Guest Post
I joined Mission Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) in 1962 as a teen and sailed with most of the people whose names grace the theatre streets. They were mostly small-boat sailors from Mission Bay Yacht Club, along with a few from San Diego Yacht Club.
I am a Life Member, former Club Champion, and served as Commodore of the yacht club in 2001, so I have some history with the people behind these names.
Martin Gleich and the Development of Bay Ho
I raced with Martin “Marty” Gleich as crew on his Lightning Class sailboat with Ron Stockett.
Marty was president of American Housing Guild, which built most of the houses in the Bay Ho area during the 1960s.
Ron Stockett and I—my name was Ken Karnes at the time—raced in the Lightning World Championships in Naples, Italy, in 1965. We finished 11th out of 48 entries. Not bad for Marty, who didn’t start sailing until he was in his 40s.
Marty also raced in the International Snipe Class and Lido 14 classes.
1965 Pacific Coast Championship @ MBYC
Carl Eichenlaub built his Lightning and Snipe locally, and he also had a street named after him. His sails were made by Lowell North.
His blue-hulled Lido was named Petunia—hence Petunia Court.
North’s street was named North Star Drive. Lowell North won an Olympic gold medal sailing a Star boat named “North Star.”
Karnes Way
Karnes Way was named for me, as Marty’s racing crew member and good friend.
By the way, I went back to my birth name, Wild, about 15 years ago—long story.
Peters Way
Peters Way was named after John Peters, a friend of Marty’s and fellow Lido sailor at Mission Bay Yacht Club.
John Peters raced Lido 14s at MBYC against Marty.
Conner Way and Conner Court
Conner Way and Conner Court were named after Dennis Conner, Marty’s friend, fellow San Diego Yacht Club member and four-time winner of the America’s Cup.
Hartman Way
Hartman Way was named after Harris Hartman, a fellow Lido sailor at Mission Bay Yacht Club.
Nute Way
Nute Way was named after Tom Nute, a fellow Snipe sailor and North Sails sailmaker.
Tom Nute was a sailmaker with North Sails here in San Diego. He was also a Snipe national champion and longtime member of Mission Bay Yacht Club.
Suggested caption: Tom Nute was a North Sails sailmaker, Snipe national champion and longtime member of Mission Bay Yacht Club.
Hunrichs Way
Hunrichs Way was named after William “Bill” Hunrichs, a fellow Lido sailor at Mission Bay Yacht Club.
Bill was also a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and was my professor while I was in college.
Ron Stockett and I were both on the college sailing team, and Bill Hunrichs was our faculty team advisor. Great guy!
Do you own or help run a small business in town?
Stockett Way
Stockett Way was named after Ron Stockett, a fellow sailor.
Ron and I were on the San Diego State college sailing team together and also sailed with Marty on the Snipe and Lightning.
Slayen Way
Slayen Way was named after Ervin Slayen, a fellow sailor and longtime family friend of the Gleich family and our family.
Ervin was a good friend of Marty Gleich and also sailed small boats at Mission Bay Yacht Club during the 1950s and ’60s.
Our family knew him well. I recall that when I was about 10, he offered me a ride on his motorcycle.
I declined.
Plone Way
Plone Way is one name I don’t know the story behind.
Maybe Plone was a non-sailing friend of Marty’s?
Driscoll Drive
Driscoll Way was likely named after Harland Driscoll and/or Jerry Driscoll, both champion sailors from San Diego Yacht Club who built and maintained Marty’s various boats.
Driscoll Boat Yard is still in business on San Diego and Mission Bay.
Raffee Drive
Raffee Drive was named after Alan and/or Bud Raffee, sailing friends in the Snipe and Lightning classes at Mission Bay Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club.
The Raffee brothers owned Raffee’s House of Carpets in the 1960s. It was the place to buy carpet during the building boom.
I traveled and raced Snipes with Bud, while Dennis sailed Lightnings with Dennis Conner during the 1960s.
Wheat Street
Wheat Street was named for one of Marty’s friends who was a Star champion and sailmaker with North Sails.
Marty told me the street was called “Wheat” because that was his friend’s nickname at the sail loft, a reference to his Midwestern roots and the land of wheat fields.
He moved to San Diego to race world champions such as Lowell North and became a close personal friend of Marty Gleich.
Marty eventually named the street after him.
Eichenlaub Street
Carl Eichenlaub was a legendary local boat builder and sailing champion.
He built wooden Snipes, Lightnings, Sabots, PCs, and many other types of sailboats in his yard on Shelter Island.
He was also a close friend of Marty Gleich and built Marty’s Snipe and the Lightning Class sailboat that we raced in the world championships in Naples, Italy.
How Bay Ho Got Its Name
Marty once told me the story of how Bay Ho itself got its name.
He and his business associates trudged up the knoll to survey the vacant land for potential building sites.
One of the first people to turn around saw the beautiful view of sparkling Mission Bay.
On a ship, the first person to see land traditionally calls out, “Land ho!”
In this case, the associate — who was likely a sailor — called out:
“Bay Ho!”
Everyone laughed.
And the name stuck.
The Sailors Behind a San Diego Neighborhood
What looks today like a collection of unusual street names tells a much bigger story.
Many of Bay Ho’s streets preserve the names of sailors, boat builders, sailmakers and friends connected to Marty Gleich and San Diego’s sailing community during an important period in the neighborhood’s development.
For people who know the story, names such as Karnes, Peters, Conner, Hartman, Nute, Hunrichs, Stockett, Slayen, Driscoll, Raffee, Wheat, Eichenlaub and Petunia are more than street signs.
They are reminders of the people and friendships behind the creation of Bay Ho.
