Double Handing Into The Future

[Andy Newell]

So Solano COVID rules when almost none of are racers come from there or boats berthed there, nor any YRA races there? Wacky.

I agree it is wacky. We live in wacky times right now.

The YRA office moved to Benicia in 2020 and Benicia is in Solano County. The idea is that organizing authorities should use the county they reside in.

What's the alternative? Should we need for all bay area counties to be in a particular tier? Should we use the counties that the race might go through? How many counties did TBF go through? Just Red Rock is in three counties.

Wacky? Sure. Workable? We hope so.

[Andy Newell]

Booooo! As I told YRA..... why are they using the SSS as part of their series? This means if I want to race the YRA DH series I can't race SH in the SSS. It should be a separate series. Bummed.

Covid created the market for a short handed series since crewed racing is not possible at the moment. Covid may force modification of this series. Stay tuned.

[solosailor]

So Solano COVID rules when almost none of are racers come from there or boats berthed there, nor any YRA races there? Wacky.

[solosailor]

Booooo! As I told YRA..... why are they using the SSS as part of their series? This means if I want to race the YRA DH series I can't race SH in the SSS. It should be a separate series. Bummed.

[Photoboy]

New Doublehanded Series!
Have you heard the news? The YRA and the SSS have teamed up to create a new Doublehanded Series! This new series is open to doublehanded crews and consists of 4 races ideally suited to shorthanded racing, culminating in the crowning of a new SF Bay Doublehanded Championship! Mark your calendar for the following races:



SIGN UP!


February 27th - SSS Corinthian
March 27th SSS Round the Rocks
May 23rd - YRA North/South Regatta
August 21st - YRA Bay Expedition

There is no fee to be counted in the championship series, you'll just pay the individual entry fees for each race and then sign up to have your results counted as part of the series.

Stay tuned for more info on when registration opens for the 1st race, and how to sign up to be counted in the series championship.







Racing during the COVID 19 Pandemic
CURRENT STATUS: PURPLE TIER – Racing restricted to single or doublehanded crews only
The YRA has been working closely with the U.S.C.G. since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to develop a reasonable and safe set of procedures for continuing racing during the ongoing threat of the virus.

We were all caught off guard as the pandemic hit in early 2020 and it stopped yacht racing on SF Bay in it’s tracks. We are much more prepared as we head in to 2021 and have learned how to mitigate risks and still enjoy our sport. To that end, the YRA has developed a set of guidelines which lay out what type of races we will run under the color coded tier system here in California.

As an organizing authority headquartered in Solano County, the YRA will be following the current health orders/tier status of Solano County to determine what type of race we will run. These guidelines will be updated as necessary as the course of the pandemic changes and county and/or state orders are revised. We encourage all organizing authorities to follow these guidelines and to follow the tiered status of the county they are headquartered in to determine what types of races they can run.






Please check back frequently for updates.

You can download the complete Guidelines HERE HERE

If the county status/current tier is…
County Status: California State Regional Stay at Home order in effect:

Canceling or postponing races is preferred.
If an event is held, Single handed, or Same-Household-doublehanded crews only, are OK.
No pre or post race activities.
RC is limited to a sole individual or volunteers from the same household.
Races should not count for a series unless the series is designed for singlehanded or doublehanded crews only, regardless of the county Covid Status.

County Status: Widespread / Tier 1, Purple tier: * CURRENT TIER

Racing is limited to singlehanded or double handed crews. Doublehanded crews from two separate households are OK.
RC is limited to 3 households. Race committee members must practice social distancing.
Masks are required for all participants and race committee members.
Crewed divisions can opt to race double handed but races do not count for a series.
No pre or post race activities.

County Status: Substantial / Tier 2, Red tier:

Crewed racing is OK. Crews must wear masks at all times.
Crew should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
Limit crew below deck to one person at a time for the duration of the sail (including pre and post race).
Race committee members must wear masks and practice social distancing.
No after pre or post race activities.

