2023 Three Bridge Fiasco Feedback

[fauxboat]

Hello, Three Bridge Fiasco Competitors!

We changed some things this year. Please give us some feedback on how well we met our goals, and the race in general.

I have three topics of special interest:

1) The area within 150' of the start line has been reserved for boats about to start for many years, but we have seen many boats in the past go in there "before their time" and distrupt the smaller boats attempting to start. To give small boats more breathing room, this year we measured out 150' on shore and placed flags there, as well as people with clipboards and lists of boats and their allowed entry times. From your perspective, did that help, make no difference, or ? Any unintended consequences?

2) We have also had SIs in place about "if you are over early, don't go back, we'll give you a start penalty" for a while. In an effort to align with the 2021-2024 rules, we adopted DR21-01 to do essentially the same thing as prior years, but in a more 2021-2024 RRS-friendly way. Any feedback on that, either as a concept (which we've been doing) or implementation (the switch to DR21-01)?

3) Several years ago there was an impromptu raft-up at Yerba Buena alongside a Coast Guard ship. Damage ensued. The old restricted area was 100' from the side of that ship, and this year we thought that if someone was getting swept where they did not wish to go, 100' was not enough distance / time for someone to deploy an engine or anchor. Was the new restricted area successful at reducing the risk of a ship encounter there?

We hope you had a fun day on the water, and have stories to tell for years to come.


Richard, 2023 SSS Race Co-Chair

 

[sleddog]

Hi! Fun day on the water. Two comments: We saw many boats labeled "DNC" on the course. What is your interpretation of "DNC" vs. "DNF?" Also, multis should not be listed with monos in the overall results as their PHRF ratings, and thus starting times, do not compare..... my 2 cents. Thanks for your hard work!

 

[BobJ]

Yeah, you need to take down Overall Results by Course and post Overall Results: SH, DH, Multi SH, Multi DH. Great to have them up in <24 hours - thanks!

Good race and from my perspective, well-run. It was fun to hear some long-time SSS voices working the radios but it appears check-ins were an issue again. In 2014 when I was 3BF's PRO, we didn't do them and nobody died.

 

[talonf4u]

Always a great event and I always feel indebted to the Race Committee members that make it happen. Thanks! Special thanks to you for taking the time and energy to try to improve the process!

I am also a little concerned about the 100+ DNCs. I heard a lot of folks calling RC multiple times and not getting a reply. Perhaps the level of DNCness in this one merits consideration that it was probably not 100+ competitors with dysfunctional radios and maybe we should score them.

 

[Philpott]

Hi, Barcanova, good to know you are back on the water! I have a few thoughts about your post. First of all, I only count 56 DNCs, and can personally attest to the fact that at least four of them are boats that I know did not leave their slips. There may be more, people who looked out their windows and saw all that fog, people who didn't think the wind would ever come up. Lots of reasons for people to not compete.

There are all those other reasons, too: People calling from the other side of Alcatraz, people forgetting to check in, people using handhelds that were inadequately charged. I remember hearing someone on the RC mentioning that they themselves were using handhelds. For whatever the reason, they were not high (and warmer) up on the GGYC deck using a big fat antenna. And they stood on the seawall all day long. For us.

I'm willing to bet they responded to every boat that tried to reach them close up. But then again, I've been on many a race deck, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Everyone should spend time on the SSS race deck. Standing up in the dirt of Drakes Bay would be especially eye opening.

 

[Philpott]

The SSS needs to get a permit from the Coasties every time we have a race on the bay. If we don't know who's on the course we can't tell the Coasties that we have accounted for all the people on the course at the end of the day. We can't say, "Oh, most of the sailors are safe. Maybe four or five are still out there, but we don't know. They might be floating around somewhere." No No No. That can't happen.

The Singlehanded Sailing Society no longer requires ACTs or SATs or even MCATs. We got rid of those long ago so more people could come out and race. For this race people didn't even have to have a PHRF for their boats. That is also reflected in the number of newbies registered. Personally? I think people just need to make sure their radios are charged up, and maybe they need to leave the dock a little early in order to sail over close to the RC in order to get a response. My My. The world is going to hell in a haybasket.

