Last Updated: March 18, 2026

San Francisco Bay Ferry / Total SF Vessel Naming Contest

San Francisco Chronicle Name Contest Official Rules

GENERAL:

No purchase necessary. Making a purchase will not increase your chances
of winning. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state,
and local regulations apply.

ELIGIBILITY:

San Francisco Bay Ferry Vessel Naming Contest (“Contest”) is offered only to legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. One winner per household. One winner per family. Prizes are non-transferable. Contest is offered only to California residents who reside within the Bay Area Designated Market Area (“DMA”) as determined by Nielsen Media Research Services. Winners of a contest or sweepstakes hosted or sponsored by the Chronicle or its affiliates within the past calendar year (as of the start date of this Contest) are not eligible. Employees of the Chronicle and members of their immediate families, Hearst Newspapers, LLC, San Francisco Bay Ferry Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (“San Francisco Bay Ferry”) (Together, “Sponsor”), Hearst Corporation and each of their affiliates, representatives, and agents, and their directors and employees (collectively, “Contest Entities”), and the members of the same households of such individuals are not eligible. The term “immediate families” includes spouses, grandparents, parents, siblings, children and grandchildren. No groups, clubs, or organizations may participate in this Contest or reproduce or distribute any portion of these Official Rules to their members. Proof of age, identity, and eligibility must be furnished to Sponsor upon request. All entry form information must be complete and accurate. Sponsor will not award a prize to anyone not meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entry. By entering, you agree to comply with all applicable law and these Official Rules, and you agree to abide by all decisions of the Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant if these Official Rules are not followed. Internet access is necessary to enter.

HOW TO ENTER:

The Contest Entry Period begins at 4:00 am PST on March 19, 2026, and ends at 10:00 am March 31, 2026 (“Entry Period”). All times refer to Pacific Daylight Time (“PDT”).

To enter, log on to www.sfchronicle.com, completely fill out and submit an electronic entry form and check the box to submit your email. An entry must include a suggested name for a new San Francisco Bay Ferry vessel. Entries also may not include names of corporations, products, real people, any trademarked names or major vessels that operate consistently in the San Francisco Bay. . Entries may not contain indecent, obscene, profane, or offensive language (“Objectionable Language”) as judged in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to reject or disqualify entries that contain Objectionable Language or do not follow the stated rules. All entries must be received during the Entry Period.

Sponsor will not verify receipt of entries. Entries become property of San Francisco Bay Ferry and will not be returned. Limit one (1) entry per person during the Entry Period. Incomplete entries are void. Sponsor is not responsible for entries that are lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, incomprehensible, illegible, damaged, undeliverable or delayed. Photocopied and mechanically generated entries are void. Entries generated by any automated means are void. Electronic entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address at the time of the entry. The authorized account holder is the person to whom the applicable internet service provider or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the e-mail address. Online entrants must have valid e-mail address and it is entrant’s responsibility to update Sponsor of any change in e-mail address.

HOW TO WIN:

First-round Contest entry finalists will be chosen by a panel of San Francisco Bay Ferry staff in consultation with Total SF/SF Chronicle based on the San Francisco Bay Ferry’s vessel naming policy and the rules stated above. Criteria include: names that celebrate Bay Area culture and history and/or maritime/marine systems. First-round Finalists will be posted on www.sfchronicle.com on April 28, 2026. In the event a suggested ferry name occurs more than once from various entrants, and that name is chosen as a First-round Finalist, the entrant who first submitted their entry will be that name’s First-round finalist.

Sfchronicle.com visitors will be invited to vote for the winners (e.g. five (5) most deserving names) based on the content of the entries submitted. The Voting Period will begin on April 28, 2026, and end on May 8, 2025 (“Voting Period”) (See Voting Rules at point of voting for more information). Participants are prohibited from attempting to unfairly affect the number of votes cast for any entry(s). Votes cast by automated means, including macros, code, software, or other devices will be disqualified and will not count towards the total votes cast.

At the conclusion of the Voting Period, the ten (10) entries that get the greatest number of votes will be shared with the San Francisco Bay Ferry Board of Directors. In the event of a tie between any of the top ten-plus vote-getters, a random drawing between the tied participants will determine the top ten (10) finalists.

Sponsor is not responsible for incomplete, incomprehensible, illegible, or out-of-service contact information. If Sponsor is unable, after making a reasonable effort, to contact a selected potential winner, that potential winner will forfeit their prize.

On or before June 1, 2026, five (5) Winners will be chosen by a panel of San Francisco Bay Ferry Board of Directors from among the ten (10) finalists based on final vote count, adherence to the rules stated above and the San Francisco Bay Ferry Board of Director’s discretion.

Potential Winner(s) will be notified by email as soon as possible after final day of judging. Winner must respond to such notification, by responding to the Sweepstakes coordinator provided in the notification, within seven (7) days after the notification is sent by Sponsor, or the Winner will be subject to disqualification, in which case the Prize will be forfeited, and an alternate Winner will be selected from among the remaining five (5) Finalists, time permitting. Winners may be required to sign and return appropriate forms and/or documentation, including an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and/or where legally permissible a Publicity Release within fourteen (14) days following the date of first attempted notification. Winner hereby further agrees that it will sign any documents necessary to transfer copyright of the entry to San Francisco Bay Ferry within fourteen (14) days following the date of first attempted notification. Failure to sign and return such forms within the requisite timeframe could result in disqualification.

Sponsor is not responsible for incomplete, incomprehensible, illegible, or out-of-service contact information. If Sponsor is unable, after making a reasonable effort, to contact a selected potential winner, that potential winner will forfeit their prize.

