Historical Photo

Happened across the photo, below, today when googling for a photo of the schooner yacht America for a post on the BMW ORACLE Blog, or "the BOB" as many now call it.

The photo resides in the Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection, Indiana University Archives/Digital Library Program. The caption said it was taken in the St. Francis YC marina looking back into San Francisco on 4 July 1940.

One friend who saw the pictures today (see the picture of the yacht America taken in the same year that is now posted on the BOB) said he did not realize they had color photos before the War, let alone of such good quality. I reminded him that the Wizard of Oz had been shot in 1939, and of course in full color of course -- at least after Dorothy arrived in Oz. Regardless, it is remarkable how modern the photos look considering their age.

Having said all that, this morning I emailed a link to this St Francis photo to several members of the Club, including longtime friend Staff (past) Commodore R C Keefe. This evening Bob emailed back a remarkably vivid and detailed description of this 66-year old photo, which follows the picture as its caption (remember, you can click on the photo to enlarge)....



Thanks very much for the photograph; it always surprises me just how much they can contain. The black schooner on the left is the Zaca safely in her permanent berth. She was the flagship (1940) of the club at the time, and owned by Templeton Crocker. He had her designed and built (118' loa) in 1930, and made a circumnavigation in her in 1932. I believe she is in near perfect condition, and sailing in the Mediterranean; you may have come accross her. She is often known as "Earl Flynn's boat." On the right is the 75' gaff rigged ketch, Shawnee. She was designed by Arthur Binney, and built by George Lawley in South Boston in 1919. For what ever the reason her mizzen is out of her. She was one of the four entries that raced to Tahiti in 1925. In the white house through her starboard lower backstay with the red roof over on Marina Blvd. is where I am writing to you from; [Bob's partner] Mary has lived here for almost 40 years. The red sloop is one of our 23' Bear class; she is Trigger, no. 20, and was brand new in 1940. My father had her built by the Nunes brothers for my brother, Jack, on his 16th birthday. The same Nunes brothers designed and built the Zaca mentioned above. I am afraid that is all I can come up with; whenever you send me a picture, you can be assured that it will get proper scrutiny.


Thanks, Bob -- proper scrutiny, indeed!