 

[Capo30Skye]

Thank you RC for a difficult job that you did well, with the exception of the radio work. I called my check in 5 times using my masthead 25 w vhf and 2 times with my handheld fully charged 5watt dsc vhf. My radios could hear each other transmitting and I was no more than 100 yards from the comity’s for several of those. I did finally get a response and was able to communicate that I had an alternate sail number to add, which the committee repeated back to me and wished me a good race. At the finish, I tried three times to contact the committee that I was finishing and the boat next to me also tried calling twice. After my third try the committee member informed me that they were busy. I received a DNC. I started 2 minutes after my official start time because I wanted to be careful not to be in the restricted area before the 5 minutes before my start. This should not be a reason for the DNC. I heard many boats with booming transmissions not get an answer. I don’t know if there was a problem with the committee’s radio, but it was very frustrating transmitting into emptiness. If I didn’t have two radios, I would have thought that I wasn’t transmitting at all. Thank you again for your time and effort. Whether or not I get scored is really not a big deal in the overall picture, but the lack of communication did detract from some of the enjoyment of the day. Thank you, George McKay, SV Skye, Capo 30

 

[BobJ]

Same here George. I called in 4X on Ch. 66 w/masthead antenna, each time closer to GGYC. Note Ch. 66 defaults to low output - not sure about 71 for the odd-numbered sail numbers like yours. I did finally get a confirmation and was scored.

There was often a substantial delay until the RC member responded to each check-in, during which time several more boats tried to call. Maybe RC had trouble finding each boat on their lists? She did announce she was on a handheld - I thought GGYC had a built-in VHF w/rooftop antenna. In fact I think SSS bought it.

Just trying to help. I still think check-ins for Bay races are like television on honeymoon...

 

[Lightspeed]

As RC 2016 & 2017 we had several radio issue at GGYC not only on the TBF but also the SHF. GGYC is gracious enough to allow use of their race deck so maybe we have a radio expert in our membership who could volunteer to check the GGYC’s gear. It could also be one channel was GGYC unit and the second a handheld.

Another idea in todays world is texting or emailing as alternative or backup. One very late SHF night I keep in touch with a racer through his emails that worked amazing well way out the gate even though his VHF did not..Just food for thought..Rick

 

[Gamayun]

I appreciate everyone's input. Very nice and helpful comments. In due time, I plan to post a post-mortem about the radio issues and maybe some of my thoughts on how to address this in future races. But not tonight I was just glad that everyone seemed to be having a good day on the water despite the fog and light wind at the start. And Dura Mater should get an Endurance Award.

 

[Capo30Skye]

As to the radio issue, there are so many factors that affect propagation: type of antenna, loss of signal from too small wiring, loss of signal from degradation of the wire or coating due to age, position of the antenna (if it is tilted).
On another subject, I was amazed at how many competitors had AIS transponders. The starting line on my plotter was a minefield of triangles pointing every which way. I was very happy to have my transponder on and the receiver going while crossing the fogged in bay. It paid for itself in avoiding the shipping traffic. It was the first time I was sad that I removed my radar as the non AIS boats kept popping out of the fog (fortunately we were all heading toward the start so closing speeds weren’t bad.

 

[Critter]

Regarding the prohibited zone off Yerba Buena: Does SSS still own the inflatable mark that we purchased sometime around 2008? I think I set it for two consecutive 3BFs, at the corner of the zone. I don't know if the lat/long specified in the SIs was the same location, but it might be easier to round a physical mark than a virtual one.

Max

 

[Daydreamer]

Huge Thank You to the Race Committee!!

I have been on race deck for a couple TBFs.
Radios for check ins and spotters for the line are SUPER busy during the start.

Transmissions are regularly stepped on by multiple calls.
Just when you think you have an opening 5 boats call in at once.

I heard Dura Mater and Surprise! check in just before me. I was in the window between Alcatraz and Angel islands getting good signal.
I heard Skye call in several times even after they were reported checked in.

I didn't notice the flags on shore due to a busy start line. I was late as well.
Restricted zones, Some were ignored. I saw a J boat next to a tanker in the Richmond long wharf area.
Couldn't read the sail number and binocs were out of reach, but you know who you are!

Thanks for the comms with VTS on traffic.

Great day on the water!!

 

[Capo30Skye]

Huge Thank You to the Race Committee!!

I have been on race deck for a couple TBFs.
Radios for check ins and spotters for the line are SUPER busy during the start.

Transmissions are regularly stepped on by multiple calls.
Just when you think you have an opening 5 boats call in at once.

