Posted to BAMA list originally. Is everyone wearing “adequate personal flotation” in the photos above?
“ Congratulations Truls! A great accomplishment.
Chis and I initially thought to go clockwise. We arrived at the starting area almost an hour early. It did look like, as we were motoring out, that first starters going CCW toward Yerba Buena were well powered and had a sailing breeze. We motored most of the way up to Blackaller, and it looked very light, both close to shore and close to blackaller.
As we came back to the starting area, many similar boats were setting up west of the line, presumably for a start toward Yerba Buena, and we decided to do the same.
It does seem like, in retrospect, Red Rock first was the winning hand, although I will be curious to hear what the experience was of those who went to Blackaller first.
The southerly was decreasing as we started and sailed to Yerba Buena. The ebb was coming on, as well, a little earlier than expected, I believe. We were probably one of the last boats to make it under the Bay Bridge. Many of the earlier monohulls had gotten around before us, and they were in very light wind north of the eastern span. The monohulls near us when we got to the bay bridge were not making good progress.
Although we had a non-ideal start, light wind, low boat speed, a couple minutes late, we were able to substantially close the gap with Roshambo and Khimera. They were using mostly screecher upwind, and we were using the jib.
Once we got around Yerba Buena, the wind was so light, and we were gradually headed on port tack gradually being turned toward the estuary. It made sense we should be able to tack onto starboard, set screecher, and reach up toward the eastern span.
We were in for a long day, but we were close to some of the boats similar to ours with great prospects to pass dozens of boats on the trip to Red Rock. Just a few minutes later, we found out it was not a long day after all.
With the motion of the tack, setting the screecher, down with the jib, we lost all boat speed and drifted too close to the black coast guard buoy tender moored at the southeast corner of Yerba Buena.
This circumstance required a relatively quick decision to start the motor and move away, we turned on the radio, called 72, and withdrew. The radio traffic on channel 72 with boats calling to withdraw was impressive.
Close to the estuary, we motored in, put the boat away.‘
