The San Francisco Bay Folkboat Association
© 2000, Dieter Loibner All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind prohibited without written permission.

SFBFA Hall of Fame

Fleet Mentor Program

To this day, the SFBFA is the largest and most active fleet of Nordic Folkboats outside of Europe. The reasons for this prolonged success of more than four decades can be found in a lucky combination of circumstances.

• People - The class was always blessed with enthusiasts who care and put on first-rate events.
• Venue - San Francisco Bay is the ultimate playground where Folkboats can show off their stuff. They simply don't get rattled by the fresh breeze and strong current - unlike some of the modern fou-fou boats. Plus the Bay offers sun and wind AT THE SAME TIME, a dream for immigrants from northern Europe.
• Foresight - The trust of SFBFA officers in the guidance of the Scandinavians who governed the Nordic Folkboats as a one-design class. Purism paid. No heads, no inboard engines, no kites.

Our story began when the first Folkboats appeared in 1955 and banded together in the SFBA in 1957. Already one year later, the Folkies had grown to such a strong class that the Yacht Racing Association, which ran most of the races, granted them one-design status. Encouraged by the boom times ­ in 1961, 42 of 46 registered Folkboats showed up for more than 5 races ­ the SFBFA got the creative itch and came up with a slew of events that now are happily copied here, there and everywhere.

• They sponsored the first Wednesday night race series long before shrinks prescribed active stress-release for the workforce.
• They showed off their antics in front of a merry shore-side crowd in the 4th of July race.
• They did a race with LeMans start. The Folkboat variation was more fun and less dangerous: all participating crews brought their sails in bags to the Golden Gate Yacht Club bar. When the gun sounded, they had to down a beer before running to their boats at the dock to hank on the sails and race across the bay to Sausalito.
• They let the ladies take the helm in the Lipstick regatta, a quarter century before the world salivated over the first all-women team in the America's Cup.
• They were the first to sell out a harbor cruiser, which motored along the City front to bring spectators closer to the action during the first Wednesday night race of the season.
• They were the first class to invite rockstar skippers for a regular class event. (Tom Blackaller was one who participated. He never won, but rumor has it he ate all the sandwiches on the boats he steeredŠ)
• Another fun event is the annual Angel Island cruise on Easter Sunday, where Terry Holmes uses an antique camera to take funny pictures of Folkboaters, their friends and families as they are posing on the lawn of hospital Cove before they descend on the scrumptious buffet.
• The marquee regatta is the San Francisco International Cup, which is held in odd years and is the largest Nordic Folkboat event outside of Europe. Visitors from Folkboat Meccas like Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Germany are invited to race the top locals.

Folkboat sailing is an educational process with so much fun that even schools in Denmark and Germany have adopted it as part of their curriculum.

• You learn to wait for your turn when ordering drinks at the bar.
• You meet people who may consider taking the stern of a starboard tacker.
• You learn how to beat up on the local Knarr fleet (take a cue from Folkboat alumni such as Tom Reed, Sean Svendsen, Mickey Waldear, Knud Wibroe, Dick Griffiths and John Werner)
• You learn to negotiate the bay in conditions that have fou-fou boat sailors curl up in front of the fire place with a blanket and their favorite Harry Potter tome.
• You don't have to screw around with a chute. (The famous less-is-more-lesson.)
• You get to enjoy a million-dollar-view of the City when you recline idly like a mermaid on the bow during the run.
• You learn that in an emergency there is nothing quite as good as a cool one in the bilge.

1958, 59 - Willie Jensen in Amber (USA 93*)
1960 - Henry Walraven in Lorio (USA 55)
1961 - Knud Wibroe in Snaps (USA 65)
1962 - Richard Griffith in Kestrel (USA 60)
1963 - Kruus Caroe (skipper) and Oliver Everett (Owner) in Debonair (USA 36)
1964, 65, 66 - John Warner in Windy (USA 75)
1967 - John Niesley in Kestrel (USA 60)
1968 - Dennis Greathouse in Alice (USA 70)
1969 - Don Oestreicher in Galante (USA 92)
1970 - Peter Esser in Debonair (USA 36)
1971, 72, 73 - Chuck Kaiser in Folly ( USA 16)
1974 - Gordon Waldear in Folksong ( USA 95)
1975 - Chuck Kaiser in Folly (USA 16)
1976 - Kate Funk in Filur (USA 74)
1977 - Mickey Waldear in Folksong (USA 95)
1978 - Don Wilson in George A (USA 72)
1979 - Don Kieselhorst (skipper), Jim Bliss (co-owner) in Odin (USA 36, lost on the rocks at St. FYC)
1980 - Ralf Morgan in Rodhaette (USA 79)
1981 - Jerry Langkammerer in Volker (USA 76)
1982 - Mickey Waldear in Folksong (USA 95)
1983, 84 - Chuck Kaiser in Folkdance (USA 103)
1985 - Otto Schreier in Galante (USA 92)
1986 - Jerry Langkammerer in Volker (USA 76)
1987 - Chuck Kaiser in Folkdance (USA 103)
1988 - Mickey Waldear in Folksong (USA 95)
1989 - Tom Reed in Thea (USA 108)
1990, 91 - Otto Schreier in Galante (USA 92)
1992 - Tom Reed in Thea (USA 108)
1993 - Bill DuMoulin in Windy (USA 75)
1994, 95, 96, 97 - Tom Reed in Thea (USA 108)
1998 - Peter Jeal in Polpero (USA 113)
1999 - Ed Welch in Freja (USA 111)
2000 - Peter Jeal in Polpero (USA 113)
2001 - Tom Reed in Freja (USA 111)
2002, 03 - Bill Madison in Frihed (USA 76)
2004, 05, 06 - Peter Jeal in Polpero (USA 113)
2007, 08 - Don Wilson in Windansea (USA 106)

Top skippers
Chuck Kaiser, Tom Reed - 7 wins each
Peter Jeal - 5 wins
Otto Schreier, Mickey Waldear, John Warner, Don Wilson - 3 wins each

Top boats
108 - 6 wins
113 - 5 wins
16, 75, 76, 92, 95 - 4 wins each

Kick-ass Lady skipper
Kate Funk, 1976

*possibly a duplicate name, so no guarantee for the accuracy on that number

Fleet Mentor Program

 The SF Bay Folkboat Fleet has a program to assist new, current and even potential owners with questions about their Folkboat, racing and even finding a boat.  If you own a Folkboat and want to start racing, here is what can help with:

• Finding experienced Folkboat crew

• Review your boat’s, running rigging, hardware and placement of such things as fairleads, etc. to help optimize ease of handling and performance

• Help tune your boat on the water

• Help you locate parts.  We keep an inventory of used Folkboat parts (typically hardware, but also includes booms and even masts, when available).

Every year, the Folkboats typically have a one-design start at the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) mid-winter series.  (The series races the first Saturday of November through March.)  This has traditionally been a great series for a new skipper to get valuable on the water racing experience accompanied by experienced sailors from the fleet.  The mid-winter conditions are typically much more benign than the 15+ knots we typically race in on San Francisco Bay. 

We periodically run other “one off” regattas to also get new skippers out on the water.

Why do we do this?  A fleet that has new members is a healthy fleet.  A competitive fleet is a healthy fleet.  A healthy fleet is a happy fleet.  We’re a happy fleet and want to stay that way.

Contact the individuals below by phone or email with questions.

Chris Herrmann email (415) 783-4303

Peter Jeal email (415) 824-3116