The “Big Sail”

Inspire Sailing’s Co-Founder and CFO Keith is back racing again! He recently participated in the "Big Sail" coinciding with the so-called "Big Game," the annual football matchup between Stanford and Cal.

The Big Sail is an annual competition between Stanford and Cal varsity sailing teams, as well as four alumni divisions: Women Alumni, Young Alumni (under age 40), Masters (age 40-59), and Grandmasters (age 60+).

The event -- sailed right in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club -- is super fun, and quite a spectacle. People come for lunch in their cardinal and white or blue and gold. Both schools’ bands, mascots, and dancers come and play in the dining room and then out on the race deck. 

This year, the races between the four Alumni divisions were evenly split. The Stanford Varsity Sailing Team, with 2020 Collegiate Sailor of the Year Jack Parkin on the helm, won 2 races to none to decide the competition this year. (As for the football game, it was Cal all the way in a complete blowout.)

Mark your calendars for next year!

The Stanford Grandmasters crew. Inspire Sailing’s Co-Founder and CFO Keith is on the left (holding a nice “Inspire Sailing” cap!) and noted yacht designer and Grandmasters skipper Alan Andrews is on the right.

Excitement mounts as Stanford (port) and Cal (starboard) sailing teams cross at a weather mark.

The bands and mascots entertain and cheer while the racing goes on.