Everyone belongs
Include every teammate, help new sailors learn, and build a program where people feel welcome on shore and on the water.
Archbishop Riordan High School
Find your
next tack.
Discover Archbishop Riordan's official fall sailing sport, hosted through the StFYC High School Sailing Program. This independent guide helps Crusader families learn, prepare, and connect with the official programs.
SCROLL TO SET SAIL ↓
THE R / ON THE BAY
Interested in the fall sport?
The Bay is our
classroom.
This guide helps prospective Riordan sailors understand the official fall sport, prepare for StFYC evaluations, and find the right official school and sailing-program resources.
Team before self
Show up, communicate, accept substitutions, help rig and de-rig, and put the team’s progress ahead of any one result.
Respect people & gear
Care for boats and sails, listen to coaches, support team parents, compete with sportsmanship, and leave every venue better.
FULL SENDWhy sail?
A sport for now.
A skill for life.
Sailing is athletic, social, technical, and strategic. It builds physical strength and agility while teaching physics, navigation, water safety, environmental stewardship, teamwork, and fast decision-making.
ATHLETICStrength, balance, endurance, and agility
STRATEGICWind, tactics, timing, and changing conditions
SOCIALTrust, communication, and a Bay-wide community
LIFELONGA worldwide activity you can enjoy for decades
Competitive sailing has been part of the Olympic program since 1900—and high school racing brings that same blend of skill, speed, and teamwork to the Bay.
DOUBLE-HANDED / FJ
Archbishop Riordan fall sport · 2026
Built in San Francisco.
Raced across California.
Archbishop Riordan Sailing is an official co-ed fall sport at Archbishop Riordan High School. The official fall program is conducted through the St. Francis Yacht Club High School Sailing Program, where Crusaders train with sailors from other San Francisco schools and race for Riordan.
2×Weekly fall practices
FJTwo sailors per boat
2019Team established
IMPORTANT DATE
Pre-season parent & sailor meeting
August 11, 2026 · 6:30 PM · St. Francis Yacht Club
OFFICIAL FALL SEASONSEP 8 — NOV 13StFYC HS Sailing · No practice Sep 15–18
ROSE BOWLJAN 2027Final regatta supported in the official preseason plan
After the Rose Bowl
Additional regattas may be coordinated primarily by parents, and interested Riordan sailors may still participate. These opportunities are outside the core fall-season plan and should be confirmed with the school and StFYC.
Official StFYC 2026 sailor evaluations
Choose one
on-water session.
StFYC requires all new and returning sailors to attend one evaluation. New sailors need recent, relevant dinghy experience. Each time slot is limited to 10 sailors.
Sign up for evaluations ↗SATAUG 22
9:30–12:00
1:00–3:30
SUNAUG 23
9:30–12:00
1:00–3:30
MONAUG 24
12:00–2:30
3:30–6:00
TUEAUG 25
12:00–2:30
3:30–6:00
2026 PCISA calendar
Race-day energy.
Team-wide effort.
These are potential high-school competition dates from the PCISA Fall 2026 calendar dated July 22, 2026. A calendar listing does not guarantee Riordan participation, a sailor lineup, transportation, or support.
Check the official PCISA calendar ↗PRELIMINARY · PARENT-COORDINATED
Possible spring 2027 opportunities
These dates appeared in the preliminary PCISA calendar dated July 22, 2026. They are outside Riordan’s official fall-sport season. Participation, coaching, travel, lineups, and even event dates are not guaranteed—confirm everything with Riordan Athletics, StFYC, and PCISA.
A day at a regatta
More than the races.
Regattas are full-team efforts. Details vary by venue and the official NOR/NOS and Sailing Instructions always control, but this is a useful picture of what families can expect.
01
Study the documentsReview the Notice of Race or Series, Sailing Instructions, course maps, arrival time, and coach updates before leaving home.
02
Rig as a teamUnload trailers, step the mast, rig the FJ, protect the Riordan race sail, change, eat, apply sunscreen, and attend briefings.
03
Settle in for the dayA common rhythm is arrival around 9:00–9:30, competitor briefing near 10:30, dock-out around 11:00, racing until about 4:30, then de-rigging, coach debrief, and awards. The official event documents always control.
04
Reset and refuelHydrate early, eat water-safe snacks, manage warm layers, and stay ready for changing wind, waves, sun, fog, or spray.
05
Leave it betterEveryone helps rinse, de-rig, lower masts, reload trailers, and care for the team sail and equipment.
06
Debrief togetherStay for the coach debrief and awards when required. Results are commonly posted on the ISSA live-score site.
Life on the water
Serious sailing.
Seriously fun.
From early rigging to the last race, the season is built around challenge, travel, new friendships, and a lot of unforgettable days on the water.
Feel the pace
This is high school sailing.
Quick decisions, clean teamwork, and plenty of spray. Press play for a glimpse of the action.
Follow the official path
Interested in
the fall team?
This independent site does not enroll or select sailors, provide coaching, or govern the team. Begin with Archbishop Riordan Athletics, then follow the official StFYC registration and evaluation process.
1
Start with Riordan AthleticsConfirm the official school-sport information and requirements.
2
Follow StFYCAttend the meeting, register for an evaluation, and use StFYC for official program details.
3
Prepare to contributeBuild relevant dinghy skills, learn the terminology, listen closely, and bring a team-first attitude.
THE SAILOR'S KIT
Come prepared.
- ✓PFD, team pinnie, helmet, watch, and bailer
- ✓Wetsuit, spray top, and closed-toed sailing footwear
- ✓Labeled dry bag and refillable water bottle
- ✓Water-safe snacks or lunch
- ✓Sunscreen, eye protection, and warm layers
- ✓Positive, team-first attitude
2026 StFYC PRESEASON INFORMATION
$1,300 StFYC members
$1,650 guests
Regatta registration, food, lodging, and travel are additional. Confirm all fees and requirements directly with StFYC.Most asked question
What if I have
no sailing experience?
