I was out on SF Bay this Sunday with a friend on my boat. It was a stunning day to be on the Bay. Conditions were great. We sailed alongside the SF Piers westward and started to get near an enormous regatta of maybe 150 big keel boats. The regatta was taking up most of the area between Alcatraz and the city, so I found it appropriate to get near the regatta and wait for a hole in the traffic to dart through. We found the right moment and made our move, making sure not to get in anyone's way, and made it over to the west side of Alcatraz heading North, and then turning Eastward where we skirted alongside another portion of the regatta. We did a bunch of quick tacks back and forth, making sure behave in such a way that none of the big boats feared we would force them to change course. I must say this was one of the more memorable experiences of my life, piloting my boat in among all these other boats sometimes 50 yards away, in the process seeing that my boat has no problem keeping up with them (under conditions as they were). It was really exciting.

My question to those more experienced than I pertains to the rules and etiquette involved with sailing near and around these big races. Does it sound as if I handled my boat appropriately? Are there specific rules that I should be following when I encounter regattas such as this? Staying completely clear wasn't really possible, since they were really taking up most of the Bay. Besides, what fun is staying completely clear, as long as I'm no one's way and handle my boat responsibly?

Try to not steal their wind, especially in light weather.

I don't think you handled your boat irresponsibly. Ther are no real hard rules for being around regattas, as everyone is entitled to the water as long as your safe. However thoughtfulness goes a long way. I think you are on the right track.

First I would stay out of the way if at all possible.

Next I would try to be mindful of the wind shadow that the boat is creating. Some crews travel hundreds of miles to compete and it is frustrating for a spectator to drive through the course when your fighting to catch up (as I usually am) casting a huge wind shadow that makes you tack when you normally would not.

Other than that atleast your thinking about it. Most people drive through, oblivious that there is a race at all, big powerboats are the worst!

Thankfully light wind is never really much of an issue in SF Bay. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As long as you didn't make the other boat change course or affect their wind as a result of your actions, you have nothing to fear.

Generally speaking, avoid the start and finish lines and all marks like the plague.

There are no rules that give racing sailors specific rights over non-racing vessels. They need to obey rules-of-the-road when in the vicinity of other vessels, which includes giving way to ships in a channel, etc.

Of course, you are a racing sailor and want to be kind and not force them to deal with you. Etiquette says when near the other boats, sail slower than they are, and duck everyone well in advance. And, as mentioned, don't sit on their wind.

Mike

Jake mentions the marks and I think this is most important. The wind and course etiquette is obvious and easy to oblige but if you get near a mark when several are arriving and leaving you are just asking for trouble.

It looks like Jake and I posted at the same time. The RRS rule referenced applies to boats that are racing, I was referring to "life in general," any boats on the water sort of thing. All things being equal, a racing boat has no more right to the water than anyone else.

"Jake mentions the marks..." Where?

Mike

Sorry, read one up for name, all credit you.

I've never sailed on SF bay. There's real good wind there. Where do you launch? Is there a fee?

D. Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

The club where I used to have my cat was next to an international regatta center, there used to be dingy races every weekend right in front of the small beach where we used to launch.

Sometimes there was no avoiding going through race fields.
I got yelled at a few times (especially with the spi up, I guess some didnt like the wind shadows <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ).

I keep it dry docked at a facility on Treasure Island. They have a ramp and hoists. I imagine you may be able to launch there for a fee. It's a non-profit, so the fees are not exhorbitant. You can look them up at:
http://www.tisailing.org

No worries warbird, that was meant to be funny. I may have failed miserably... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In all seriousness though, you'd be amazed at how many boats come careening (OK, usually they're monohulls going dreadfully slowly and really causing an issue) through the start/finish lines at some events I've been to. It's like they're thinking "Oh, look at all the pretty boats... And look at all these funny looking floaty things..."

Mike

We had a fisherman troll his lines across a starting line (the "P" flag had dropped in the sequence) with about 10 boats on it once.

I guess that's one way to keep the boats from going over early.

I was forced to start near the pin (for other reasons) and missed all the shouting, but I think the guy's lines did get caught on one or two boats near the starting boat.

Obviously, this did not foster the "warm and fuzzy" relationship racers have with drunk fisherman.