I heard Dura Mater and Surprise! check in just before me. I was in the window between Alcatraz and Angel islands getting good signal.
I heard Skye call in several times even after they were reported checked in.

I didn't notice the flags on shore due to a busy start line. I was late as well.
Restricted zones, Some were ignored. I saw a J boat next to a tanker in the Richmond long wharf area.
Couldn't read the sail number and binocs were out of reach, but you know who you are!

Thanks for the comms with VTS on traffic.

Great day on the water!!

I don’t understand how both my radios would selectively not pick up the race committee while I was able to receive all the transmissions from the boats around me. Could it be a DSC problem?

 

[fauxboat]

Still can't see the light at the end of the scoring tunnel, but it's got to be getting closer.

Some "thank you"s are in order.

Thanks to all the racers who came out. Without you there'd be no crazy fun event like this.

I'd like to thank everyone who wrote off to ask us to "adjust" things in the results. Especially the very patient people. We want to run a race that is as fair as we can, and that's been not just a lot of "execution" work, but also a lot of internal discussion on how we can get to the fairest results for all boats. So I know I have been unresponsive for at least the past two days. Probably four days, since I spent Thursday night and Friday pretty focused on getting ready.

More importantly I'd like to thank all of the volunteers on the race deck. We could not have done it without your dedication. Tchoup gets special kudos for sitting up with Carliane and I cross-checking three finish sheets, video and still photos late into the night until closing time at GGYC.

Which brings me to Carliane, who was PRO after flying in the night before from the East Coast. Carliane, I think you did a great job in a very trying situation and everyone should know that.

 

[fauxboat]

New preliminary results incorporating many, but not all, adjustments are now posted on Jibeset.

Overall results are sort of posted too, but at this time are showing an extra 53 years of corrected time. That's doubtless a missing date field somewhere defaulting to 1970, and we'll get it straightended out.

Thank you for racing with the SSS and we hope to see you at the Corinthian on February 25.

 

[fauxboat]

Regarding the prohibited zone off Yerba Buena: Does SSS still own the inflatable mark that we purchased sometime around 2008? I think I set it for two consecutive 3BFs, at the corner of the zone. I don't know if the lat/long specified in the SIs was the same location, but it might be easier to round a physical mark than a virtual one.

Max

Thank you Max, that is good to know.

I would guess that earlier years would have set it at the CFR boundary closer to the island. Per photo in the slide deck, that seemed too close---it's only 100' from the side of the ship there --- so the new location is another 400' east and 170' south of the corner of the CFR.

It's not a rounding mark, so just going around it isn't enough to keep out of trouble. But I agree a buoy would be helpful if we can count on having volunteers to set it before 9 AM and retrieve it after 7 PM. The water is about 30' deep there and it would need to be set on a pretty heavy anchor. (Given the strong current and the need to use a short rode to keep it away from the Oakland Harbor dredged area a little south of there.)

Maybe next year if we have volunteers.

 

[BobJ]

Over in the 3BF pix, I spy:

Stephen Buckingham, Bob Naber, Richard von Ehrenkrook, Lucie Mewes, Jan Brewer, Shawn Wilson, Commodore Chris Case, Richard Reitmeyer, Mary Lovely-Quanci, and Carliane Johnson behind the lens?

Folks I don't recognize: Young couple by the red flag, guy in Mt. Gay hat, and is that Sally Richards next to Bob Naber?

Corrections and additions?

THANKS TO ALL!!!

 

[Gamayun]

Over in the 3BF pix, I spy:

Stephen Buckingham, Bob Naber, Richard von Ehrenkrook, Lucie Mewes, Jan Brewer, Shawn Wilson, Commodore Chris Case, Richard Reitmeyer, Mary Lovely-Quanci, and Carliane Johnson behind the lens?

Folks I don't recognize: Young couple by the red flag, guy in Mt. Gay hat, and is that Sally Richards next to Bob Naber?

Corrections and additions?

THANKS TO ALL!!!

