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{{Infobox-event
{{Infobox-event
| name          = BayCon
| name          = BayCon
| image          = BayCon 2023 Logo.png
| classification = Flag Event
| classification = Flag Event
| type          = Speculative fiction convention (science fiction, fantasy, horror & supernatural)
| type          = Speculative fiction convention (science fiction, fantasy, horror & supernatural)
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'''BayCon''' is the San Francisco Bay Area's longest-running fan-run '''speculative fiction''' convention, and the flagship convention of the [[Tenth Fleet]]'s area of responsibility. Founded in 1982 as the Bay Area's regional science fiction and fantasy convention, it was held over Thanksgiving weekend for its first two years, moved to Memorial Day weekend from 1984 through 2019, and — after the 2020 event was cancelled during the pandemic and 2021 was held virtually — returned in 2022 on the Independence Day weekend, where it has remained.<ref name="wp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BayCon "BayCon"], Wikipedia — convention history, year-by-year dates, venues, and themes.</ref><ref name="baycon">[https://baycon.org/ BayCon official website].</ref> Its venues have included the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara (through 2015), the San Mateo Marriott, and, since 2023, the Santa Clara Marriott.<ref name="wp" /> In more recent years BayCon has broadened its remit from science fiction and fantasy to the wider '''speculative fiction''' genre, showcasing horror and supernatural themes alongside its traditional programming.
'''BayCon''' is the San Francisco Bay Area's longest-running fan-run '''speculative fiction''' convention, and the flagship convention of the [[Tenth Fleet]]'s area of responsibility. Founded in 1982 as the Bay Area's regional science fiction and fantasy convention, it was held over Thanksgiving weekend for its first two years, moved to Memorial Day weekend from 1984 through 2019, and — after the 2020 event was cancelled during the pandemic and 2021 was held virtually — returned in 2022 on the Independence Day weekend, where it has remained.<ref name="wp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BayCon "BayCon"], Wikipedia — convention history, year-by-year dates, venues, and themes.</ref><ref name="baycon">[https://baycon.org/ BayCon official website].</ref> Its venues have included the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara (through 2015), the San Mateo Marriott, and, since 2023, the Santa Clara Marriott.<ref name="wp" /> In more recent years BayCon has broadened its remit from science fiction and fantasy to the wider '''speculative fiction''' genre, showcasing horror and supernatural themes alongside its traditional programming.


BayCon has been designated a '''[[Portal:Policy Documents|Flag Event]]''' — the modern successor term to the "Fleet Event" classification in use before the 2023 reorganization — and is the convention at which the [[Tenth Fleet]] has most consistently gathered. [[Task Group 91.1]] attended BayCon every year from 2014 through 2019, and once more upon the convention's 2022 return, and the fleet has hosted its annual '''Tenth Fleet Summit''' at BayCon in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2024, and 2026.
BayCon has been designated a '''[[Portal:Policy Documents|Flag Event]]''' — the modern successor term to the "Fleet Event" classification in use before the 2023 reorganization — and is the convention at which the [[Tenth Fleet]] has most consistently gathered. [[Task Group 91.1]] attended BayCon every year from 2014 through 2019, and once more upon the convention's 2022 return; BayCon also serves as the southern venue for the fleet's rotating '''[[Tenth Fleet Summit]]''', which it has hosted in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2026.


