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San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC)

by evandiaz | May 19, 2023 | Yacht Club Members

San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) sdyc.org 1011 Anchorage Lane San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 221-8400

Total: 2000 members – 40% power, 60% sail.

Facilities: Bar open daily 1000 to 2100. Dining room open daily 0730 to 2000. Snack bar open during summer/spring vacation. Pool. Tennis courts, jacuzzi. Member berths. Dry storage. 5000 lb. & 8000 lb. hoists. Sabot launch ramp. Guest docks. Reciprocal amenities: Banquet Rooms, Showers, Sauna, Guest Docks, Sabot Launch Ramp and 6000 lb. Hoists. SDYC member only amenities: snack bar, pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts, gym, wet slips, and dry storage.

Membership: Accepting applications. 2 sponsors plus 6 references. Initiation: sliding scale based on age. None for juniors.

Monthly dues: $150/flag, $75Jr Flag, $23/ Juniors. $150 quarterly food and beverage minimum.

Junior program: Exceptionally strong year round program for members.

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San Diego Yacht Club’s Biennial Race to the Mexican Mainland

San Diego Yacht Club is proud to host the 2024 Vallarta Race with the 1,000nm course from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Racing to the Mexican mainland is a tradition for SDYC going back to 1953.

VALLARTA RACE NEWS

A lot of sailors would suggest that it’s ‘when’ you start that matters, the earlier the better. Others would insist that it’s the weather on your start day that matters most, the windier the better. Both are logical and have been true separately and combined. But what if NEITHER mattered?

Not many (any?) spectators on Shelter Island watching the Saturday starters for the the 2024 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race would have speculated that seven of the boats floating in the windless bay that afternoon would fill the top seven overall finishing positions! They were already 48 hours behind the two Thursday starters blasting down the course in a fresh westerly wind. But after a week of many sail changes, cursing grib files, running weather models, and pressing the boat when the ‘park up’ (sitting ‘parked’ in becalmed windless conditions) was over, that is exactly what the results reflect.

Looking ahead to Wednesday night’s racing, it appears as if the wind will hold up overnight and allow the fleet to press to finish: the way it should be. There is traditionally a day or two of light winds in this race. This year, they came at the beginning of the race. Fortunately, ideal downwind race conditions have turned the race around for the 20 boats still on the course.

Pyewacket looms as the projected corrected-time leader despite the majority of the fleet sailing out ahead of them, leaving little room for error for those vying for the title. Two weeks ago, BadPak sailed an impeccable Islands Race, winning with Pyewacket 2nd overall. This week, Pyewacket looks to pay it back and will have the final 200 miles to set the pace. Also in contention is Rio100 with their Wednesday morning finish establishing the time to beat. Vitesse and Peligroso also rank in the top 5 and will have a chance at the overall win.

Rio100 used a strong last 24 hours to be first to finish in the 2024 PV Race, crossing the line at 07:36:25 Wednesday morning for an elapsed time of 3 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes, 25 seconds. In addition to their first to finish result, Rio100 has set the corrected time to beat. Based on predictions from recent progress on the course this time has a chance to be competitive against the rest of the fleet who still have a day of racing + to go. Rio100 has raced to PV 3 previous times, in 2016 (16th overall), 2018 (9th overall), and 2022 (9th overall). Could this be the year where the accolades include corrected time success in addition to elapsed time elite preformance?

Daily 0800 Projected Standings

Projected contenders this morning include Lucky Duck, Peligroso, BadPak and Pyewacket with estimated corrected times right around Rio's mark. BadPak and Peligroso remain within a few miles of each other and will likely eat up the miles between them and Lucky Duck 40+ miles ahead on the last leg of the race. While Pyewacket will sail in different conditions 60+ miles behind the other top contenders leaving lots of room for gains or losses along the way meaning this race is up for grabs and should have an exciting finish.

Competitors in the 2024 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race are approaching a classic tactical waypoint while negotiating the Baja Peninsula. Boats will gamble on sailing fewer miles by hugging the Baja coast or bearing away to the south, hoping to avoid getting stuck in the lee of Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding Baja headlands. 

