2019 REGATTA
2019 Regatta Race Packet & Instructions are now posted here: 2019 RACE PACKET & INSTRUCTIONS, STARTING TIMES & COURSES
Information & Registration Form
The Master Mariners Benevolent Association is pleased to invite you to participate in this year’s Master Mariners Regatta to be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019, Memorial Day weekend. The registration deadline is May 1st. New this year, you can register and pay online by clicking the button below, or by downloading the registration form and mailing it in per the instructions included.
LUNCHEON
The Regatta Luncheon is at the historic St. Francis Yacht Club on the Francisco waterfront, on Friday, May 17th. We will present Race Packets with handicaps, race rules, start times, and your 2019 MMBA Regatta Burgee.
REGATTA AND PARTY
Starts in front of the St. Francis on the following Saturday, May 25th. The post-race party will be held at the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda.
HANDICAPPING
We have a new method for determining handicaps as presented previously, based on fastest historical speed for each boat, in seconds per nautical mile. New member vessels will be assigned an initial handicap by the handicap committee for their first year of participation and reviewed as needed until a fastest speed record has been established. The final assigned handicap will be determined by the handicap committee. The hope was to come up with a simple, transparent, objective approach that addresses some of the concerns with the handicapping method used in years past. Ours is a uniquely diverse regatta in terms of boats, skill levels, and competitiveness. Achieving a handicapping method that is heartily agreed to by everyone is a lofty goal, and we’re trying our best. This is a work in progress. I’d like to encourage members to enjoy the thrill of racing on the bay, but to consider the MMBA regatta first and foremost a celebration of wooden boats. More details can be found HERE. Unfortunately we do not have the list of historical fastest times ready to publish yet.
PARADE CLASS
There is a new Parade Class this year as an alternative to the traditional classes (Marconi, Gaff, Ocean, Bear, etc.). This class will be open to all MMBA boat members regardless of boat size or rig. The purpose of the Parade Class is to offer MMBA members who are reluctant to race but interested in participating in the tradition of the Regatta the opportunity to do so. The course will be shorter, start AFTER the last competitive class, and will sail on the west side of Treasure Island so that they are clear of the racers finishing on the east side. The entry fee to the Parade Class will be the same as all other classes and include one ticket to the Sponsor’s luncheon at the St. Francis YC. The Parade Class participants will also receive an MMBA burgee with the year of participation, and are encouraged to attend the post-regatta party, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday evening potluck, all at the Encinal YC.
BERTHING & DINNER RESERVATIONS
Please plan to bring your boat to the Encinal Yacht Club (EYC) after the Race for the post-race party and dinner. Overnight berthing accommodations at the EYC are free, and prepaid dinner tickets are $30 and can be purchased by filling out the reservation form. Limited dinner tickets at the door are $35. Please fill out the ENCINAL BERTHING AND DINNER RESERVATION FORM HERE and mail to Terry Klaus with a check.
We encourage you to stay until Monday and enjoy the traditional Pot Luck dinner among vessels at the EYC docks on Sunday May 26th.
REGISTRATION & MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION
For insurance reasons, ALL boats in ALL classes are required to be active MMBA Members and to register for the regatta, in order to participate in the regatta and post-regatta festivities.
If you have already renewed your MMBA Membership for 2019, then click here to register and pay for the regatta:
If you have NOT yet renewed your MMBA Membership for 2019, Then click here to register and pay for your membership and the regatta:
PREFER NOT TO REGISTER ONLINE? If you do not register online by Friday, April 12th, you will receive a printed registration form in the mail. You can download the traditional registration packet HERE.
For questions, contact Regatta Chair Cory Lancaster, regatta@sfmastermariners.com