Dolphin Club (San Francisco)

Last updated
Dolphin Club
Dolphin club front.jpg
Dolphin Club Rowing Blade.svg
Location502 Jefferson Street, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.
Coordinates 37°48′28″N122°25′17″W / 37.807891°N 122.421304°W / 37.807891; -122.421304
Home water Aquatic Park Cove
Founded1877;147 years ago (1877)
Former namesDolphin Swimming and Boating Club
Key people
Diane Walton (President)
Membership1,500
Colours Blue and White
Website dolphinclub.org
AcronymDC

The Dolphin Club, also known as the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club, is an athletic club in San Francisco, California. It caters to open water swimming, rowing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and 4-wall handball.

Contents

The clubhouse and boat house buildings are owned by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and leased to the club. [1] [2] The club had 1,000 members in 2010, and claims 1,500 members today. [1] [3]

History

The Dolphin Swimming and Rowing Club was founded in July 1877 by a small group of German immigrants, including John Wieland, [4] [5] Valentine Kehrlein Sr. and their respective sons, together with Edward J Borremans, Louis Schroeder, Edward Peterson, Adolph C. Lutgens and Ernest H. Lutgens, [6] who wanted to form a private sporting and social club, along similar lines to the Turnverein, a club which they had been members of in Bavaria. [7] Membership of the club was originally limited to 25 members. Emil Arthur Kehrlein, the eldest son of Valentine Sr., served as the club's inaugural president. The club petitioned the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to erect a small clubhouse/equipment shack and pier at the junction of Beach and Leavenworth Streets, [8] an area known as Bilge Water Cove. [9] They were granted permission in April 1878. A surplus building was acquired from the Union Iron Works and the new building took a month to erect.[ citation needed ]

In 1881, the club expelled seven members [10] including Emil and his brother Valetine Jr. The brothers would later establish the nearby Triton Rowing Club, and, in 1899, founded the Hotel Nymphia brothel. [9] [11] By 1886, the club had increased to over fifty members and was formally incorporated in 1888. [7] In 1887, the club added the 40 feet (12 m) river barge, John Wieland, to its fleet. [7]

In 1895, facing increasing development of the waterfront the club resolved to relocate to a more protected site at the foot of Van Ness Avenue. [9] [12] Adolph C. Lutgens, an architect, was responsible for designing the club's boathouse in 1896 [13] The club constructed a new clubhouse in February 1897, at a cost of $1,800, at the edge of Black Point Cove. [9]

The clubhouse/boathouse has since been moved twice, once in 1927 and again in 1937 to what is its current location on the corner of Hyde and Jefferson Streets. The relocation of the building was necessitated by the extension of Van Ness Avenue, the construction of municipal pier, and the development of Aquatic Park Cove including the municipal public bathing bathhouse (which was originally intended to be the home of the Dolphin and South End clubs) and grandstand in 1936. [9] Since 1949, the club has maintained a print magazine called the Dolphin Log. [14] [ importance? ]

In 1956, Les Hedry, a rowing member who had done races with the club on the San Joaquin River near Stockton, organized a row from the club to Sacramento, approximately 105 miles, initially to visit the State Fair. The club would soon make the Sacramento Row an annual event. [10] [15]

In 1976, six women brought up a lawsuit that resulted in the Dolphin Club and the South End Rowing Club allowing women to become members. [16] Their lawyer noted that "the basis of the suit was not gender bias, but federal law that governed any institution operating on public parkland". [17] Women officially joined in 1977, and as of 2019, make up about a third of the membership. [18]

Boat fleet

Boathouse room showing single position row boats Dolphin club boat room.jpg
Boathouse room showing single position row boats
Dolphin Club rowboat in early morning light with oars and flotation seats Dolphin Club rowboat in early morning light with oars and flotation seats.jpg
Dolphin Club rowboat in early morning light with oars and flotation seats

The Dolphin Club has more than 34 wooden, fiberglass and carbon rowboats, almost all with sliding seats. The club also has kayaks, standup paddleboards, and motorized zodiacs. [19] [20] Among the wooden boats, the most often rowed is the Kohlenberg, Mo-B, and Lifthrasir, respectively. [21] The Kohlenberg was rowed 136 times [21] in 2023, or about once every 3 days.