== Tenth Fleet origins at BayCon (2014) ==
== Tenth Fleet origins at BayCon (2014) ==
The [[Tenth Fleet]]'s association with BayCon dates to '''BayCon 2014''' (23–26 May, themed "Got Honor?"), where the [[Saganami-C-class]] heavy cruiser {{hms|Wolf|CA-429}} was commissioned in Ceres, in the California Central Valley, under the command of then-[[CAPTJG]] James Jones.<ref name="tf">[[Tenth Fleet]] — fleet history documenting HMS ''Wolf''&#39;s commissioning at BayCon 2014.</ref><ref name="buships1405-07">[[Orders:BuShips Directive 1405-07]], 25 May 2014.</ref> The following month, [[Task Group 91.1]] was formed under [[CAPTSG]] [[Sir]] Thomas Marrone by order of the [[First Space Lord]], with ''Wolf'' among its three charter vessels.<ref name="tg" /><ref name="nd14ju01u">[[Orders:Naval Directive 14JU-01U]]</ref> BayCon thereafter became the task group's home convention.
The [[Tenth Fleet]]'s association with BayCon dates to '''BayCon 2014''' (23–26 May, themed "Got Honor?"), where the [[Saganami-C-class]] heavy cruiser {{hms|Wolf|CA-429}} was commissioned in Ceres, in the California Central Valley, under the command of then-[[CAPTJG]] James Jones.<ref name="tf">[[Tenth Fleet]] — fleet history documenting HMS ''Wolf''&#39;s commissioning at BayCon 2014.</ref><ref name="buships1405-07">[[Orders:BuShips Directive 1405-07]], 25 May 2014.</ref> The following month, [[Task Group 91.1]] was formed under [[CAPTSG]] [[Sir]] Thomas Marrone by order of the [[First Space Lord]], with ''Wolf'' among its three charter vessels.<ref name="tg" /><ref name="nd14ju01u">[[Orders:Naval Directive 14JU-01U]]</ref> BayCon thereafter became the task group's home convention.
BayCon 2014's Writer Guest of Honor was [[David Weber]] — whose ''[[Honorverse]]'' novels supply the setting for the [[Tenth Fleet]] and {{trmn}}, and the source of the "Got Honor?" theme — which made the convention an '''Admiralty House Event''', the class of high-profile gathering (later codified under [[Orders:Admiralty Order 1803-02]]) marked by the attendance of TRMN's senior literary patrons.<ref name="bc2014goh">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BayCon "BayCon"], Wikipedia — 2014 Writer Guest of Honor: David Weber.</ref>


== Tenth Fleet Summits ==
== Tenth Fleet Summits ==
{{main|Tenth Fleet Summit}}
{{main|Tenth Fleet Summit}}
The '''[[Tenth Fleet Summit]]''' is the fleet's principal annual in-person gathering, held at BayCon. From 2015 through 2019 the fleet and its principal California task group '''alternated''' hosting duties: the fleet-wide Tenth Fleet Summit convened in the odd-numbered years, while in the intervening even-numbered years [[Task Group 91.1]] held a summit for its own members.
The '''[[Tenth Fleet Summit]]''' is the fleet's principal annual gathering, and is '''not exclusive to BayCon'''. To keep travel equitable across the Tenth Fleet's very large area of responsibility, Fleet leadership rotates the summit between '''southern''' (California) and '''northern''' (Pacific Northwest) conventions. BayCon is the fleet's southern venue, and has hosted the Tenth Fleet Summit in:
* '''2015''' — '''Tenth Fleet Summit''', hosted by [[Task Group 91.1]]; the commissioning of the fleet's first LAC carrier, {{hms|Cerberus|CLAC-42}}.<ref name="tg">[[Task Group 91.1]] — task group history documenting BayCon attendance and the 2015/2016 summits.</ref>
* '''2015''' — hosted by [[Task Group 91.1]]; the commissioning of the fleet's first LAC carrier, {{hms|Cerberus|CLAC-42}}.<ref name="tg">[[Task Group 91.1]] — task group history documenting the 2015 summit and its commissioning.</ref>
* '''2016''' — '''Task Group 91.1 Summit''' (the first such summit for the task group's own members); the commissioning of the destroyer {{hms|Chainshot|DD-372}}.<ref name="tg" />
* '''2017''' — hosted by [[Task Group 91.1]].
* '''2017''' — '''Tenth Fleet Summit'''.
* '''2019''' — hosted by [[Task Group 91.1]].
* '''2018''' — '''Task Group 91.1 Summit'''.
* '''2022''' — hosted by the fleet flagship {{hms|Medusa|SD-316}}.
* '''2019''' — '''Tenth Fleet Summit'''.
* '''2024''' — jointly hosted by the combined crews of {{hms|Medusa|SD-316}} and {{hms|Guadalcanal|LPH-02}}.
* '''2024''' — '''Tenth Fleet Summit''' (resumed after the pandemic-era hiatus).
* '''2026''' — jointly hosted by {{hms|Medusa|SD-316}} and {{hms|Guadalcanal|LPH-02}}; designated a Flag Event and the 10th Fleet Summit for 2026 by [[Orders:Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01|Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01]].<ref name="tfo2511">[[Orders:Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01]]</ref>
* '''2026''' — '''Tenth Fleet Summit''', designated a Flag Event and the 10th Fleet Summit for 2026 by [[Orders:Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01|Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01]].<ref name="tfo2511">[[Orders:Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01]]</ref>
In the intervening years the summit is held at northern venues — [[NorWesCon]] (2016 and 2018, hosted by [[Battlecruiser Squadron 96]]), [[OryCon]] (2025), and [[RadCon]] (2020). No fleet summit was held in 2023: the TRMN-wide [[MantiCon]] was co-located with BayCon that year (see below), and the entire fleet attended it instead.
 