Rio100 finally powered up, showing teens on the speedo at sunrise on Tuesday morning. And as the first to reach the Cabo milestone at 1000 PST, Rio100 consistently sailed 18-20 kts throughout the day Tuesday, swinging just 14 miles offshore from Cabo and then gybing south nearly 60 miles. With the speed boost, Rio put 70 miles on their nearest competitor Blackwing, who passed 26 miles off of Cabo 7 hours later on Tuesday afternoon.

Most boats on the course are about 24 hours behind last year’s record-setting pace. Compared with their 2022 position at this same elapsed time, Rio 100 and BadPak are roughly 200 miles short. Such Fast , a Thursday starter, is about 140 miles short of last year’s Monday morning location.

The 2024 edition of the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race features a staggered start so the smaller boats can sail their best race and hopefully finish within a day or two of the larger, presumably faster boats.

With the Thursday starters from division ORR 6 sailing about 140nm on their initial 24 hours down the course, Friday saw divisions ORR 5 and ORR 4 start in what amounted to a ‘fair’ breeze. While the forecasts called for mostly calm with some models even suggesting a southeast wind (which would mean upwind sailing) a modest 5-8 kts from the west showed up in the harbor to move both fleets smartly out of San Diego harbor and into a building westerly for the rest of their run for the day. 

The biennial San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race started in 1953, and returns for the 37th running February 22 - March 1, 2024. Sailors have been racing to the Mexican mainland for decades in San Diego Yacht Club’s signature offshore race for the on-water adventure and competition, and the tropical winter weather awaiting them in PV. Twenty two boats are set to compete in this year’s 1000nm race from the start line in San Diego Bay to the entrance of Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The race officially begins Thursday, February 22 with Class 6 boats Blackwing (Grand Soleil 44 Race) and Such Fast (1D35) squaring off as the first two starters of the race. These two will get a 24 hour and 48 hour head start over the rest of the fleet starting on Friday and Saturday. In 2022, the Thursday starters remained ahead of the later starters for the first three days of racing before the bigger and faster boats caught them at just past the halfway mark of the race. David Garman is racing his 1D35 Such Fast out of Seattle in his third straight PV Race, eager to escape the winter weather for warmer San Diego and tropical conditions in PV. Garman’s adventure won’t stop after the PV Race. He’ll be competing in MEXORC in Banderas Bay before solo sailing his boat up the Gulf of California for a few weeks.

The San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) is thrilled to announce the upcoming 37th edition of the Puerto Vallarta Race, a biennial international offshore yacht race, set to take place from February 22 to March 1, 2024. With a rich history dating back to 1953, the race has evolved into a premier event attracting the best offshore sailors, featuring a challenging 1,000 nautical mile course from San Diego, CA to the vibrant shores of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

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Vallarta Race 2018 Video

Daily 0800 Estimated Results

MORE SDYC OFFSHORE RACING

© 2014 - 2024 Puerto Vallarta Race. All Rights Reserved. San Diego Yacht Club | www.sdyc.org 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106

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San Diego is fortunate to have a broad range of yacht clubs and sailing clubs to accommodate a diversity of sailing interests and budgets. Whether you’re into yacht racing , need a reliable resource for San Diego crew , need a secure San Diego marina , or want the camaraderie from social events with other sailers, sailing clubs can be a home away from home. From the distinguished San Diego Yacht Club, to more casual and small scale sailing clubs for occasional sailors, San Diego Sailing has compiled a complete list of yacht club and sailing club resources below. Several of the clubs also offer classes and sailing lessons if you’re looking to broaden or sharpen your sailing skills. After a long day on the water, many also have great waterfront restaurants to dine in. If we missed your yacht club or sailing club, please let us know with the suggest a link button below.

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Times of San Diego

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

San Diego Yacht Club to Host 2 Championship Regattas in September

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The San Diego Yacht Club announced that two prominent races are set to take place on consecutive weekends next month.