Thank you, Bob. Richard and I are just getting our heads above water for the first time in days though there's still much to do, but that doesn't excuse our lack of public recognition to our amazing TBF volunteers. These races can not be run without them. Anyone who races and hasn't worked a race deck before does a disservice to their sport, and we welcome all with open arms. The "young couple" who were observers at the east end of the start restriction box are Rachel Porter (Can'owhoopass crew) and Vinnie Bezerra (Kynntana's return crew from 2022 PacCup). Beccie Mendenhall (Kynntana's crew on DH bay races, co-owner of Blue Pearl in Estuary races, and co-sponsor of Pluto at HMBYC) was helping Bob Naber observe the east start line restricted area. It took a village and most everyone stayed all day (and some into the night) to get a lot done by the time the GGYC started kicking us out by 21:30. Many have also said they'll be back for our Corinthian race on Feb 25. My heart is full of gratitude. They are the unsung heroes in all this.

Carliane Johnson (behind the lens)

 

[FUGU-W30]

Time to introduce and thank the Three Bridge Fiasco race deck team!

First, thanks to all the racers for coming out to enjoy this delightfully eccentric race! Your enjoyment and positive feedback are why we show up to serve this sailing community!! This race would not have been staged without these fabulous volunteers:

Carliane Johnson, Principle Race Officer (PRO), my guess is Carliane has committed 50+ hours of her time preparing for this race, working the race deck for 14+ hours on Saturday, and working on the results tirelessly since the race!! In the month before the race, Carliane and Shawn Wilson built a new video recording system using a 2K camera with a NIST clock in the frame, that also streamed to 3BF fans worldwide! Huge improvement on the SSS’s old camcorder.

Richard Reitmeyer: Assistant PRO, seemingly matching Carliane hour for hour, Richard has brought a rigorous approach to the SSS race program, we are very fortunate to have him. After developing the NOR for the year, and SI’s for the 3BF, Richard’s clarity presenting the race information on the skippers meeting video call was very helpful especially to first time racers. Richard prepared all the recording sheets for the race team’s use tracking the boats during the start and finish.

This year for the first time we had observers at the flags marking the edges of the “start-box” obstruction, Bob Naber, Beccie Mendenhall, Vinnie Bezerra and Rachel Porter diligently tracked boats as they approached the obstruction, confirming each boats was crossing into the obstruction no more than 4 minutes before the boat’s start. Their diligence resulted in this feedback from a racer: “I thought the start was better with the 150 yard obstruction on either side (until your warning). My start (in the express fleet) was way less stressful.” Mary Lovely, and Chris Case monitored the start line for over-early boats.

On radio check this year were Jan Brewer, Richard vonEhrenkrook, Lucie Mewes, and Steve Buckingham, thanks for being the voices of the SSS on Saturday, your grace and patience is many new timer’s first introductions to the SSS! Thanks to all the racers for your patience with the radio check-ins, we know it can be challenging, and are working to make communications more robust.

Midday, the two Richards consolidated the radio-checkin lists so we could track withdraws and inform the Coast Guard of the number of participants is the race.

Before we knew it, boats were approaching the finish, catching the finish team wolfing down a late lunch of burgers and fries that Carliane had arranged for the team. The finish team included Jan Brewer whistling the finishes, while Bob Naber, and Richard vonEhrenkrook called sail numbers and boat names, Chris Case and Richard Reitmeyer, scribbled madly to get is all down on paper!! Tom Boussie came to the race deck after sailing the race and helped finish the last of the racers, while some of us stepped under the heat lamp to warm up.

Backing up the starting line observers and the finish team was Shawn Wilson who made sure the video cameras continued to record the entire day, a much-needed reference to fill the inevitable gaps when recording the finish of this race!!

The SSS is indebted to the Golden Gate Yacht Club for the use of their race deck, the GGYC manager Bob Mulhern and GGYC member Dave Kresge made every effort to help us pull this race off!! Thanks Bob and Dave!
Richard, Carliane, and Steve Buckingham stayed at the GGYC Saturday night uploading the bulk of the results into Jibeset until they were graciously informed it was time to close the club! Richard and Carliane continued the next morning culminating in the publication of preliminary results by 11:45 AM Sunday morning! They have continued all week to answer emails about finish times, and update Jibset!
I for one am going to do my best this year to make sure these selfless sailors never need buy their own beer whenever in SSS company!! I’m sure I’ll have some help with this, as other SSS member express their gratitude!

Thanks, Carliane and Richard!! And the entire race deck team for a job well done!

The race is now in US Sailing SOARS. If you are a US Sailing member please record your role details to get credit for all your hard work.



Chris Case, SSS Commodore