5th Annual
Bruce Ettinger Bottle Yacht Regatta
Sunday, November 9, 2025
1pm - 3:30ish
North shore of Spreckels Lake
Golden Gate Park, SF
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MEET THE BOTTLE FLEET - BOTTLE YACHTS ON DISPLAY
Come see the Bottle Yachts on Display and get inspired to build a boat for next year's regatta. Bottle Yacht Regatta races are open to all who build a bottle yacht following the design guidelines for a race category. To submit a bottle yacht to display or to race, please register for the regatta and indicate that you have a bottle yacht to display: bottleregatta4.eventbrite.com
- Novices and experienced sailors are invited to build a bottle boat for this regatta.
- Teams (friends, a family, or a school class) are encouraged to build a boat together for display and/or to race.
RACES
1. Freesail Bottle Race (open to all, especially for novice/youth sailors and first time boat builders)
COURSE: Downwind Race
DESIGN GUIDELINES: Select bottles of any size with combined total volume of bottles not to exceed 10 liters. No lead in the keel. Made from found/donated materials or spend <$10 for each component. Freesail is the classic model yacht sailing method; the boat's are designed to self steer. Our freesail mentor, Ed Schoenstein, donated several braine-rudder components that are available on a first come, first serve basis until they run out. Please email us for a braine-rudder component.
2. Multi Hull Bottle Race (open to all)
COURSE: Downwind Race
DESIGN GUIDELINES: Select bottles of any size with combined total volume of bottles not to exceed 10 liters. No lead in the keel. Made from found/donated materials or spend <$10 for each component. A multi-hull boat may be designed to participate in the freesail, basic RC (one servo), or Advanced RC race. In 2021, the multi-hull race was RC. In 2023, the multi-hull race was freesail.
3. Basic RC Bottle Race (open to all, especially for novice/youth sailors and first time boat builders)
COURSE: Downwind Race
DESIGN GUIDELINES: Select bottles of any size with combined total volume of bottles not to exceed 10 liters. No lead in the keel.
1 servo radio controlled (RC*) (rudder recommended for the servo). Made from found/donated materials or spend less than <$10 for each component (except RC*). *RC kits may be available on loan for students/novice sailors on a first come, first serve basis. Please email us to reserve a RC kit. Please note that for 2024, all RC kits are in use.
4. Advanced RC Bottle Race
COURSE: Standard RC Course
DESIGN GUIDELINES: Select bottles of any size with combined total volume of bottles not to exceed 10 liters. 2 servos. No cost/design limitations.
AWARDS
LEARN TO SAIL with a Mentor
Following the bottle races, there may be an opportunity to learn to sail a RC (radio controlled) boat with a mentor in small groups during a 15 minute session. Open to novices - adults and youth. Since this activity requires attention span to learn and skilled hand eye coordination, we find it works best for youth who are > 10 years. Youth must accompanied by an adult.
Learn to Sail sign up will begin at 1pm on a first come, first serve basis at the information table for the first 30 participants.
Learn to Sail sign up will begin at 1pm on a first come, first serve basis at the information table for the first 30 participants.
OPEN SAILING
FAQ
What are bottle yachts?
Bottle boats are homemade model yachts built from recycled bottles, found objects, and other low cost materials. Bottle boats are a fun and low cost way for novice sailors, especially youth, to experience the joy of model yacht sailing. Find builder tips & learn more: www.bottleyachtregatta.org/bottlebuild
Can I participate? YES!
1. Learn to Sail is free and open to all ages, recommended > 10 yrs, no boat/experience needed.
2. The Bruce Ettinger Bottle Yacht Regatta is open to anyone who builds a bottle boat that follows race guidelines: www.bottleyachtregatta.org/raceday
Check out @bottleyachts on IG for inspiration!
How do I advance register for Learn to Sail?
Learn to sail sign up is in person on a first come basis beginning at 1pm at the regatta information table on the North Shore of Spreckels Lake. We will sign up the first 30 people up for slots. If you come, you will have a chance to learn to sail with a mentor.
What time will the "Learn to Sail" activity start?
Learn to Sail begins after the regatta awards. The race start time and duration depends on wind conditions. It's not possible to have a set time. It could begin as early as 2pm or as late as 3pm. We encourage you to come cheer on the bottle boats then enjoy a chance to learn to sail.
What age is appropriate for Learn to Sail?
Novices of all ages, especially youth >10 yrs old, are invited to learn to sail. An adult needs to accompany any youth under 16 at all bottle class activities. We find that kids over 10 yrs old have the attention span to learn and the hand-eye coordination to manage the controls that steer the radio control model yachts. Every youth varies in their ability. Youth need to have the capacity to listen to instructions about how to steer a boat and the dexterity to understand how to use the controls. Although the controllers look similar to game controllers, these controllers only require a light tap and release. When pushed too hard or too long as kids do with a game joystick, it burns out the servo, which breaks the steering capacity for these model boats. A youth needs to be able to integrate that guidance for a successful sail.
Bottle boats are homemade model yachts built from recycled bottles, found objects, and other low cost materials. Bottle boats are a fun and low cost way for novice sailors, especially youth, to experience the joy of model yacht sailing. Find builder tips & learn more: www.bottleyachtregatta.org/bottlebuild
Can I participate? YES!
1. Learn to Sail is free and open to all ages, recommended > 10 yrs, no boat/experience needed.
2. The Bruce Ettinger Bottle Yacht Regatta is open to anyone who builds a bottle boat that follows race guidelines: www.bottleyachtregatta.org/raceday
Check out @bottleyachts on IG for inspiration!
How do I advance register for Learn to Sail?
Learn to sail sign up is in person on a first come basis beginning at 1pm at the regatta information table on the North Shore of Spreckels Lake. We will sign up the first 30 people up for slots. If you come, you will have a chance to learn to sail with a mentor.
What time will the "Learn to Sail" activity start?
Learn to Sail begins after the regatta awards. The race start time and duration depends on wind conditions. It's not possible to have a set time. It could begin as early as 2pm or as late as 3pm. We encourage you to come cheer on the bottle boats then enjoy a chance to learn to sail.
What age is appropriate for Learn to Sail?
Novices of all ages, especially youth >10 yrs old, are invited to learn to sail. An adult needs to accompany any youth under 16 at all bottle class activities. We find that kids over 10 yrs old have the attention span to learn and the hand-eye coordination to manage the controls that steer the radio control model yachts. Every youth varies in their ability. Youth need to have the capacity to listen to instructions about how to steer a boat and the dexterity to understand how to use the controls. Although the controllers look similar to game controllers, these controllers only require a light tap and release. When pushed too hard or too long as kids do with a game joystick, it burns out the servo, which breaks the steering capacity for these model boats. A youth needs to be able to integrate that guidance for a successful sail.