, but a rash decision, fueled by adult libations, led to the wreck’s purchase. Stormy weather and the ravages of time accelerated Echoʼs deterioration beyond any hope of restoration.

Her end came after a rip roaring party, when she was set afire to become her own funeral pyre. She burnt like paper right down to her waterline, but relieved of the weight of her topsides, off she floated to the far side of Richardson Bay on the next high tide. Despite the Coast Guardʼs best efforts to moor her, Echo broke loose for several more unauthorized voyages until the Corps of Engineers finally lost patience and took her off the Bay, threatening to bill the Club for their costs. This may have prompted the membership, some 150 active young sailors, to move en-mass to the San Francisco Yacht Club on Opening Day 1941, incidentally creating the single largest membership increase for the SFYC.

Our Club:

The RBYC is not a full service yacht club. We do not have a club house. We do not support racing teams. We do not have a junior program, but we are a fully supportive and active member of the PICYA, and many fellow clubs extend their reciprocity privileges to our members. Our Membership is currently around 90 and we do not anticipate ever growing beyond 150. We are best described as a pleasant group who all have some interest in recreational boating and who all value the friend-ships and fellow-ships berthed at our Club.

Some 15-20% of our members own a boat, and the RBYC has a proud record, in the decorated vessel contests of the PICYA Opening Day parade, winning first place twice in each of the power and sail divisions (see below), as well as picking up a number of 2nd and 3rd places over the years. A past RBYC Commodore has also served as Commodore of the PICYA. Another past Commodore is currently the senior safety officer of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary. Members share their fascinating experiences with us through our Website and our monthly newsletter, the STAR. You are encouraged to explore our Web Site at: www.rbyachtclub.com. Plus, Click the STAR link on our Home page to view our current STAR newsletter.

Club Activities & Entertainment:

The Club sponsors a program of monthly events. The News section of our website Home page will give you an idea of the scope of our activities. Events range from the formal dinner and dance of our Change of Watch ceremony in September to summertime cook outs and kayak races. We also cruise out to some reciprocating PICYA Bay Area yacht clubs. Other features and benefits:

• Instant enlargement of your circle of friends and contacts.
• An organized program of delightful and unusual social activities - the easy way to vary your routine and add a great deal of fun.
• Music and Dancing evenings with great bands in great venues.
• A chance to play on San Francisco Bay - boater or no, you’ll spend pleasant times on or near the water in the RBYC.
• We’re a Fraternity in the world wide yachting community. Our members have been welcomed in Yacht Clubs on both coasts, major inland lakes, in Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii and the South Seas and our burgee hangs proudly in Clubs around the world commemorating our visits.
• An opportunity to add a new social dimension to your life as you participate in RBYC activities and management.