You can still show your interest and start preparing. Here is the clearest path forward.
Preferably, you have completed a sailing camp, clinic, or similar introductory training before evaluations.
StFYC offers youth sailing programs that can help build the dinghy experience and basic skills expected at its evaluation.
Explore StFYC youth sailing programs ↗2026 HIGH SCHOOL BOOT CAMP
August 10–14 · 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
The StFYC preseason material lists this focused week for sailors preparing for the high school program. The stated prerequisite is at least two weeks of dinghy experience within the prior year; sailors may also submit a sailing resume to StFYC for approval.
$825 StFYC members $1,000 guests
Check Boot Camp registration at StFYC ↗Availability, prerequisites, fees, and registration are controlled by StFYC and may change.01
Come to the meetingEven if you have not attended a camp, join the pre-season parent and sailor meeting on August 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM at St. Francis Yacht Club. Show your interest and learn how the program works.
02
Register for one evaluationNew and returning sailors must attend one time slot. Each session has only 10 spaces. New sailors must have recent, relevant dinghy experience to participate.
03
Prepare before you arriveLearn sailing terms, boat parts, rigging, knots, points of sail, tacking, and basic race concepts. Watch high school sailing videos and be ready to listen and perform the coach's instructions.
04
Bring the right mindsetBe focused, coachable, mentally prepared, and a good sport. Complete each task, show genuine interest, and support the sailors around you.
Where does the team train?+
At the St. Francis Yacht Club near Marina Green. The fall high school program typically practices twice weekly with student sailors from participating San Francisco schools.
What boats does the team race?+
Flying Juniors, commonly called FJs. They are double-handed dinghies with a skipper and crew, widely used in high school and college racing.
What happens after evaluations?+
All participants will receive their outcome by email on Friday, August 28. Possible placements include the Varsity Sailing Team, Junior Varsity Sailing Team, Beginning or Learn to Race weekend courses, or a combination of a team and weekend course.
What if I am not placed on the fall roster?+
Keep sailing. StFYC may recommend Beginning or Learn to Race weekend courses, clinics, or another combination that builds experience for a future evaluation. A roster decision can be a starting point rather than the end of a sailor’s journey.
What does the team expect from sailors?+
Attendance, accountability, sportsmanship, careful boat handling, and a team-first attitude. Sailors are expected to listen to coaches, respect teammates and family volunteers, help rig and de-rig efficiently, support substitutions, and contribute to a welcoming team.
Everything you need to know
The program,
at a glance.
Where we train
Practices are based at the St. Francis Yacht Club by Marina Green and the Palace of Fine Arts. StFYC provides coaching, supervised fleet access, safe access to the Bay, locker rooms, showers, and a community of high school sailors.
Who we sail with
Archbishop Riordan's official co-ed fall team trains through the StFYC High School Sailing Program alongside sailors from other participating San Francisco schools. At regattas, Crusaders compete for Riordan.
What we sail
The team races Flying Juniors, or FJs—responsive, double-handed dinghies widely used in high school and college sailing. Each boat has two sailors working as skipper and crew.
The official fall season
The 2026 StFYC high school program runs for nine weeks, September 8 through November 13, with no practice September 15–18. Fall practices are normally held twice each week.
How selection works
Program space is limited and coach evaluations determine Varsity, Junior Varsity, Beginning, Learn to Race, or combined placements. If a sailor is not placed on the fall roster, StFYC courses and clinics can provide a constructive path to keep building experience.
How to prepare
Know the parts of an FJ, how to rig and de-rig, basic boat handling, points of sail, race fundamentals, knots, roll tacks, and how to respond safely to coaching instructions. Recent dinghy experience is required for new-sailor evaluations.
After the Rose Bowl
Additional regattas may be parent-coordinated opportunities for interested Riordan sailors. They are not part of the official school fall schedule; participation and status should be verified with Riordan Athletics and StFYC.
What this site is
RiordanSailing.org is a family-organized informational resource that promotes Archbishop Riordan and helps families navigate StFYC. It is not the school, a team authority, a sailing school, or an official publication.
Where official answers live
Riordan Athletics is the authority for school-team status and requirements. StFYC is the authority for coaching, registration, evaluations, practices, and its high school sailing program.
OFFICIAL SCHOOL SPORT
Use Archbishop Riordan Athletics for the official school-team page, status, and school requirements.
Riordan Athletics ↗OFFICIAL SAILING PROGRAM
Use StFYC for official coaching, registration, evaluations, practices, program details, and beginner clinics.
StFYC High School Sailing ↗INDEPENDENT FAMILY RESOURCE
For informal, family-to-family questions about this guide, reach the volunteers who maintain this independent site.
RiordanSailing@gmail.com ↗Take it with you
One scan.
The whole season.
This QR code opens RiordanSailing.org—an independent guide with current dates, preparation tips, photos, and direct links to the official Riordan Athletics and StFYC programs.
This guide supplements official information; it does not replace instructions from Archbishop Riordan High School, Riordan Athletics, or StFYC.
RIORDANSAILING.ORGINDEPENDENT INFO · OFFICIAL LINKS
2025From the archive
A season of
progress.
The 2025 team trained, traveled, and competed across a full slate of Bay Area and California regattas. Those materials are preserved as team history—not as the current season schedule.
3RD PLACE2025–26 San Francisco High School
City Championship Regatta
City Championship Regatta
26 / 63PCISA points-scoring high schools
12 / 28PCISA Silver Championship
HISTORICAL MATERIAL · 2025 SEASON