Theresa Bradner was not only the first woman to be Commodore at St. Francis Yacht Club, but she is an avid sailor as well. Her competitive sailing endeavors began at 26. She went for a first sail on Lake Superior, bought a Hobie 18 (to practice on), made connections at a couple local yacht clubs, and began crewing on Lake Minnetonka. She went on to found the Minnesota Women’s Sailing team, serving as treasurer, and did fundraising to purchase a boat for the team to compete in the International Women’s Keelboat Championship. In 1999, I moved to San Francisco – a location that she specifically chose so she could sail year- round! She has actively campaigned her for 15 years in San Francisco Bay in the J/105 Fleet #1. In addition, she occasionally coach sailing classes at St. Francis Yacht Club.
Events
She has competed in the following races:
• 2003, 2005, 2006 Bermuda International Race Week: Trim (J/24), Bow (J/24), Helm (J/105)
• 2005-2019 J/105 Fleet #1 Walloping Swede fleet series: Helm
• 2006-2008 Mayor’s Cup: Crew (Lovell 2006, Arms 2007-2008)
• 2006-2019 Rolex Big Boat Series: Helm
• 2007 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship: Helm, 1st place in race #2
• 2010 NYYC Hinman Masters Team Racing: Crew
• 2016, 2017, 2018 NYYC Grand Masters Team Racing: Crew
• 2019 NYYC 175th Anniversary Regatta: Helm (J/105)
St. Francis Yacht Club hired San Francisco architect Willis Polk to design their clubhouse which was then built on land rented from San Francisco by the Club on the jetty off of Crissy Field in the Marina District, San Francisco, on landfill created for the 1917 Panama Pacific International Exposition. Polk died before the blueprints could be completed but his office finished them. The Mediterranean Revival-style building is the yacht club closest in proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoys views from the Bridge to Alcatraz Island and beyond.
The St. Francis sponsors the St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, the Isadore Zellerbach Perpetual Trophy, the City of San Francisco Trophy, the Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, the San Francisco Cup and about ten other annual trophies and cups.
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