Singlehanded Farallones Start

May 21, 2011

The Singlehanded Farallones race got off to a rapturous start this morning, from 0830 to 0900 hours, under sunny skies, with a light but building breeze and a strong ebb (is there any other kind this spring?).

The start and pre-start were well-mannered, with no over-earlies, no collisions or yelling, and no one hitting the swimmers which passed through the start line on their way to Crissy Field at 0800. Coast Guard liaison Petty Officer First Class Joshua Clark observed the proceedings with the race committee from the Golden Gate YC deck.

JetStream, Elise and Starbuck in the Sportboat start. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

The ebb and the building wind got the fleet out to the ocean lickety-split. Rob Macfarlane on the Nelson/Marek 45 Tiger Beetle reported in at 0920. Already at Pt. Bonita, he noted a 3-ft swell and wind speed at 16 knots – and building. He could see skippers already putting in reefs. At 0935, he checked back in to report that a couple of boats had turned around and that the wind had built to 26 knots with lots of chop. He had put in a reef. The race committee received the first retirement over the VHF at 0952. Oh well, that's not the end of the world.

At 1025, Rob called in again from the Lightship. He observed lots of lumpy chop, but no real swell, and wind of 25 knots gusting to 30. Around 1245, the Race Committee volunteers watching the webcam at SE Farallon Island began to see some boats rounding.

We'll have more on this race as the day and the weekend progress. For more information, see www.sfbaysss.org.