The whitehalls and other wooden rowboats are built from oak, mahogany, cedar (seats, breasthook, burden boards), apple (breasthook, knees), and black locust (breasthook, ribs). Three kinds of cedar are used, Port Orford cedar from Oregon, Alaskan yellow and Spanish cedar. [22] Two kinds of mahogany are used, Honduras and African mahogany. Since 1990, the club has harvested black locust wood from a grove in Isleton, California. [23] Black locust are known for its resistance to rot, durability and straight grain, making it desirable for use as fence posts and wooden boats. [24]

Wooden rowboats by year, class, weight, and length [19]
NameBuild YearTypeWeight lbs.Length
Wieland1887Six-Oared Sweep Barge588 pounds (267 kg)40 feet 0 inches (12.19 m)
Viking1916Double Cable Car Gig270 pounds (120 kg)22 feet 0 inches (6.71 m)
Farrell1917Double Dolphin Club350 pounds (160 kg)18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Cronin1938Double Dolphin Club376 pounds (171 kg)18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Hughes1938Double Dolphin Club380 pounds (170 kg)18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Baggiani1948Single Dolphin Club207 pounds (94 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Foster1948Single Dolphin Club198 pounds (90 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Landucci1948Single Dolphin Club209 pounds (95 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Spectre1973Single Whitehall261 pounds (118 kg)13 feet 0 inches (3.96 m)
Good Luck1976Single Stillwater River Boat187 pounds (85 kg)15 feet 5 inches (4.70 m)
Mo-B 1980Wherry18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Lifthrasir1985Double Cable Car Gig270 pounds (120 kg)22 feet 0 inches (6.71 m)
Austin1987Single Modified Whitehall205 pounds (93 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Cecco1988Single Dolphin Club219 pounds (99 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Joe Bruno1989Single Dolphin Club212 pounds (96 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Ring2000Single Flat-Bottomed Dory193 pounds (88 kg)15 feet 2 inches (4.62 m)
Haake2006Single Dolphin Club218 pounds (99 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Kupuna2006Single Dolphin Club167 pounds (76 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Kohlenberg2006Single Cable Car Gig189 pounds (86 kg)18 feet 1 inch (5.51 m)
Commodore2016Single Dolphin Club170 pounds (77 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Semper Fi2016Single Dolphin Club165 pounds (75 kg)14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)


Dolphin Club rowboat with oars and flotation seats Dolphin Club rowboat in early morning light with oars and flotation seats.jpg
Dolphin Club rowboat with oars and flotation seats
Fiber and carbon rowboats by builder, model, class and material [19]
Name Builder ModelClassMaterial
El NinoLiteBoatLiteRace 1xCoastal 1xCarbon Fiber
La NinaLiteBoatLiteRace 1xCoastal 1xCarbon Fiber
TempestLiteBoatLiteSport 2xCoastal 2xCarbon Fiber
StormLiteBoatLiteQuattroCoastal Gig BoatCarbon Fiber
CootMaas Boat CompanyMaas 24Open Water ShellFiberglass
FlickaMaas Boat CompanyMaas 24Open Water ShellFiberglass
GullMaas Boat CompanyMaas 24Open Water ShellFiberglass
Surf ScooterMaas Boat CompanyMaas 24Open Water ShellFiberglass
PelicanMaas Boat CompanyMaas Carbon 24Open Water ShellCarbon Fiber
MurreMaas Boat CompanyMaas FlyweightOpen Water ShellFiberglass
TernMaas Boat CompanyMaas AeroOpen Water ShellFiberglass
BananaMaas Boat CompanyMaas AeroOpen Water ShellFiberglass
OspreyMaas Boat CompanyMaas DoubleOpen Water ShellCarbon Fiber
TroneumMaas Boat CompanyMaas DragonflyOpen Water ShellFiberglass

Activities and events

Members include local residents and athletes training for swimming the English Channel. [25] According to a video from KQED, many swimmers do not wear wet suits. [26]

Back deck with club member preparing for swim Dolphin club back deck.jpg
Back deck with club member preparing for swim

The Dolphin Club hosts a polar bear swim challenge where members attempt to swim 40 miles (64 km) in the San Francisco Bay inside Aquatic Park during the winter season. [18] [27]

Since 1956, the Dolphin Club has hosted an annual 100 miles (160 km) row from the club to Sacramento. [15] [28] [29] In 1984, Jon Bielinski started hosting a weekly boat night, where members and guests would socialize and do maintenance and repair on the club's wooden boats. [30] [23]

About twice a month, the Dolphin Club hosts a weekend swim in the San Francisco Bay. Most of the swims leave the Aquatic Park Cove. Swimmers are piloted by club boats for protection. Out-of-cove swims include swimming the length of the Golden Gate Bridge from south to north (approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km)), [31] [32] swimming from the Bay Bridge to the Dolphin Club (approximately 3 miles (4.8 km)), and the Escape from Alcatraz swims (approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km)), the last of which has been part of the Escape from Alcatraz triathlons. [2] [33] [34]

