Three Bridge Top Ten

January 23, 2011

The Co-Race Chairs of the Singlehanded Sailing Society shared their top ten list for race success in Saturday's Three Bridge Fiasco:

1. Read the Standing Sailing Instructions and Sailing Instructions carefully.

2. Check in with boat name and sail number only. (Even sail numbers check in on VHF 68, odd sail numbers on VHF 69.)

3. The starting line area (defined in the SSIs) is restricted until five minutes before your start. This will be enforced.

4. If you're over early do not restart. You will get a twenty-minute penalty instead.

5. Do not go into restricted areas. You cannot 'unwind' once in a restricted area. See the SSS website for restricted area chartlets.

6. The start/finish line is not restricted after your start, but please radio the race deck on VHF 69 to let us know if you are just passing through on your way to another mark.

7. Running lights must be on at sunset.

8. Please radio in on VHF 69 just before you finish to help us figure out who you are.

9. If you drop out, radio in on VHF 69. If no response, call the SSS voicemail (see instructions) and leave your boat name, sail number and the time. You must check out by notifying the RC or you will be in trouble. Don't just go home.

10. Have fun.

The race is on Saturday, January 29, and the skippers meeting is this Wednesday, January 26, 1900 hours, at Oakland YC in Alameda. Although the meeting is not required, it is highly recommended. We feel certain that if the RC's list went up to 11, that would be on there. That evening is also the deadline to register for the race.

We've got a scheme up our sleeves to run streaming video of the line on our home page during the starting sequence (possibly resuming during finishes), so that fans, family and friends can watch at home. A computer (not a mobile device) is recommended, and you may need to install QuickTime if you don't already have it. We're also soliciting video clips from sailors underway, which we will post as the day's racing progresses. They can be to our video department.

If you're interested in sailing singlehanded, we recommend heading over to Bay View Boat Club on Monday, January 24. Max Crittenden, Commodore of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, will speak about Sailing Solo - the Bay and Out the Gate. Presented by Sailing Education Adventures, the workshop begins at 1900.