San Francisco Bay may set an exciting stage for international competition, but a bit to the north pretty Tomales Bay featured small boat sailing for the rest of us.

Inverness Yacht Club at the head of the bay continued their series for Flying Scots and others, while about midway up the bay on the opposite side, near Marshall, the Santa Rosa Sailing Club held their annual Tomales Bay Drag Race.

This regatta starts at Marconi Cove - an unofficial, unmapped launch ramp (really an acre of dirt and grass with a realtor’s sign on it). The one turning mark is a daymarker near Hog Island, followed by a return to Marconi Cove, for a course of approximately 10 miles. Theoretically this would consist of one windward leg and one downwind leg. But a steady ocean breeze eluded the racers this Sunday, and they ended up white sail reaching, running under spinnaker, and beating - on both legs - in mostly light breeze. As a matter of fact, the wind didn’t really set in until the boats had finished, around 2:00 pm.

All dinghies are invited to this regatta, but only a few FJs made it this year. Not your typical high school or collegiate teams, these FJ sailors were mostly middle-aged guys. The only token teenager was crewing for his dad.

Whereas the scenery on San Francisco Bay’s Cityfront is loaded with drama, both natural and architectural, Tomales Bay features quietly intense bucolic beauty. The few human bits resonate with genuine West Marin funkiness.

Santa Rosa Sailing Club also races on Santa Rosa’s Spring Lake, and holds their twilight series on nearby Lake Ralphine. The club’s big event of the year is coming up on Labor Day Weekend, with a regatta, cruise-in and family camping on Tomales Bay’s Heart’s Desire Beach, which can be reached only by boat or by foot. For more on the friendly, low-key bunch, see www.santarosasailingclub.org.