County Status: Moderate / Tier 3, Orange tier:

Crewed racing is OK. Crews must wear masks at all times.
Crews should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
Race committee members must wear masks and practice social distancing.
Host yacht clubs can be open for outside bar service or take out only and must follow the bar and restaurant guidelines of their county.

County Status: Minimal / Tier 4, Yellow tier:

Crewed racing is OK. Masks are recommended.
Crew should be made up from a “social bubble” of no more than 12 people.
Host yacht clubs can open for inside bar service with a limit of 50% capacity and must follow the bar and restaurant guidelines of their county.
In addition to the above guidelines for what type of race to run under each tier. We have worked with area clubs and the USCG on the following guidelines for how to run safely run races during the pandemic.
Guidelines for Organized Regattas during COVID-19

In the interest of the health and safety of race organizers, race committees and regatta participants, the following guidelines are recommended for running races during the COVID-19 pandemic. Races must be run in compliance with the current county and state health orders in effect for the organizing authority’s county of residence.

Race Committees/Race Management

1. Race Organizers must ensure their regattas follow the current health orders and social distancing requirements for their county.
2. Race Committees must be comprised of the least number of people needed to safely start and finish a race.
3. When more than 1 person is on the race deck social distancing measures must be adhered to, including remaining at least 6’ apart, wearing face coverings as appropriate and not shaking hands or engaging in any unnecessary physical contact.
4. Race Committees must maintain a Contact Logbook tracking which volunteers are on the race committee, including their county of residence.
5. Race entrants must be limited to single-handed divisions or crewed divisions where all persons on board have been sheltered in home at the same residence, unless the current county orders permit mixed household outdoor activities.

Race Committees may want to consider:

• Having All RC personnel take their temperature the morning of a race. Anyone with an elevated temperature or anyone exhibiting other symptoms should stay home.
• Wiping down common surfaces used by the race committee with disinfectant wipes. These include items such as radios, rails, pens/pencils, clipboards, etc
• Using only sound signals and omitting flags to minimize the number of people needed to start a race. Use of VHF Radio to announce courses and starting sequences is highly recommended.
• Using alternative starts, such as rabbit starts.
• Using programs such as RaceQS to track finishes, or asking participants to text finish times to the race committee.
• Using a scoring program or other system that allows racers to maintain a crew manifest for contact tracing purposes.
• Asking race committee members to provide their own food and water
• When possible, using fixed marks for race courses to avoid the need for more than one committee boat.
• Offering Non-Spinnaker divisions for family crews.
• Modifying sailing instructions to allow the use of hand signals for important hails as facemasks may impair the ability to hail.
• Race Organizers should consider designating a flag to indicate “Penalty Accepted” or some other method of accepting penalties to avoid a protest hearing.

Regatta Participants

1. Participants in a regatta must ensure they are following their current county health orders and social distancing requirements.
2. When at their marina, launching their boat and putting their boat away, racers must comply with social distancing and health/safety protocols posted at the site and any other restrictions, including prohibitions, on access and use established by the Health Officer, government, or other entity that manages such area to reduce crowding and risk of transmission of COVID-19.
3. If not racing singlehanded, crews must be limited to only those who have been sheltered in home in the same residence, unless the current county orders permit mixed household outdoor activities.
4. If mixed household crews are permissible for that regatta, the same crew should be maintained for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Racers may want to consider:
• Taking their temperature the morning of a race. Anyone with an elevated temperature or anyone exhibiting other symptoms should stay home.
• Wiping down common surfaces with disinfectant wipes.
• Maintaining a Contact Logbook tracking who is on the boat for each race including their county of residence.

Protest Hearings

1. Protest hearings should be handled via Zoom or some other remote platform when possible
2. Protest Hearing procedures should be added to sailing instructions.

Skippers Meeting/Post Event Parties

1. Skippers Meeting should be held via Zoom or some other remote platform, unless the county is in a tier that allows group gatherings.
2. No pre or post-race in-person gatherings or activities may be planned unless the county is in a tier that allows group gatherings.