Jack Ford (left) of the South Beach Yacht Club and Ben Ford (right) of the Great Pond Yacht Club
When Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run to left field at AT&T Park, there’s a good chance it’ll take out a window at the South Beach Yacht Club.
South Beach has transformed over the last 20 years from one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods to become the hipster Mecca of the West Coast. Back when it is was still block after block of dilapidated warehouses and shuttered shipyards, The South Beach Yacht Club formed in this neighborhood, one of the city’s warmest.
One of the club’s early members was Ben Ford’s uncle, Jack. Now, Jack, his son John, and his grandson Chris race their Catalina 30 on San Francisco Bay. Two years ago they won the Catalina 30 Nationals. The GPYC and SBYC friendship stretches all the way back to our founding — we used the SBYC bylaws as a model for our own, and we see the SBYC’s strong junior sailing program as something to aspire to.
During a recent trip back home, Ben brought with him one of GPYC’s burgees to swap with the SBYC. The next time you find yourself in San Francisco, take a ride down the Embarcadero to South Beach Yacht Club, and see our beautiful burgee hanging proudly in the clubhouse. Don’t forget to say hi to Jack, and tell him Ben sent you!
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