San Diego’s Finn Fleet has remained one of the more active fleets in the past year, and in September, more than 40 Finn sailors are expected to return to the club for the Pacific Coast Championship and the North American Masters Championship .

Charlie Buckingham won the Pacific Coast Championship last year, followed by Phil Ramming and James Buley. Ramming, who has sailed the event over a dozen times. is currently registered to race in September.

“PCC’s are typically on everyone’s schedule and we get a big, competitive group out. This is a great event to see how your game matches up with the fleet after a summer of sailing,” Ramming said.

The schedule:

Sept. 4-5: Finn Pacific Coast Championship, with 20 boats expected to compete southeast of the Zuniga Jetty for a maximum of seven races.

Sept. 9-12: Finn North American Masters Championship, open to Finn sailors 40 and up. The course matches the PCC course off the Zuniga Jetty, with 30 boats expected to race in a maximum of 10 races.

The North American Masters Championship was last held at the club in 2018. The event was won overall by Eric Anderson in the under-40 category, with the masters championship going to Darrell Peck, for the over 40s.

Michael Dorgan, the club’s commodore said, “having a championship-level regatta in your backyard at your host club is something special.”

Southern California is the most active Finn sailing area in the U.S., according to the club. Many veteran Finn sailors are expected in September, from as far away as the Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest.

Registration Open for the 2024 Yachting Cup San Diego’s Premier Spring Regatta

San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2024 Yachting Cup, San Diego's premier spring regatta. Celebrating its 52nd year, the event will take place from May 3 to May 5, 2024, offering an unforgettable experience for sailors across a variety of fleets.

Date: May 3-5, 2024 Location: San Diego Yacht Club Courses: San Diego Bay City Front and Coronado Roads Invited Classes: One Designs, PHRF, ORR, Navigators, Classics Early Entry Fee Deadline: April 1, 2024

The Bay Club Hotel & Marina

Sailors in the 2024 Yachting Cup looking for accommodations are invited to contact The Bay Club Hotel & Marina, walking distance from SDYC for a discounted rate and excellent accommodations during Yachting Cup Weekend. Room block with special pricing limited to availability.

Reservations

Top 5 Yacht Clubs In San Diego, CA

Here is our list of the best yacht clubs in San Diego for yacht enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy the San Diego waterfront, there’s no shortage of great yacht clubs to choose from. But with so many options, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. To help narrow things down, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 yacht clubs in San Diego, based on location, amenities, and overall atmosphere.

From the bustling San Diego Yacht Club to Silver Gate Yacht Club, there’s something for everyone. So whether you’re a sailing enthusiast or just looking for a place to relax and take in the stunning views, read on for our picks of the best yacht clubs in town.

Looking for a charter in San Diego? Our San Diego yacht rental service is perfect if you’re looking for a day trip on the water in Sunny San Diego! Our catamaran yacht is the largest in San Diego with a total length of 75′ and capacity for over 100 guests!

#1: San Diego Yacht Club

The San Diego Yacht Club was started in 1886 and is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States. Since 1886, SDYC has been the home of world-class sailing, and it’s easy to see why. With its prime location on Shelter Island, SDYC offers stunning views of San Diego Bay, as well as easy access to the open ocean.

In addition to its sailing facilities, SDYC also has a full-service clubhouse, complete with a restaurant, bar, and event space. The club also offers its members, spouses, and children a variety of social and recreational activities, making it the perfect place to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer.

Some of the key facilities include Full Service Sailing Center, Tennis Court, Swimming Pool, Gym, Restaurant and Bar, Wet Slips, etc.

The club operates all year round and offers a range of membership types to suit everyone. There are programs for juniors, families, and those looking to race or cruise. If you’re looking for a world-class sailing experience in the heart of San Diego, the San Diego Yacht Club is hard to beat.

#2: Southwestern Yacht Club

The Southwestern Yacht Club is located in San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood and has been a fixture of the community since 1925. The club is situated on beautiful San Diego Bay, offering stunning views of the city skyline. The Southwestern Yacht Club is famous for its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect place to unwind after a long day.