Separately, and distinct from the fleet-wide summit, [[Task Group 91.1]] held its own '''Task Group 91.1 Summit''' for the task group's own members at BayCon in '''2016''' — where the destroyer {{hms|Chainshot|DD-372}} was commissioned — and '''2018'''.<ref name="tg" />


== 2023: MantiCon and the TRMN reorganization ==
== 2023: MantiCon and the TRMN reorganization ==
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! Year !! Dates !! Theme !! Tenth Fleet significance
! Year !! Dates !! Theme !! Tenth Fleet significance
|-
|-
| 2014 || 23–26 May || "Got Honor?" || {{hms|Wolf|CA-429}} commissioned; [[Task Group 91.1]] formed the following month
| 2014 || 23–26 May || "Got Honor?" || Admiralty House Event ([[David Weber]], Writer GoH); {{hms|Wolf|CA-429}} commissioned; [[Task Group 91.1]] formed the following month
|-
|-
| 2015 || 22–24 May || "Women of Wonder" || '''Tenth Fleet Summit''' (host: TG 91.1); {{hms|Cerberus|CLAC-42}} commissioned
| 2015 || 22–24 May || "Women of Wonder" || '''Tenth Fleet Summit''' (host: TG 91.1); {{hms|Cerberus|CLAC-42}} commissioned
Line 42: Line 47:
| 2016 || 27–30 May || "It's All About Space!" || First '''Task Group 91.1 Summit'''; {{hms|Chainshot|DD-372}} commissioned
| 2016 || 27–30 May || "It's All About Space!" || First '''Task Group 91.1 Summit'''; {{hms|Chainshot|DD-372}} commissioned
|-
|-
| 2017 || 26–29 May || "Dystopia/Utopia" || '''Tenth Fleet Summit'''
| 2017 || 26–29 May || "Dystopia/Utopia" || '''Tenth Fleet Summit''' (host: [[Task Group 91.1]])
|-
|-
| 2018 || 25–28 May || "Patchwork Fandom" || '''[[Tenth Fleet Summit|Task Group 91.1 Summit]]'''
| 2018 || 25–28 May || "Patchwork Fandom" || '''[[Tenth Fleet Summit|Task Group 91.1 Summit]]'''
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| 2021 || colspan="2" | ''Virtual only'' || No in-person gathering
| 2021 || colspan="2" | ''Virtual only'' || No in-person gathering
|-
|-
| 2022 || 1–4 July || "The Sun Rises" || BayCon returns in-person on the Independence Day weekend; TG 91.1's final BayCon attendance
| 2022 || 1–4 July || "The Sun Rises" || BayCon returns in-person; hosted the '''Tenth Fleet Summit'''; TG 91.1's final BayCon attendance
|-
|-
| 2023 || 1–4 July || "A Night at the Space Opera" || Held jointly with [[MantiCon]]; TRMN adopts new bylaws and seats its [[Board of Directors]]
| 2023 || 1–4 July || "A Night at the Space Opera" || Held jointly with [[MantiCon]]; TRMN adopts new bylaws and seats its [[Board of Directors]]
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|}
|}
<small>Convention dates, venues, and themes per BayCon's published history.<ref name="wp" /><ref name="baycon" /> TG 91.1 attended each in-person BayCon from 2014 through 2019 and again in 2022; the task group was [[Orders:Her Majesty's Naval Directive 2502-05|dissolved on 25 February 2025]].<ref name="tg" /></small>
<small>Convention dates, venues, and themes per BayCon's published history.<ref name="wp" /><ref name="baycon" /> TG 91.1 attended each in-person BayCon from 2014 through 2019 and again in 2022; the task group was [[Orders:Her Majesty's Naval Directive 2502-05|dissolved on 25 February 2025]].<ref name="tg" /></small>
== Gallery of BayCon logos ==
A selection of BayCon convention logos and themes over the years:
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
File:BayCon 2013 Logo.png|2013 — "Triskaidekaphobicon"
File:BayCon 2016 Logo.png|2016 — "It's All About Space" (San Mateo Marriott)
File:BayCon 2017 Logo.png|2017 — "Dystopia/Utopia"
File:BayCon 2018 Logo.png|2018 — "Patchwork Fandom"
File:BayCon 2019 Logo.png|2019 — "Insert Coin to Continue"
File:BayCon 2022 Logo.png|2022 — "The Sun Rises"
File:BayCon 2023 Logo.png|2023 — "A Night at the Space Opera" (hosted [[MantiCon]] 2023)
File:BayCon 2024 Logo.png|2024 — "Pure Imagination"
File:BayCon 2025 Logo.jpg|2025 — "A Convenient Parallel Dimension" (Westercon 77)
File:BayCon 2026 Logo.png|2026 — BayCon 42, "The Answer" (Westercon 78)
File:BayCon 2027 Logo.png|2027 — "Night City Rising" (Westercon 79)
</gallery>


