Stand Down Marathon

May 14, 2012

During the ongoing ocean racing hiatus with yacht clubs and the Coast Guard meeting to discuss the future of racing outside the Bay, the Singlehanded Sailing Society ran the Singlehanded Stand Down Marathon this past Saturday. Designed to temporarily fill in for the Singlehanded Farallones Race and put together in an amazingly quick two weeks, the race attracted 33 boats for a 44-mile loop from the Golden Gate Yacht Club to Pt. Bonita, down south to the San Mateo Bridge, and back to GGYC.

Egret and Carmelita ride a light swell after rounding Pt. Bonita buoy. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

While not a race around the rocks, it did turn out to be a challenging course with either lots of wind or none at all – and no swell to get you seasick. And a marathon it turned out to be as most of the time the boats were sailing against a foul tide. After an easy jaunt on a ebb to Bonita (the date was picked for an easy exit out the Gate), the boats turned back to fight the current all the way to San Mateo. And the tide turned just in time for the racers to fight a flood all the way back to the GGYC finish (the date was picked for an easy re-entry into the Bay).

Sea Star (in the foreground) starts the long beat back to the City with Verve and Void Star. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Greg Nelsen on the Azzura 310 Outsider was first to finish after 9 hours and 20 minutes. "I had a great first leg to Pt. Bonita, rolling most of the fleet before I rounded. I passed all but two boats before sailing back under the Golden Gate Bridge. I was in the lead before passing GGYC with a 12-13 knot average run bridge to bridge," said Greg.

Outsider heads upwind along San Mateo County's East Coast. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

But then it fell apart on the last leg. "I had a horrible transition at the Bay Bridge and sat for nearly 10 minutes going sideways or nowhere," said Greg. "My old working jib finally gave up, with the entire top section blowing out. I was near Alcatraz, so I just sailed the last miles to the finish with the tattered remains flapping violently." In the end he corrected out in last place in his division. "Not the best finish for Outsider but it shows you can't give away much time in this fleet and expect to do well."

The last boat to finish was Matt Beall's Wilderness 21 Tinker at 21:18. He placed third in his division. But it was not forgotten that this race was supposed to go to the Farallones, and those who went out to Bonita to see a nice five-foot swell and maybe 8-10 knots of breeze wistfully wondered what was it like out at the islands.

Although small Tinker sailed a great Marathon. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Two boats, the Express 27 Taz!! and Open 50 Truth did go out to the Farallones on Saturday and reported light winds and light swell. They are both signed up for the Singlehanded TransPac which starts on June 30.

August 4 has been firmed up as the date for the Singlehanded Farallones. For the results of the Stand Down Marathon, see www.sfbaysss.org. The trophy meeting will be on Wednesday, May 23, at Oakland YC in Alameda, at 19:30.