The club has a full-service clubhouse, complete with a restaurant, bar, and event space. There are also tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a gym on-site. In addition, the club operates a wet slip marina, making it easy to get out on the water.

The Southwestern Yacht Club offers a variety of membership types, including social, racing, and cruising memberships. The club is open year-round and hosts a variety of events, making it the perfect place to meet friends and neighbors.

Currently, there are over 800 members, making the Southwestern Yacht Club one of the largest and most friendly yacht clubs in San Diego.

#3: Silver Gate Yacht Club

The Silver Gate Yacht Club was founded in 1952. It is located in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego and is situated on the beautiful San Diego Bay. The club has a rich history and a proud tradition of sailing.

The club was recently renovated and now has a modern clubhouse complete with a restaurant, bar, and event space. The Silver Gate Yacht Club also has a marina with wet and dry slips. This allows members to conveniently access the open ocean.

The club’s fleets include cruising fleets, fishing fleets, and racing fleets. The Silver Gate Yacht Club is home to a variety of events throughout the year, including the world-famous San Diego Yacht Club Race Week.

This is one of the largest and most prestigious yacht races in the world. If you are a lover of music and dance, the Silver Gate Yacht Club has got you covered. As a member, you get the chance to access the 2013 New clubhouse facilities, dining facilities, Heated pool and spa, Library, and work-out room. All these facilities are state of the art and will make your stay enjoyable.

#4: Point Loma Yacht Club

Point Loma Yacht Club is among the top yacht clubs in San Diego. It is situated in the Point Loma neighborhood and has a rich history dating back to the 90s. The club is properly equipped with all the amenities you would need for a great sailing experience.

The Point Loma Yacht Club has a clubhouse that overlooks the beautiful San Diego Bay. There are races and cruises all year long, making this the perfect place to spend your free time. Some of the races include the Bob Kearns Memorial Race, the Charity Bay Race, and Jimmy Rogers Memorial Race.

The Point Loma Yacht Club also has a wet slip marina. This is convenient for members who want to keep their boats at the club. Some of the benefits of being a member of the Point Loma Yacht Club include access to the clubhouse and its facilities, discounts on boat slips, and discount on fuel.

The club also has a variety of social events throughout the year. Its clubhouse is also available for weddings and other special occasions. If you are looking for a top-notch yacht club in San Diego, look no further than the Point Loma Yacht Club.

#5: Mission Bay Yacht Club

Mission Bay Yacht Club is located in the heart of Mission Bay and is just minutes from the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and downtown. The club has a rich history starting from 1927 and has been a cornerstone of the community ever since.

The club is famous for its hospitable members and beautiful location. MBYC has an online apparel store, several social events throughout the year, an award-winning website, and a clubhouse that is open to members and their guests.

MBYC offers a variety of membership types to suit every need, including flag members, out-of-town members, social members, military members, and more. The club has a renowned tradition of the Corinthian sailboat racing. This is an annual regatta that has been taking place at the MBYC for over 60 years. The staff is incredibly friendly, and theree are a number of other reasons this club lands on our list of the best yacht clubs in San Diego.

Some of its famous champions include Doug Hart, David Tillson, and many others. The Mission Bay Yacht Club is the perfect place for anyone who loves sailing or wants to learn more about the sport.

These are the top 5 yacht clubs in San Diego. Each club has its own unique history and tradition. As a member of any of these clubs, you will have access to some of the best sailing experiences in the world. So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call today if you’re looking to join, or book our catamaran yacht today to get a feel for yachting today!

To learn even more about renting a yacht in San Diego, please visit our articles page!

Setting Sail

The San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation had its beginnings in the 1970s when members expressed interest in finding ways to provide increased support for the club’s mission and ensure its future. Frank Hope Jr., and Nick Frazee helped circulate those early ideas. In 1988, Paul Rayburn wrote to Gary Gould suggesting that the club establish a memorial to Ash Brown. Once again, the need for an organized group to handle such matters became evident, and in 1990, the Sailing Foundation was incorporated.

