A guide to the Yacht Racing Association records, 1947-1962
Processed by: Historic Documents Department staff.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2012
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-561-7030
Fax: 415-556-3540
SAFR_Historic_Documents@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr
A Guide to the Yacht Racing Association records
HDC0646
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2012, National Park Service
Title: Yacht Racing Association records
Date: 1947-1962
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0646 (SAFR 4859)
Owner:
Yacht Racing Association
Physical Description:
2014 items
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Yacht Racing Association records, 1947-1962 (SAFR 4859, HDC 646), is comprised mainly of newsletters, announcements and
scrapbooks from San Francisco Bay area yacht clubs. Don Seaton, the Recorder for the Yacht Racing Association was the compiler.
The collection is processed to the item and/or file unit level and is open for use without restrictions.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other
case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Note on Description: The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information.
Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material
and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors
in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide. P
lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.
[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item
Number], HDC0646 (SAFR 4859), Yacht Racing Association records, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
This collection was transferred from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area museum collection to the San Francisco Maritime
National Historical Park museum collection.
Historical or Biographical Note
In 1935, The Yacht Racing Association (YRA) was formed as an association of yacht clubs. In 1937, the Sun, Moon and Snipe
dinghy fleets formed an association that was formalized in 1938 as the Small Boat Racing Association (SBRA). It provided racing
for small one design dinghy and keelboat fleets on the protected waters of the Bay and the lakes of Northern California. The
YRA and the SBRA provided programs of racing that satisfied the yachting community for the next twenty years.
Then, in 1957, the International 110, Clipper, Mercury and Zephyr fleets, having tired of the SBRA traveling to so many distant
lakes, organized seven races on the Bay. In 1958, this group formally organized itself as an association of yacht clubs calling
itself the Small Yacht Racing Association (SYRA). The SYRA grew rapidly during its first few years and then stabilized throughout
the 1960s with entries ranging between 130 and 160.
In the 1960s, growing pains were caused by prosperity and fiberglass and created problems between the three associations.
Even though the associations were comprised of the same yacht clubs, there was no method of coordinating the increasing demands
for the same dates, places and sponsors for races.
In 1966, the first major effort to solve the problem of rapid growth and the changing mood of the competitors was the formation
of the Chartered Associations of the YRA. These groups were formed to represent the respective demands of one design, handicap
and measurement racing rules. However, the YRA By-Laws and Standing Rules reinforced isolation from the other associations
and prevented rapid response to changing needs. As the larger and senior association, the YRA exerted the most influence over
the control of yachting activities and policies.
In the early 1970s, conflict between the associations increased as they were operating in isolation from one another and other
craft were competing for the water.
In 1975, a small group of individuals accomplished is now taken for granted. Accomplishments included the creation of one
set of yacht club sailing instructions on waterproof paper, the establishment of definitive courses, an increase in the number
of sponsoring clubs, the making of an inclusive Master Racing Calendar scheduling process, a merger of all offshore activities
into the Offshore Yacht Racing Association, the arrangement of a signaling course system, a commitment to promptly mailing
race results, increasing responsiveness to membership, formation of the Race Management Committee and the realization of sound
financial status. Final steps in the unification process were revising the By-Laws and Standing Rules.
The new YRA became an association of individuals, represented through their clubs by Delegates. These Delegates plus Charter
Association Directors, elected the Board of Directors.
Today, the primary role of the Yacht Racing Association (YRA) of San Francisco Bay is to organize and support competitive
racing in Northern California. It promotes, coordinates and administers organized racing and functions as sponsor of nearly
30 races a year. The YRA ensures races happen in a fair, safe, fun and competitive way for racers at all levels. It records,
coordinates and schedules over 800 individual races on the San Francisco Bay.
In addition to race management, the YRA maintains buoys, addresses appeals through a committee, processes Performance Handicap
Racing Fleet (PHRF) Certificates and acts as the liaison for the United States Coast Guard and local government organizations.
The YRA is a membership organization for individual sailors and businesses that serve and support the sailing community. The
YRA acts as an advocate for sailing in the Bay and is responsive to the racing needs and desires of its members. It can organize
lobbying efforts as necessary in the interest of all racing sailors. Members can also belong to one of four different charter
associations each of which represents a specific type of racing or types of boats: Handicap Divisions Association (HDA), the
One Design Class Association (ODCA), the Offshore Yacht Racing Association (OYRA) and the Wooden Boat Racing Association (WBRA).
The Yacht Racing Association records, 1947-1962 (SAFR 4859, HDC 646), is comprised mainly of newsletters, announcements and
scrapbooks from San Francisco Bay area yacht clubs. Don Seaton, the Recorder for the Yacht Racing Association was the compiler.
The collection is processed to the item and/or file unit level and is open for use without restrictions.
The scrapbooks contains newspaper clippings, periodical articles, ephemeral items and photographs. Most of the newsletters
are from the Corinthian Yacht Club, the Elkhorn Yacht Club, the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the Saint Francis Yacht Club and the
San Francisco Yacht Club.
The 54 legal size file folders are arranged alphabetically by file title and the 14 scrapbooks are arranged chronologically
in flat oversize boxes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Yacht clubs
Yacht racing--California--San Francisco
Yacht racing--records
Yachting
Seaton , Don
Yacht Racing Association
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
newsletters
Scrapbooks