April 20, 2015

Ninety-seven boats started in the Singlehanded Sailing Society's Round the Rocks Race on Saturday. That's 19 more boats than last year, and as the overall numbers for racing on the Bay are going down the SSS continues to gain boats in all of its races. The reason for the uptick may be because of more challenging Bay tours instead of bashing up and down the Cityfront or fewer sandwiches for crew, but whatever the SSS is doing it should be an example for the rest of the clubs.

Lawrence Olsen and Kurt Helmgren on the Greene 35 Humdinger. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

Mike Cunningham, singlehanding the Freedom 30 Jacqueline, was dressed for the Slot. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

This year's Round the Rocks was held in conditions that went from foggy, cold, but moderate in the Slot to the sunny warmth of the Richmond Riviera. The race started in the Berkeley Circle at the still-living GOC buoy, and the course wound its way around Alcatraz, Harding Rock, the Brothers and Red Rock and finished off of the Richmond Yacht Club breakwater. The conditions should vary from year to year but that feeling of Déjà Vu was in the heads of the racers. A not-so-bad bash to Harding Rock was followed by a nice run to light air by Red Rock to the Brothers, then another beat to the finish in a moderate, building breeze. Even the tides were the same as last year, with a flood the whole day.

Jeff and Pat Sullivan on the Pearson Commander Nemesis get around one of the rocks, Harding, in a strong sideways current. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

In Raccoon Strait, Jim Hopp prepares to set the chute singlehanded on the J/88 White Shadow. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

WingIt, returning from the Brothers. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

Greg Nelsen, singlehanding the Azzura 310 Outsider in the doublehanded division, clears the old ferry dock at the entrance to Richmond Harbor. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

RYC invited all to relax after the race before heading home and some even stayed for dinner and a movie. Being able to bench-race with your competitors back at a club is one ingredient that's missing from a lot of races.

SSS racers enjoyed the sunshine, hospitality, and company on RYC's deck. ©2015 norcalsailing.com

The next race on the SSS schedule is the Singlehanded Farallones on May 23, and although it takes quite a commitment to race around the the islands by yourself in the cold and fog, 33 boats signed up last year while the OYRA full-crew version got 21 boats. So what gives? Maybe it's the lighter schedule or longer Bay courses that draws the boats and racers. Maybe it's the race management or attitude that keeps it fun. Or maybe it's all of the above.

For results of Round the Rocks and more info on the SSS in general, see www.sfbaysss.org.