The original intent was to use donations to support the Junior Sailing Program founded by Joe Jessop in 1928. Jessop foresaw the club’s future in the development of young sailing enthusiasts. Not only has that vision been realized, but the program has grown in size and scope, offering opportunities for all youngsters in the community to participate, to experience the thrill of sailing, and to develop the skills and confidence that come with good seamanship and the Corinthian yachting tradition. In 1995, in order to ensure the club’s continued leadership and the expansion of its programs and outreach, members acted to restructure the Sailing Foundation. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization, the San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation, under a designation that allows it to support a wide variety of activities through tax-deductible contributions.

Given this opportunity, pride in our history, and the support of caring members who want to share their love of sailing, the San Diego Yacht Club is committed to growing the philanthropy that will continue to sustain the Sailing Foundation in its mission of promoting national and international amateur sailing, maritime education and competition among people in the San Diego Area.

The San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation is a California, non-profit benefit corporation exempt from income tax under Internal Revenue Code section 501C(3) and is a “qualified amateur sports organization” under Section 501(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, IRS Tax ID No. 33-0510953. Contributions to the San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation are tax-deductible.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

To contact the SDYC Sailing Foundation: EMAIL:  [email protected]

MAIL: San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation 1011 Anchorage Lane San Diego, CA 92106

What is CUBAR?

Cubar 2022 dates announced, 2019 cubar event program, join the cubar mailing list.

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About CUBAR

What is cubar:.

An acronym for Cruise Underway to Baja Rally. A powerboat cruise from San Diego, CA to La Paz, B.C., Mexico. It was formerly known as FUBAR (Fleet Underway to Baja Rally).

To give power boaters an opportunity to experience long distance cruising to Mexico within the safety of a flotilla of 50+ boats, replete with mechanical, communication and medical personnel in the fleet.

Bruce Kessler, member of Del Rey Yacht Club, conceived the idea and organized the first FUBAR in 2007. The biennial cruise has been hosted by the following clubs: Del Rey Yacht Club (2007), San Diego Yacht Club (2009), Long Beach Yacht Club (2011), and Newport Harbor Yacht Club (2013). The rally will be hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club, where it is now a permanent event of SDYC.

BOAT REQUIREMENTS:

This is a powerboat only event. The Baja HaHa is a comparable sailboat event. All boats must have a minimum range of 450 miles at 8.5 knots. This is to ensure that each vessel can make it to the next fuel station. Each boat will also need to pass a comprehensive safety inspection just prior to departure.

ELIGIBILITY:

Members of San Diego Yacht Club have first priority, with remaining slots given to members of other yacht clubs and the general public. Participation is limited to approximately 50 boats primarily due to slip availability in various ports.

2021 fees are $1,100 per boat. Fees included dinner and limited drinks for all crew at designated stops along the way.

The event begins in San Diego, California in October 29th and ends in La Paz, Mexico approximately 14 days later.

Cindy Sanborn Event Coordinator [email protected]

Craig Small Sponsorship Chair [email protected]

2024 Star World Championship September 4 - 13, 2024 San Diego, CA, USA

Entry Open for 2024 Star World Championship

September 4 - 13, 2024

The San Diego Yacht Club is excited to invite members of the International Star Class to compete at the Star World Championship in San Diego, CA in September 4-13, 2024. The NOR is now posted and we look forward to your entry!  SDYC is offering free boat storage from August 19-September 19 and member pricing for storage outside these dates. In addition to seven competitive days on the water, the Star Worlds will be home to thriving hospitality on land. The week will start with a blue-blazer opening ceremony, a midweek dinner on the aircraft carrier Midway, a Thursday dinner on property and drinks and snacks daily on the dock after racing. There will be a designated “Star Lounge” for both competitors and guests staffed daily with a yacht club volunteer “ambassador” to answer questions and provide local knowledge. Keep an eye on the Star Class and SDYC websites for updated information and assistance with planning. We look forward to seeing you!