PUBLICITY RELEASE:

Except where prohibited, entry in the Contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to use, publish, reproduce and for all purposes, including publicity, promotion and advertising, in any media (including without limitation, the Internet, television, radio, or offline promotions), each Winner’s name, city, photograph, likeness, biographical material, voice, image, and ferry name submission, each in perpetuity without further compensation, credit or right of review or approval.

PRIZES:

Five (5) Winner(s) will each receive: One (1) “golden ticket” good for one (1) year of unlimited rides on the San Francisco Bay Ferry system, valid July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2027 and an invitation to the commissioning ceremony for the boat receiving their name entry (date TBD). (Commissioning ceremony inclusion is by invitation only and does not have an associated value).

Estimated Retail Value (“ERV”) of Prize: $500

All charges, fees, and costs not specifically included in the prize descriptions above, including but not limited to personal incidental items, transportation, taxes, souvenirs, gratuities, and licenses, are the responsibility of the respective Prize Winner(s). In the event that the commissioning ceremony is cancelled or postponed for any reason, Sponsor shall have no further prize component obligation to the Winner.

Prizes must be acknowledged and prize paperwork signed via email no later than 5 p.m. on June 15, 2026.

To claim prize, Winner(s) must complete all prize paperwork by the above date and time. Prize is non-transferable. No cash redemption or prize substitution allowed by Prize Winner(s). Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any reason in the sole discretion of Sponsor if the Prize or any component thereof is unavailable for any reason.

ODDS:

Winners are selected as described above and, as such there are no odds of winning. In the event of a tie between any of the top 10-plus vote-getters during the voting round, odds of being a top ten Finalist are one in the number of tied participants.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:

Participants are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and with these Official Rules, and by entering, participants agree to be bound to these Official Rules. Any attempt by an entrant or other party to tamper with the proper administration of the Contest will disqualify the entrant and may result in civil or criminal action against the entrant or other party and may result in the discontinuation, suspension, or cancellation of the Contest. WINNERS AND ENTRANTS AGREE, EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW, TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE, HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE CONTEST ENTITIES, AND ALL OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF THIS CONTEST, FROM ANY AND ALL TAX LIABILITY THAT MAY BE IMPOSED OR ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIPT OR USE OF THE PRIZES, AND FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, PROCEEDINGS, AND LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, EXPENSES, FEES, INJURY OR LOSSES (INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH) SUSTAINED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECEIPT, OWNERSHIP, OR USE OF THE PRIZE OR WHILE TRAVELING TO, PREPARING FOR, OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY. Sponsor is not responsible for any printing, typographical, mechanical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Contest or in the announcement of the Prize. Winner’s guest(s), if applicable, must execute a liability and publicity release prior to the Winner’s receipt of the Prize. Sponsor retains the discretion to make all decisions regarding the interpretation and application of these Official Rules. All decisions of Sponsor are final and discretionary. In the event the selected Winner(s) of the Prize are/is ineligible or refuse(s) the Prize, the Prize will be forfeited and San Francisco Bay Ferry, in its sole discretion, may select an alternate Winner from remaining entries, or may elect not to award such Prize to an alternate Winner, where permitted. For prizes valued at $1,200 or greater, Winner must provide his or her Social Security Number for tax purposes. Prizes may be considered income, and any and all taxes associated with Prizes are the responsibility of the Winner(s).

DISCLAIMER/INTERNET:

If for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, and unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, acts of God, war, terrorism, government regulation, disaster, fire, strikes, civil disorder, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity of the Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right in its discretion to disqualify any individual it believes has tampered with the entry process, and/or cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. San Francisco. Bay Ferry reserves the right to select winners from eligible entries received as of the termination date. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in a Contest if it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception or other unfair playing practices or intending to abuse, threaten or harass other entrants. Caution: Any attempt by a participant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such participant to the fullest extent of the law. The Contest Entities (i) assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alternation of, entries; (ii) are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or provider, computer equipment, software, failure of any entry information to be received by the Sponsor on account of technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or (iii) any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to the participant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Contest. SPONSOR MAKES NO WARRANTY, GUARANTEE, OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND CONCERNING ANY PRIZE, AND SPONSOR SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, WARRANTY OF FITNESS, AND ANY OTHER IMPLIED WARRANTY.

ARBITRATION/CHOICE OF LAW:

Except where prohibited, entrants agree that any and all claims, judgments and awards arising out of or connected with this Contest shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by entrant with regard to this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees, punitive, incidental, consequential or other damages. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and sponsors in connection with the Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than California. The City and County of San Francisco shall be the exclusive forum for any dispute relating to these Official Rules and/or this Contest. All participants and winners agree, by their participation in the Contest, to submit to personal jurisdiction in the City and County of San Francisco. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the invalidity or unenforceability of any other provision so long as the general intent of these Official Rules remains in effect. In the event that any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these Official Rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.

OFFICIAL RULES AND LIST OF WINNERS:

To receive a copy of these Official Rules visit www.sfchronicle.com. Official rules supersede all other published editions. Sponsor reserves the right to change, alter, or amend these Sweepstakes rules as necessary, in its sole discretion, to ensure the fair administration of the Sweepstakes or to comply with applicable law. To receive a list of winners’ names, send a self-addressed stamped envelope within 60 days of the conclusion of the Sweepstakes to San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Bay Ferry Vessel Naming Contest Winners List, 901 Mission St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103.

SPONSOR(S):

San Francisco Chronicle – 901 Mission St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

San Francisco Bay Ferry – 375 Beale St., Suite 310, San Francisco, CA 94105