Racing in San Francisco Bay with a strong ebb tide and flukey wind
20 March 2023 · 6 min · 128 views · San Francisco Bay
What this video covers
A crew prepares for a race starting near the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere Cove, navigating the shallow channel entrance toward the starting line off Angel Island. The race course, which historically included marks like Alcatraz, Harding Rock, Red Rock, and the Brothers, features challenging currents and flukey wind conditions. Participants monitor the ebb tide, which threatens to overpower the light breeze. The fleet maneuvers near Belvedere Point and Richardson Bay while searching for the committee boat. As the race progresses, the wind remains light, and the committee boat eventually displays an AP flag, signaling a postponement or abandonment of the day's racing. Despite the light air, the crew finishes second over the line and anticipates a favorable result on corrected time. The experience highlights the tactical difficulty of managing a sailboat in the strong, current-dominated waters of San Francisco Bay.
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