Make plans to attend the Star Worlds in San Diego, September 8-13, 2024

San Diego Yacht Club is excited to invite members of the International Star Class to compete at the Star World Championship in San Diego, CA in September, 2024. SDYC has been host to the regatta in 2013, 1994, 1973, 1969, 1961, 1958, 1940, 1938, making 2024 our 9th edition. San Diego Yacht Club and the Star World Championship Committee are committed to making this regatta a top-notch experience for sailors and spectators alike. In addition to seven days on the water, the Star Worlds will be home to thriving hospitality on land. The week will start with a blue-blazer opening ceremony, a midweek dinner on the aircraft carrier Midway, a progressive dinner on property and drinks and snacks daily on the dock after racing. There will be a designated “Star Lounge” for both competitors and guests staffed daily with a yacht club volunteer “ambassador” to answer questions and provide local knowledge. Keep an eye on the Star Class and SDYC websites for information and assistance with planning. We look forward to seeing you!

2024 Star Worlds Boat Transportation Info

Please note that pricing is dependent on availability at the time of booking and market conditions as it relates to all otherassessorial charges. In the current environment, the mileage charges are approximately $1.50 USD per mile from Miami to San Diego, or $4000, which does not include loading or customs charges.

These shipping costs vary with fuel costs, the number ofstars being shipped and other variables.

For a complete list of all current shipping charges, follow the link below or contact Kai Scharnweber .

BOAT TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

MAX KOHLHOFF AND OLE BURZINSKI ARE THE 2023 STAR WORLD CHAMPIONS

Dreams come true when you work hard for them. Max Kohlhoff and Ole Burzinski won the 2023 Star World Championship today in Marina di Scarlino, Tuscany, after three years of dedication, training, and passion for sailing and for the Star boat. They started the Championship with a bullet and ended it with a golden star affixed to their mainsail, a lifelong dream for the 200+ Star sailors in Scarlino. For some, this was their 20th attempt. This year, it was Max and Ole's turn to win.

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Notice Board

Important dates.

Frank L. Hope, lead architect of San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, dies at 93

His firm designed many of San Diego’s office towers, hotels and hospitals, but its crowning achievement was the $28 million, all-concrete San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley, later renamed San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium and SDCCU (San Diego Credit Union) Stadium.

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Frank L. Hope, one of San Diego’s postwar architects who helped reshape the city and is best known for his role in developing the San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley, died earlier this month. He was 93.

Hope headed the city’s largest architectural firm, Hope Design Group, focusing on civic, commercial and institutional projects.

By the time he retired in the early 1990s, the firm with a staff of 150 designed hospitals, office towers, hotels and pursued international work in Asia, Europe and the Mideast.

Its crowning achievement was the $28 million, all-concrete San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley. It was later renamed San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium and SDCCU (San Diego Credit Union) Stadium.

Hope also served on numerous civic boards and commissions but also made time to sail his yacht to Catalina, pilot his Cessna across the country and ski in Mammoth. He died at Scripps Mercy Hospital on March 18, three weeks shy of his 94th birthday.

Kevin deFreitas, past president of the local American Institute of Architects chapter and current president of the San Diego Architectural Foundation, said Hope was a player in the “golden era” of California “when regulation was certainly minimal, growth was explosive and there was all that post-war optimism and resources.”

Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center, called Hope’s design group one of the “major firms in our region that helped define the look of San Diego.”

Malin Burnham, one of the last surviving civic leaders of that era, said Hope typified those who built San Diego without expecting favoritism in return.

“It’s more than just business we’re looking for — it’s building the community,” Burnham said.

In 2015, Hope joined a group of architects to take stock of the stadium as debate swirled around replacing it to keep the Chargers in San Diego.

“It looks fine to me,” he said. “After reading what I’ve read in the paper by sports writers, I expected the whole thing to be a junk heap. It looks as nice as almost any athletic facility looks.”

Of course, the Chargers left, the stadium was demolished, and San Diego State University built the smaller and less architecturally dominating Snapdragon Stadium.

Born April 10, 1930, in San Diego, Frank Lewis Hope III was the son of Frank L. Hope Sr. (1901-1994), who founded the family architectural firm in 1928. The elder Hope left behind several architectural landmarks, including the Carmelite Monastery in Normal Heights (1930), Home Tower (Chase Bank, 707 Broadway, 1963) and Timken Museum of Art, Balboa Park (1965).

