Dolphin Club (San Francisco)

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 and 4-wall handball.

Dolphin Club
Location502 Jefferson Street, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.
Coordinates37°48′28″N 122°25′17″W
Home waterAquatic Park Cove
Founded1877 (1877)
Former namesDolphin Swimming and Boating Club
Key people
Diane Walton (President)
Membership1,500
ColoursBlue and White
Websitedolphinclub.org
AcronymDC

The club was founded in 1877. 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.

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]

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 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]

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.[21] 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.[22] Black locust are known for its resistance to rot, durability and straight grain, making it desirable for use as fence posts and wooden boats.[23]

Wooden rowboats by year, class, weight, and length[19]
Name Build Year Type Weight lbs. Length
Wieland 1887 Six-Oared Sweep Barge 588 pounds (267 kg) 40 feet 0 inches (12.19 m)
Viking 1916 Double Cable Car Gig 270 pounds (120 kg) 22 feet 0 inches (6.71 m)
Farrell 1917 Double Dolphin Club 350 pounds (160 kg) 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Cronin 1938 Double Dolphin Club 376 pounds (171 kg) 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Hughes 1938 Double Dolphin Club 380 pounds (170 kg) 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m)
Baggiani 1948 Single Dolphin Club 207 pounds (94 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Foster 1948 Single Dolphin Club 198 pounds (90 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Landucci 1948 Single Dolphin Club 209 pounds (95 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Spectre 1973 Single Whitehall 261 pounds (118 kg) 13 feet 0 inches (3.96 m)
Good Luck 1976 Single Stillwater River Boat 187 pounds (85 kg) 15 feet 5 inches (4.70 m)
Lifthrasir 1985 Double Cable Car Gig 270 pounds (120 kg) 22 feet 0 inches (6.71 m)
Austin 1987 Single Modified Whitehall 205 pounds (93 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Cecco 1988 Single Dolphin Club 219 pounds (99 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Joe Bruno 1989 Single Dolphin Club 212 pounds (96 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Ring 2000 Single Flat-Bottomed Dory 193 pounds (88 kg) 15 feet 2 inches (4.62 m)
Haake 2006 Single Dolphin Club 218 pounds (99 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Kupuna 2006 Single Dolphin Club 167 pounds (76 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Kohlenberg 2006 Single Cable Car Gig 189 pounds (86 kg) 18 feet 1 inch (5.51 m)
Commodore 2016 Single Dolphin Club 170 pounds (77 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)
Semper Fi 2016 Single Dolphin Club 165 pounds (75 kg) 14 feet 0 inches (4.27 m)


Dolphin Club rowboat with oars and flotation seats
Fiber and carbon rowboats by builder, model, class and material[19]
Name Builder Model Class Material
El Nino LiteBoat LiteRace 1x Coastal 1x Carbon Fiber
La Nina LiteBoat LiteRace 1x Coastal 1x Carbon Fiber
Tempest LiteBoat LiteSport 2x Coastal 2x Carbon Fiber
Storm LiteBoat LiteQuattro Coastal Gig Boat Carbon Fiber
Coot Maas Boat Company Maas 24 Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Flicka Maas Boat Company Maas 24 Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Gull Maas Boat Company Maas 24 Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Surf Scooter Maas Boat Company Maas 24 Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Pelican Maas Boat Company Maas Carbon 24 Open Water Shell Carbon Fiber
Murre Maas Boat Company Maas Flyweight Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Tern Maas Boat Company Maas Aero Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Banana Maas Boat Company Maas Aero Open Water Shell Fiberglass
Osprey Maas Boat Company Maas Double Open Water Shell Carbon Fiber
Troneum Maas Boat Company Maas Dragonfly Open Water Shell Fiberglass

Activities and events

Members include local residents and athletes training for swimming the English Channel.[24] According to a video from KQED, many swimmers do not wear wet suits.[25]

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][26]

Since 1956, the Dolphin Club has hosted an annual 100 miles (160 km) row from the club to Sacramento.[15][27][28] 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.[29][22]

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)),[30][31] 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][32][33]

Notable members / alumni

See also

References
  1. "About". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  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. Toogood, Anna Coxe (June 1980). A Civil History of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore, California (Report). Historic Resource Study. 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. Pickelhaupt, Bill (2005). San Francisco's Aquatic Park. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7-10. ISBN 9780738530840.
  10. "History: A Timeline". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  11. Pickelhaupt, Bill (1996). Shanghaied in San Francisco. Maritime Series. Flyblister Press. p. 117.
  12. National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory - Aquatic Park: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. 2001. p. 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. 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. 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. "Rowing Fleet". Dolphin Club. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  20. Dolphin Swimming & Boating Club 2015 Rowing Training Guide (pdf). Dolphin Club (published March 2015). 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  21. "Into the Woods, with Jon Bielinski" (PDF). Dolphin Log. Fall 2017.
  22. May, Meredith (December 27, 2011). "SF Dolphin Club group keeps Whitehall boats afloat". SF Gate. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  23. Robert P. Barrett, Tesfai Mebrahtu, and 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.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  24. 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.
  25. "Dolphin Club Members Brave the Cold to Swim in San Francisco Bay". KQED News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  26. McLean, Tessa (January 6, 2020). "I swam in the San Francisco Bay at 5 a.m. and now understand the hype". SF Gate.
  27. "Dolphin Log". Dolphin Club (Docplayer). Fall 2014. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  28. "ROWING UP THE RIVER by Jay Dean on Exposure". Exposure. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  29. Shibata, Stephanie (March 29, 2017). "Meet Jay Dean". Sea Magazine. Duncan McIntosh Company.
  30. Nolte, Carl (September 9, 2017). "Chilly waves, advancing years can't stop Golden Gate swimmers". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  31. Placzek, Jessica (May 26, 2019). "The Golden Gate Bridge: Your Questions, Answered". KQED.
  32. Lyons, Jenna (October 19, 2015). "Triathlon contestants enjoy shark-free swim from Alcatraz". SF Gate.
  33. Elle, Jean (October 13, 2015). "White Shark Sighting a Concern for Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon Swimmers". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  34. 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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