Notable members / alumni

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "About". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Pelissier, Hank (March 6, 2011). "Local Intelligence: Dolphin Club" . New York Times (National ed.). Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ Sward, Susan (January 10, 2010). "Sunrise to Sunset on the Wharf" . The New York Times (National ed.). Sec. A. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ Yenne, Bill (2016). San Francisco Beer: A History of Brewing by the Bay. Arcadia Publishing. p. 44. ISBN   9781625855060.
  5. ↑ References in WoodenBoat magazine:
  6. ↑ Schall, Rebecca (2010). Historic Photos of San Francisco in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Turner Publishing Company. p. 74.
  7. 1 2 3 Toogood, Anna Coxe (June 1980). A Civil History of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore, California (Report). Historic Resource Study. Vol. 2. National Park Service. p. 177-121 – via San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park – Library Collection, Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ Boswell, Benner. "Black Point Beach Club". Benner Boswell. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Pickelhaupt, Bill (2005). San Francisco's Aquatic Park. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 7–10. ISBN   9780738530840.
  10. 1 2 "History: A Timeline". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  11. ↑ Pickelhaupt, Bill (1996). Shanghaied in San Francisco. Maritime Series. Flyblister Press. p. 117. ISBN   9780964731226.
  12. ↑ National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory - Aquatic Park: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. 2001. pp. 2–3.
  13. ↑ "A guide to the Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003". Online Archive of California . Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Dolphin Log". Dolphin Club.
  15. 1 2 Sacramento Row references from Dolphin Club and its members:
    • Friedrich, Susanne (September 9, 1998). "The Sacramento Row". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
    • Mueller, Neal (November 1, 2009). "Sacramento Row". NealMuller.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
    • Dean, Jay (December 5, 2014). "Rowing up the river" . Retrieved March 5, 2020– via Exposure.
  16. ↑ Meyer, Amy (2006). New Guardians for the Golden Gate: How America Got a Great National Park . University of California Press. p. 226. ISBN   9780520929296.
  17. ↑ Garchik, Leah (August 11, 2010). "It is the East Bay and Juliet is the sun". SF Gate .
  18. 1 2 Eng, Sherri (February 20, 2019). "Even the 142-Year-Old Dolphin Club Can't Unplug from SF's Tech Debate" . The Frisc. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 "Rowing Fleet". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  20. ↑ Dolphin Swimming & Boating Club 2015 Rowing Training Guide (PDF) (published March 2015). 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2020.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  21. 1 2 "Fleet Usage Only". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  22. ↑ "Into the Woods, with Jon Bielinski" (PDF). Dolphin Log. Fall 2017.
  23. 1 2 May, Meredith (December 27, 2011). "SF Dolphin Club group keeps Whitehall boats afloat". SF Gate . Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  24. ↑ Robert P. Barrett; Tesfai Mebrahtu; James W. Hanover (October 2, 1997). "Black Locust: A Multi-purpose Tree Species for Temperate Climates". Purdue University Center for New Crops & Plant Products . Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  25. ↑ Holt, Tim (January 25, 2014). "Baptism in the Bay / Why do men and women persist in taking on the frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay?". SF Gate . Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Dolphin Club Members Brave the Cold to Swim in San Francisco Bay". KQED News . Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  27. ↑ McLean, Tessa (January 6, 2020). "I swam in the San Francisco Bay at 5 a.m. and now understand the hype". SF Gate .
  28. ↑ "Dolphin Log". Dolphin Club (Docplayer). Fall 2014. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  29. ↑ "ROWING UP THE RIVER by Jay Dean on Exposure". Exposure. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  30. ↑ Shibata, Stephanie (March 29, 2017). "Meet Jay Dean". Sea Magazine. Duncan McIntosh Company.
  31. ↑ Nolte, Carl (September 9, 2017). "Chilly waves, advancing years can't stop Golden Gate swimmers" . San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  32. ↑ Placzek, Jessica (May 26, 2019). "The Golden Gate Bridge: Your Questions, Answered". KQED .
  33. ↑ Lyons, Jenna (October 19, 2015). "Triathlon contestants enjoy shark-free swim from Alcatraz". SF Gate .
  34. ↑ Elle, Jean (October 13, 2015). "White Shark Sighting a Concern for Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon Swimmers". NBC Bay Area . Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  35. ↑ Thomas, Gregory (October 2, 2018). "Podcast: Kim Chambers on swimming with sharks off the California coast". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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