PC Series Bonita Race

[Wet Spreaders]

I noticed a YRA bulletin a few weeks ago saying that the 2nd Half Opener race to Bonita was going to be rearranged to the South Bay.

That's really disappointing - we don't get to go and play outside of The Gate very often. Also, the chance to share the water with the AC72s and all of the energy and razzmatazz that goes with the cup would be fantastic.

The reason given was the area constraint due to the race course and the number of spectator boats. But realistically, there is plenty of space to the North of Alcatraz and outside the gate. The AC race course is just the South side of Alcatraz. Surely this can't be the real reason for canceling this fantastic opportunity. The Alcatraz race the following day might need some adjustment - perhaps go around Harding instead since we won't be able to pass South of Alcatraz, but having us all racing in the South Bay seems really anticlimactic to me.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

[DeathSpear]

Yeah, I'm pissed. Going to Bonita is one of the highlights of the season since my ocean racing is limited otherwise. They could make the course with leaving Alcatraz and TI to the South and send us to Bonita anyways. With a 3 boat LV Cup and the speed of those boats I really wonder how large the spectator fleet will be. I would vote for some course to Bonita.

[bobw]

It makes sense to me. The spec fleet is prolly gonna be big, and there will be a lot of traffic in and out of the spec area. And even if the course left harding and alcatraz to the south, you could still wind up tacking/gybing through that mess on the way. Too hard to set up a restricted area, too much potential for protests for people who might or might not have violated it. We had knox-bonita earlier this month for those who like a taste of the ocean. I agree the planned course is not as fun but it seems prudent to me.

[DeathSpear]

Its probably going to blow 25knots anyways so there wont be any AC racing.

[Andy Newell]

Planning had to be done for the worst case scenario. At this point who knows if they are even racing in July with rudders in court and only two boats, but unfortunately for us they own the main bay. I don't like it either, but it is the reality. It is not that YRA does not trust the racers to do the right thing. We know right of way rules much better than the mass of spectators that will be milling around the bay not paying attention. Try and shove 100 race boats through that mess and I have to agree we would be asking for trouble.

We had a racer ask a month or so ago that the course not be a 'fiasco' but a real race (no dis on the real fiasco!). The area between SF and TI is in the AC restricted zone, so any course north of TI that goes to Encinal has to go behind TI in the wind hole. I have only stumbled through one TBF but I have heard that is one of the hardest parts of the race.

The idea of swapping venues for 2nd half opener and season closer was considered (do the CYC race in July in the north bay, do Bonita to the estuary in September) but CYC had a conflict and did not want to swap.

The current plan is that we just stay south of YBI for the Second Half Opener. The plan also includes a race to Bonita as part of the PC Season Closer which takes place on 10/5-6 after the circus has left town.

There will be plenty of opportunity for racers to share the water with the AC boats - as part of the spectator fleet. We did it for the ACWS and the fleet races were fun. Match races, not so much. Think of fleet week on steroids. Your passengers might get to catch a glimpse, but whoever is driving the boat won't see anything but a traffic jam.

[Thing-Fish]

Its probably going to blow 25knots anyways so there wont be any AC racing.

Ha!

[Alan H]

Its probably going to blow 25knots anyways so there wont be any AC racing.

This...SO this. Spot on, Dan.

[DeathSpear]

Can we keep both courses on the SI's and make a decision closer to the race day, or on race day?

[bobw]

prolly something you'd need to ask the OA--encinal yacht club.

[Nick Salvador]

I think the real issue relates to the area between the AC course restricted zone and TI, which the local NOTAMS have declared as a "no loitering, no anchoring" zone as it absolutely has to be available for ship traffic. If you stuff 100 boats in there on a race day and some Panamax shows up....well you all clearly get the picture.

[Photoboy]

YRA 2nd Half Opener S.I.s Released



Sailing Instructions

Now if they only moved the finish and party to OPYC, my life would be berry, berry easy!

[The Flash]

2 weeks too early. Boat not back till the weekend of the 10th

[Photoboy]

Stop breaking boats

[IOR Geezer]

Shouldn't they use the ships in mooring as some sort of slalom or gates?

[Wet Spreaders]

This is really uncharted territory for me. What should I expect from the wind on the run down from the Bridge to the airport? Is it likely a white-sails reach or appropriate for Spinnakers? What about the other sections?

We usually motor down the estuary for deliveries after racing - my guess is that we are in for a lot of jibes in light air for that section.