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:Conventions]]
[[Category:Fleet Events]]
[[Category:Fleet Events]]
[[Category:Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 06:47, 3 August 2026

BayCon
Flag Event (FE)
Type: Speculative fiction convention (science fiction, fantasy, horror & supernatural)
Status: Active (annual)
Location: Santa Clara, California
When: Annual; historically Memorial Day weekend, moved to the Independence Day weekend from 2022
First held: 1982
Host:  Tenth Fleet (recurring Fleet Event / Summit host)
Guest(s) of Honor: Past guests have included David Brin, Brandon Sanderson, Larry Niven, Bob Eggleton, and Michael Whelan


BayCon is the San Francisco Bay Area's longest-running fan-run speculative fiction convention, and the flagship convention of the Tenth Fleet's area of responsibility. Founded in 1982 as the Bay Area's regional science fiction and fantasy convention, it was held over Thanksgiving weekend for its first two years, moved to Memorial Day weekend from 1984 through 2019, and — after the 2020 event was cancelled during the pandemic and 2021 was held virtually — returned in 2022 on the Independence Day weekend, where it has remained.[1][2] Its venues have included the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara (through 2015), the San Mateo Marriott, and, since 2023, the Santa Clara Marriott.[1] In more recent years BayCon has broadened its remit from science fiction and fantasy to the wider speculative fiction genre, showcasing horror and supernatural themes alongside its traditional programming.

BayCon has been designated a Flag Event — the modern successor term to the "Fleet Event" classification in use before the 2023 reorganization — and is the convention at which the Tenth Fleet has most consistently gathered. Task Group 91.1 attended BayCon every year from 2014 through 2019, and once more upon the convention's 2022 return; BayCon also serves as the southern venue for the fleet's rotating Tenth Fleet Summit, which it has hosted in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2026.

Tenth Fleet origins at BayCon (2014)

The Tenth Fleet's association with BayCon dates to BayCon 2014 (23–26 May, themed "Got Honor?"), where the Saganami-C-class heavy cruiser HMS Wolf was commissioned in Ceres, in the California Central Valley, under the command of then-CAPTJG James Jones.[3][4] The following month, Task Group 91.1 was formed under CAPTSG Sir Thomas Marrone by order of the First Space Lord, with Wolf among its three charter vessels.[5][6] BayCon thereafter became the task group's home convention.

BayCon 2014's Writer Guest of Honor was David Weber — whose Honorverse novels supply the setting for the Tenth Fleet and The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc., and the source of the "Got Honor?" theme — which made the convention an Admiralty House Event, the class of high-profile gathering (later codified under Orders:Admiralty Order 1803-02) marked by the attendance of TRMN's senior literary patrons.[7]

Tenth Fleet Summits

Main article: Tenth Fleet Summit

The Tenth Fleet Summit is the fleet's principal annual gathering, and is not exclusive to BayCon. To keep travel equitable across the Tenth Fleet's very large area of responsibility, Fleet leadership rotates the summit between southern (California) and northern (Pacific Northwest) conventions. BayCon is the fleet's southern venue, and has hosted the Tenth Fleet Summit in:

In the intervening years the summit is held at northern venues — NorWesCon (2016 and 2018, hosted by Battlecruiser Squadron 96), OryCon (2025), and RadCon (2020). No fleet summit was held in 2023: the TRMN-wide MantiCon was co-located with BayCon that year (see below), and the entire fleet attended it instead.

