San Francisco Boardsailing Association

About the San Francisco Boardsailing Association

SFBA in a Nut Shell

The SFBA is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. Your annual membership dues (think of it as a donation) go entirely to support boardsailing in the Bay Area. NOBODY GETS PAID!! The Association is run totally by boardheads, for boardheads. The Board of Directors, who tirelessly give their time, would much rather be sailing than worrying about mailing lists, newsletters, and account balances. Many of them have to take precious vacation time to meet with government officials. It is very unusual for Board of Directors to show up at an evening board meeting with dry hair because they're always shredding up to the last minute before. So if things don't always go right: windtalker's down, check hasn't been cashed, or the newsletter is late, PLEASE BE PATIENT. We're doing the best we can.

The SFBA has been very active in the last few years. The Association was formed in 1986 and originally had 400 members and now the membership stands at 1,600. The recent re-activation of the Peninsula Chapter lead by Peter Lui and Bill Lennan combined with the activity of the Northbay Chapter and Crissy Field Alliance, have contributed to a recent surge in membership. The local chapters of the SFBA are where all the energy lies and where most of the issues threatening our access are addressed. Northbay Chapter
San Francisco Chapter
East Bay Chapter
Peninsula Chapter

These chapters are organized to best represent all the boardsailors' interests in the Bay Area. You don't need to join any specific chapter, but if your interested in contributing something back to the sport that gives you some much enjoyment, your help would be greatly appreciated. Get involved and help make windsurfing more enjoyable for everyone. The Association's goals are:

  • Promote Safety
  • Provide Education
  • Ensure Access
  • Improve Facilities

Facts About the SFBA

  • California not-for-profit organization with federal & state tax exempt status.
  • Active Membership of over 1600 members
  • Regular Newsletters during the sailing season (April through October)
  • Provide liability insurance for many local races
  • Support network for all the chapters SFBA

SFBA Accomplishments

    San Francisco

  • Boardsailing safety signs & bulletin boards at Crissy Field.
  • Crissy Field Windtalker located at St. Francis Yacht Club.
  • Windsocks on the beach
  • Beach Cleanups Racing Events
  • First Class Parties at the prestigious St. Francis YC
  • Portable Toilets at Crissy Field
  • Sponsored several educational presentations on boat safety with the Coast Guard, Hornblower Yachts, and the Harbor Pilots Association.
  • Provided input into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to ensure boardsailor's interests were reflected in the Crissy Field Park plan.
  • Working with the San Francisco Fire Dept Jetski water rescue program.
  • Helped to coordinate efforts of the USCG, GGNRA, & SFFD for rescues.

    East Bay

  • Berkeley Marina Windtalker
  • Promoted boardsailing improvements to the South Sailing Basin at Berkeley Marina, which includes: Restrooms & showers, Longer Docks, Additional Docks, Larger, Paved Parking Lots.
  • Ashby Avenue Beach Clean-ups
  • Monitoring City of Berkeley's Task Force for the North Waterfront Park Development.
  • Evening Racing Series

    Peninsula

  • Palo Alto Yacht Harbor Boardsailing Access Station Plan Approval - City of Palo Alto
  • Defeated San Mateo County's plans to eliminate the Season Pass for parking.
  • Installed boardsailing safety signs and bulletin boards at Coyote Point
  • Held annual beach clean-ups and put down pea gravel at Coyote & Third Ave.
  • Supported permit approvals for pending beach improvements at Coyote Point.
  • Monitoring Burlingame Hotel project located northwest of the Coyote Point launch area.
  • Amendments to the Candlestick General Plan to ensure Windsurfing access Candlestick Windtalker
  • Increased parking spaces close to the launch area at Candlestick.
  • Working with Gov. Agencies to remove the access restrictions to Flying Tigers.
  • Provided the first site specifically for boardsailing at Third Ave in Foster City.
  • Lobbied Foster City Officials to increase parking at Third Ave.

    Northbay

  • Monitoring Larkspur Landing access issues resulting from the San Quintin Prison expansion plans.
  • Beach Cleanups
  • Portable Toilet

These are briefly some of the major accomplishments for the SFBA in past several years. As the association enters its second decade there will be many more accomplishments, but not without the support of the boardsailing community in the form of active, interested individuals and a large supporting membership.

Comments, Suggestions? SFBA Webmaster (modified )