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SAN FRANCISCO, California - October 12, 2006 - The St Francis Yacht Club is proud to host the International Masters Regatta this weekend, sponsored by Fremont Bank. The regatta is a series of five sailing events over three days featuring master sailors from all over the country. 10 seasoned skippers, aged 60 years and older, and their highly experienced crews, aged 45 years and older, will take to battle on the San Francisco City Front in identical J105 sailboats.

The Fremont Bank International Masters Regatta is an internationally recognized event sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), each boat will include six crew of one skipper, fours sailors and the boat owner or representative.

The fleet, deep with talent showcasing skippers who have long records of success and achievement in sailing, will run for the honor of the Masters Regatta trophy. The friendly, but intense rivalry of master sailors as 2005 Masters Champion Malin Burnham (San Diego), and Dick Tillman (Indiana) continues in this racing festival. Also participating in this prestigious event is Commodore George R. Hinman Jr., representing the New York Yacht Club.

First awarded in 1976 in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial, the 500-pound, 5-foot-tall bronze trophy is topped by a life-sized American eagle and is one of the most coveted awards in the sailboat racing world. The skipper who wins the overall regatta will have his name engraved on the trophy, which stands in the St. Francis Yacht Club clubhouse.

Weather conditions forecast for the weekend on the Bay are light to moderate northwest winds, with highs in the low 70's, partial sun and some cloud cover. The schedule calls for a practice day on Thursday October 12, noon to 5:45pm; Friday, October 13: 1:00 first warning signals, two races; Saturday, October 14: Noon first warning signal, two races; Sunday, October 15: Noon warning signal for one race, followed by an awards ceremony at StFYC..

(For full results posted daily, visit www.stfyc.com, click on Regatta Information and Masters Regatta).

About the St. Francis Yacht Club
Founded in 1927, the St. Francis Yacht Club is steeped in over 75 years of yachting and racing traditions. From the start, the St. Francis Yacht Club's membership roster has included many of the Bay Area's most prominent citizens and greatest sailors. Early racers for the St. Francis included such champions as L.A. Norris, Mark Fontana, Myron Spaulding, Arthur Rousseau, Painless Parker and Lester Stone. Today, it is names like Paul Cayard, John Kostecki, John Bertrand, Stan Honey, Morgan Larson, and Russ Silvestri who continue to keep the St. Francis name in the forefront of world-class sailing. The annual regatta schedule at the St. Francis is one of the most aggressive regatta calendars in the world. Part of the attraction of racing at St. Francis Yacht Club is the excellent and challenging racing conditions unique to San Francisco Bay. With the skyline of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, the St. Francis Yacht Club prides itself on being able to provide all visitors with every comfort and amenity while dazzling them with their surroundings.