Separately, and distinct from the fleet-wide summit, Task Group 91.1 held its own Task Group 91.1 Summit for the task group's own members at BayCon in 2016 — where the destroyer HMS Chainshot was commissioned — and 2018.[5]

2023: MantiCon and the TRMN reorganization

BayCon 2023 (1–4 July, themed "A Night at the Space Opera") was held jointly with a MantiCon, drawing members from across The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. in what was the organization's largest single gathering on the West Coast.[1] It was at this convention that TRMN adopted its revised bylaws and transitioned to governance by a Board of Directors, holding its first annual meeting and electing its officers and committee chairs.[9]

BayCon appearances

Tenth Fleet participation at BayCon
Year Dates Theme Tenth Fleet significance
2014 23–26 May "Got Honor?" Admiralty House Event (David Weber, Writer GoH); HMS Wolf commissioned; Task Group 91.1 formed the following month
2015 22–24 May "Women of Wonder" Tenth Fleet Summit (host: TG 91.1); HMS Cerberus commissioned
2016 27–30 May "It's All About Space!" First Task Group 91.1 Summit; HMS Chainshot commissioned
2017 26–29 May "Dystopia/Utopia" Tenth Fleet Summit (host: Task Group 91.1)
2018 25–28 May "Patchwork Fandom" Task Group 91.1 Summit
2019 24–27 May "Insert Coin to Continue" Tenth Fleet Summit
2020 Cancelled (pandemic) No convention
2021 Virtual only No in-person gathering
2022 1–4 July "The Sun Rises" BayCon returns in-person; hosted the Tenth Fleet Summit; TG 91.1's final BayCon attendance
2023 1–4 July "A Night at the Space Opera" Held jointly with MantiCon; TRMN adopts new bylaws and seats its Board of Directors
2024 4–7 July "Pure Imagination" Tenth Fleet Summit
2025 4–7 July "A Convenient Parallel Dimension" Held jointly with Westercon 77
2026 3–6 July "The Answer" (BayCon 42) Designated a Flag Event and 10th Fleet Summit by Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01

Convention dates, venues, and themes per BayCon's published history.[1][2] TG 91.1 attended each in-person BayCon from 2014 through 2019 and again in 2022; the task group was dissolved on 25 February 2025.[5]

A selection of BayCon convention logos and themes over the years:

  • 2013 — "Triskaidekaphobicon"
    2013 — "Triskaidekaphobicon"
  • 2016 — "It's All About Space" (San Mateo Marriott)
    2016 — "It's All About Space" (San Mateo Marriott)
  • 2017 — "Dystopia/Utopia"
    2017 — "Dystopia/Utopia"
  • 2018 — "Patchwork Fandom"
    2018 — "Patchwork Fandom"
  • 2019 — "Insert Coin to Continue"
    2019 — "Insert Coin to Continue"
  • 2022 — "The Sun Rises"
    2022 — "The Sun Rises"
  • 2023 — "A Night at the Space Opera" (hosted MantiCon 2023)
    2023 — "A Night at the Space Opera" (hosted MantiCon 2023)
  • 2024 — "Pure Imagination"
    2024 — "Pure Imagination"
  • 2025 — "A Convenient Parallel Dimension" (Westercon 77)
    2025 — "A Convenient Parallel Dimension" (Westercon 77)
  • 2026 — BayCon 42, "The Answer" (Westercon 78)
    2026 — BayCon 42, "The Answer" (Westercon 78)
  • 2027 — "Night City Rising" (Westercon 79)
    2027 — "Night City Rising" (Westercon 79)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "BayCon", Wikipedia — convention history, year-by-year dates, venues, and themes.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 BayCon official website.
  3. ↑ Tenth Fleet — fleet history documenting HMS Wolf's commissioning at BayCon 2014.
  4. ↑ Orders:BuShips Directive 1405-07, 25 May 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Task Group 91.1 — task group history documenting the 2015 summit and its commissioning.
  6. ↑ Orders:Naval Directive 14JU-01U
  7. ↑ "BayCon", Wikipedia — 2014 Writer Guest of Honor: David Weber.
  8. ↑ Orders:Tenth Fleet Order 2511-01
  9. ↑ See Portal:Policy Documents for the 2023–2024 policy framework enacted following the reorganization.
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