Sailing4Parkinsons Race Weekend at Corinthian Yacht Club

The race committee will hoist the first warning signal at 12:30 PM on April 12, 2026, with the starting area set off Tiburon and the post-race celebration at the Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon; April 11 activities launch in Sausalito including a community cruise and the Matthew Turner tribute departing from the Bay Model Visitor Center at 1:45 PM, followed by the evening “Fête de la Baie” gala at 6:00 PM back at Corinthian Yacht Club.

Event logistics and schedule

The weekend is staged across two hubs: Sausalito for daytime community sails and the Matthew Turner Cruise, and Tiburon for the regatta start, award ceremony, and the gala. Racing will use standard coastal marks with the committee boat positioned to allow fair starts in prevailing westerlies; competitors should expect shifty winds and tidal sets through Raccoon Strait. Boats intending to charter or rent for the event should verify berth availability at local marinas and confirm insurance and safety equipment ahead of time.

Weekend timetable

Beneficiaries and mission

The regatta benefits the Parkinson Association of Northern California and the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and features the Sailing with Parkinson’s Program. Funds raised support research, advocacy, and local programs for people living with Parkinson’s in Northern California.

How to participate or support

Skippers, crew, volunteers, and shore-side supporters all play a role. For those looking to charter a boat or rent a yacht for the weekend, early booking is advised—marina slips and charter fleets near Tiburon and Sausalito fill fast in spring. Crews should carry required safety gear, current registration, and medical information for any participants with special needs.

Checklist for skippers and charterers

• Confirm charter contract and insurance — verify coverage for racing.
• Reserve marina berths near Corinthian Yacht Club or Sausalito docks.
• Safety equipment — life jackets, VHF, flares, and first aid kit.
• Accessibility — plan boarding assistance for crew with mobility limitations.
• Post-race plans — coordinate trailer pickup or moorage after the event.

Volunteer and shore activities

Volunteers are needed for race committee, mark boats, safety, and the silent auction at the gala. Shore-side activities include public viewing points, auction preview, and information booths for the Sailing with Parkinson’s Program. If you’ve ever crewed a charity regatta, you know the fun is contagious — when the wind’s right, you go for it and everyone gets a little boost.

Community impact and lived experience

Participants consistently report that sailing provides physical engagement and emotional uplift. Community sails are structured to be inclusive: volunteers and experienced skippers mentor sailors living with Parkinson’s, helping with sheet-handling, steering, and on-deck transfers. The Sailing with Parkinson’s Program emphasizes therapeutic activity, camaraderie, and the chance to be active on the water rather than sidelined ashore.

One longtime participant described returning to sailing after diagnosis as a rediscovery of independence: the rhythm of trimming sails, the focus needed to tack and gybe, and the laughter that bubbles up during a busy race all contribute to a therapeutic weekend. That blend of teamwork and fresh-air therapy is central to the regatta’s atmosphere.

Contact and registration

Contact Amy Bridge for additional information on entries, sponsorships, and volunteer roles. Prospective charterers should contact local brokers and marinas now to secure suitable boats for racing or day sails.

Whether you plan to crew, charter, donate, or cheer from shore, the Sailing4Parkinsons weekend is a mix of competition, community, and cause. The schedule spans Sausalito and Tiburon with gala and auction festivities, practical volunteer needs, and therapeutic sails for people living with Parkinson’s. Summary: key times are April 11 community sails and gala, April 12 race start at 12:30 PM; beneficiaries are the Parkinson Association of Northern California and the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; contact Amy Bridge for details. The regatta ties into boating life—yacht and boat charters, marinas, captains, and shore activities—so whether you’re into a superyacht watch or a modest day sail, there’s something to support and enjoy on the sea, ocean or bay, from clearwater coves to the busy gulf of San Francisco’s waterways. Yacht, charter, boat, beach, rent, lake, sailing, captain, sale, Destinations, superyacht, activities, yachting, sea, ocean, boating, gulf, water, sunseeker, marinas, clearwater, fishing.