By Kathy Chouteau
The S.S. Red Oak Victory’s “Fleet Week Pancake Breakfast” Sunday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is poised to be one to remember.
With Riggers Loft’s closure last weekend, the Red Oak Victory is now Richmond’s only venue overlooking San Francisco Bay. The ship’s deck offers an opportune spot to take in the Fleet Week Airshow overhead while savoring pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, apple slices, coffee and orange juice. The cost is $20/adults and $5/children 8 and under (plus minor ticketing fees). Bonus: Mimosas can be purchased by adults for an extra fee. The gorgeous bay and sky views are free.
Double bonus: The Blue Angels sometimes fly over the ship enroute to the Fleet Week Airshow. If you want to see the Fleet Week Airshow in Richmond, the Red Oak Victory is the place to be. It’s also the last Pancake Breakfast of the season, according to the ship’s Director of Marketing Fred Klink.
There’s also plenty to do on board the last remaining vessel built in Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyards—by Rosie the Riveters and their peers—during WWII. Visitors can send a radiogram to anyone in the world for free wishing them “Greetings from Fleet Week” via the ship’s Morse code-only radio.
Klink, who has sent a radiogram himself, said all visitors need is the recipient’s name and email address. “The radiogram is delivered by email to your recipient as a PDF that looks like an old-fashioned radiogram form,” he said.
Visitors can also view a special exhibit of a large diorama of the Pearl Harbor attack arranged by the Miniature Ship Collectors. A limited number of tickets for a discounted same-day audio tour or docent-led tour of the ship will also be available. And the swinging sounds of jazz will ring out that day courtesy of the Bay Area Big Band. Klink said other surprises may be in store, but are currently unconfirmed.
Klink weighed in on what makes the Fleet Week Pancake Breakfast such a singular event. “Two reasons, I think. One is that Red Oak Victory is the only surviving Victory Ship that served as a U.S. Navy commissioned vessel in World War II. She was a fleet ammunition carrier in the Pacific, so Fleet Week is a recognition of our Navy heritage,” he said.
“And secondly, the great view of the Fleet Week Airshow from our decks including (sometimes!) a close pass by the Blue Angels.”
Click here to purchase tickets to the Fleet Week Pancake Breakfast. The SS Red Oak Victory is located at 1337 Canal Boulevard Point in Richmond.
