September 2, 2013

Afraid of crowds? No worries! The spectators at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup on Labor Day were just enough to make it fun. Despite the Bay Bridge closure, traffic was light in the Presidio, and parking was plentiful and well organized at Crissy Field. You could pick your spot to watch the racing. The weather was pleasant, with enough breeze for good sailing. Best of all, the racing was exciting, with multiple lead changes and close quarters maneuvering – and close to shore.

The course is shorter than for the Louis Vuitton Cup. The reaching start is set up offshore of Golden Gate Yacht Club, and the first gate is the leeward one down by Alcatraz. The windward gate is set up off Crissy Field, about midway between Anita Rock and the H-beam. And the finish is just to the east of Cowbell Spit, where spectators can hear the loudspeakers at the America's Cup Village. You can also listen to the play-by-play on VHF 20.

The starline is the part of the course that's furthest from shore. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Leaving NZL 1, Sweden, and Germany behind, the team from Cascais was on their way to a bullet. Sausalito YC is hosting them – Cascais and Sausalito are sister cities. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

The spit – a place of cameras and cowbells, and frolicking doggies. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Ladies, limit your fluid intake. This is the only public restroom from the Beach Hut to the spit. But there are plenty of clean chemies in the Crissy Field parking lot and at the AC Village. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Having a heart attack or just need some sunscreen? These friendly folks can help. Left to right: Lea White, Dr. George Mittendorf, Brian Lin, and Philip Stazzula. Kaiser Permanente, health care partner of AC 34, has a complete clinic at AC Village, plus sites at GGYC and Pier 29, to treat sailors and spectators alike. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

The ten teams of six men, ages 19-14, sailed a seven-leg course on the one design AC45s. Each race took less than 25 minutes, with the first one starting at 11:10. Racing was completed before 12:30, and the boats moored off the AC Village on Marina Green. The team members were taken ashore to be interviewed by Genny Tulloch before making their way through the crowd to their own village-within-a-village.

USA 1 (AYSF) comes ashore. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Family members and fans greet the teams at the AC Village. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Halfway through the regatta, with four races down and four to go, NZL 2 (NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand) and USA 1 (American Youth Sailing Force) are in the lead with 28 points each.Four different teams have first place finishes, the other two being ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team and Swedish Youth Challenge. The Swiss Team TILT is in third place with 27 points. For complete standings and much more, see www.americascup.com.

We highly recommend taking some time off work on Tuesday and/or Wednesday to go check it out. It's free, easy, lots of fun, and the real deal. Our only criticism: 40 years after Title IX was enacted, where are the young women?