To meet the needs of a rapidly growing city’s needs, Hope and his father produced a “fantastic” number of buildings, said Keith York, curator of the modernsandiego.org website focused on local architects.

The younger Hope graduated from San Diego High School and UC Berkeley, served in the Army in Germany and joined his father’s firm in 1956, followed by his brother Charles, a civil engineer.

After the Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego in 1961 and settled into Balboa Stadium while civic leaders considered building a larger facility, Hope toured the country studying stadiums before winning the commission to oversee the stadium project, designed by Gary Allen.

Opened in 1967, it was known for its monumental circular access ramps and lighting system mounted into 28-ton precast concrete rings.

“Coming in here to see the whole thing full of people, it was an incredible feeling to me,” he recalled during the 2015 tour.

Hope was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1972 and a decade later, the stadium received a national AIA honor award.

The firm soon won ever more commissions and grew the staff to meet the growing demand: McGill Hall at UC San Diego’s Muir College (1969); the former Union-Tribune building in Mission Valley (1973); numerous hospitals and their expansions, including Pomerado Hospital (1977); Columbia Center office tower, (now 1 Columbia Place at 401 W. A St., 1982); and the east tower of the Inter-Continental Hotel, (now Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, 1984).

Douglas F. Manchester, developer of both Columbia Center and the twin-towers Marriott, called Hope “an incredible architect and a man for all seasons.”

“He was a deal-maker, a man whose handshake was as good as gold, a person who loved deeply his city, state and country,” Manchester said. “His family was to him all important. He was a friend, a patriot and extremely important contributor to San Diego, America’s Finest City.”

Hope also had a hand in designing Horton Plaza shopping center, considering underground parking at Seaport Village and competing to redevelop the parking lots flanking the County Administration Center.

Hope opened offices in Santa Ana and San Francisco and won a contract to design a $75 million U.S. Navy airfield in the Philippines. In the 1970s, his firm designed 25 vocational education colleges in Saudi Arabia, worth upward of $1 billion.

Meanwhile, Hope served as president of the local and state chapters of the American Institute of Architect, commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club, chairman of both the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and San Diego Unified Port District board and member of the University of California Board of Regents.

Hope met with architect Gordon Carrier to review plans by Gunnar Birkerts for an underground addition to UC San Diego’s Geisel Library, completed in 1993.

“He wasn’t really one prone to wax poetic about design,” said Carrier, who heads the Carrier Johnson + Culture architectural firm.

Hope got right to the point: “So you’re telling me this building is below grade and is not going to leak.”

Carrier thought, “Well, it’s a good question.”

Like the heads of most large firms, Hope spent more time on business than design. But he insisted on excellence at his office and championed quality in public and private. He didn’t wait for edicts from government authorities.

“I think that by educating the people on the need for good design and having the public make its feelings known are the ways you should get design in a democratic system,” he told the Evening Tribune in 1983.

For all its success, Hope’s firm fell victim to the 1990s real estate recession. His son, Leland, closed the company’s doors in 1993 and went on to found his own sole-proprietorship firm.

But as he and his sisters said in a biographical sketch of their father, “Work was important to Frank, yet his passion for adventure and fun was primary.”

Hope and his wife Barbara sold their Point Loma family house and moved into their yacht Verve at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina, where he was a partner. They summered in Avalon Bay in Catalina, and in winter, skied Mammoth Mountain slopes. Hope took flying lessons and bought a single-engine Cessna to take trips across the country.

Hope is survived by his wife of 71 years; son; four daughters, Gretchen Robinson of San Diego, Gail Metzger of Goldhill, Ore., Carolyn Hoffos of Ramona, and Jacqui Tejedas of Kaiser, Ore.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

No memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his name be made to Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, a Mammoth nonprofit that helps people with physical or intellectual disabilities experience winter and summer sports.

Roger Showley is a freelance writer for the U-T.

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