California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Sailors Welcomed for ‘Fleet Week’

Hundreds of sailboats greeted submarines and battleships in San Francisco Bay for the opening day of “Fleet Week,” the city’s annual bash for the U.S. Navy. The event is San Francisco’s way of celebrating its longstanding relationship with the Navy, which has installations at Treasure Island, Alameda, Mountain View and other area communities. About 17,000 sailors, most from the Pacific Fleet, are the guests of honor for the week of festivities, which include a carnival, dances, picnics and foot races. Area residents were urged to “host a sailor” in their homes. By Saturday afternoon, 500 sailors had been placed in homes for the week, according to event organizers.