SF Bay Trip

[BobW]

Preparations are underway for a late January trip to San Francisco Bay to participate in the Singlehanded Sailing Society's Three Bridge Fiasco on Saturday, January 27.

We'll be leaving Owl Harbor Marina (at Light 41 on the San Joaquin River) on Thursday, January 25.  It will be a two day trip (tough to cover the 50 miles to Richmond in a single day against the normal West winds).  We've stayed at Benicia and Vallejo, but I am curious about Martinez.

We'll return on Sunday, the 28th, and may need to stop for the night again, depending on conditions.

Zen, what accomodations does the Martinez Marina offer?  Guest docks?  Rest rooms?  Showers?  We plan to cook on board so nearby restaurants aren't essential.

We plan to stay at Brickyard Cove in Richmond.  It's the SF Bay marina closest to the Delta - cuts down on travel time both ways.

By the way, the "we" is my brother-in-law (escaping the Michigan winter for some sailing) and myself.  The Three Bridge Fiasco has a double-handed division.

Thanks.

[Zen]

Martienz, has all the standard stuff, shower, laundry, guest dock, etc.
One needs to be careful @ lowest tides. The restrooms and showers are not as upscale as Benica or Vallejo, but clean. The nicest thing is that it is inside a park so the view is nice. Downtown is walking distance, like Benica, but unlike Vallejo.

This event sounds interesting, Got any other info on it?

[BobW]

Zen,

Sorry for the delayed response.  My work schedule keeps me off the computer Mondays, Tuesdays (today is an exception), and Thursdays.

The Three Bridge Fiasco is a race put on by the Singlehanded Sailing Society.  There are Single and Double Handed divisions with multiple classes in each.  They use the Golden Gate, Bay, and Richmond Bridges as marks.  The race is about 21 miles long, starts at 0930 (first boat), and has a deadline of 1930.  (I thinkk those times are correct, but I'm going from memory.  The start/finish line is off the Golldn Gate Yacht Club (in the Marina District).  Why is it called a "Fiasco?"  Because racers may cross the start line from either side, sail the course in any order, and cross the finish line from either side.  Also, because it is a pursuit race with start times based on PHRF handicaps (slowest boat starts first - in 2005 I had the "privilege" of being the first boat to start the race!) theoretically all boats should finish at the same time.  While that doesn't happen in real life the Race Committee is spared some anquish at the end of the day.  But since the race draws upwards of 200 boats, there can be congestion at the Finish Line.  I've worked on the Race Committee and have watched as many as 30 boats finish within a one minite window.  It is a fun event presenting navigation challenges (current can play a decisive role in the outcome of the race). 

Weather, obviously, plays a big role too.  In 2005 we had bright sunny skies and light winds.  Only 32 (I think that was the number) boats finished the race out of 192 starters.  2006 had high winds and rain which reduced the number of starters, but produced a higher percentage of finishers,  Here's a pic from the 2005 race.



Here's a link to the Singlehanded Sailing Society's site.  It is a little light on infomation right now as they are updating the site for 2007.  One interesting link is for the SH TransPac event (on the right hand side), particularly for the minimum equipment gear listed in the sailing instructions (that list is for off-shore events, not events in the Bay).

http://www.sfbaysss.org/

One other point, the SSS events are open to all boats (as described in the Sailing Instructions) and you don't have to belong to the SSS to participate.  A current PHRF certificate is a requirement.

Dang, this turned out to be longer than I expected.  Sorry for the rambling.

[Zen]

No worries Mate

Good info!, Sounds like a good time for all, well depending on the Weather. Which could be anything at that time of the year...

For a moment I had a brief idea of joining the mayham. However I remembered the Oakland museum white Elephant is on that Sunday. I am hopeing to picking up a few things for the boat. At the least some books, cheap. Hopefully a wet suit & propane stove.

[Zen]

Oh, Martinez also has wireless internet,
but cost, 7.95 for 24 hr access

[BobW]

Well, as much fun as the Fiasco is - and it's a shame to miss it - the other SSS in-the-Bay races are fun events, too.  They just don't draw as many boats as the Fiasco.  Maybe 2008...

It's pretty cool that the Martinez Marina offers wireless internet.  Now, all I need is a laptop... Prelude is a bit technologically challenged.  :)

I've always had trouble "picturing" the tides and current on the river, particularly when heading toward the Bay.  When daysailing in a limited area, I understand what's going on around me.  Here's a chart I put together to help me "see" what's going.  I use it as a planning tool.  This chart is from Benicia to Richmond for Friday, January 26. The solid green and red lines represent high (green) tide and low (red).  The dotted green lines represent slack water; and the solid light blue line represents a 4 knot time/distance speed line (assuming an 0800 start time.  The arrows represent direction and speed of the predicted currents, and are placed to match the reporting stations and times.



We are planning to stay at Martinez on our way to the Bay.  This chart was set up assuming we'd stay at Benicia.  I imagine I can still use it if we stay at Martinez - the timing can't be that different.

Well, that's enough of my rambling... :)

BTW, what is the International Yacht Club?

[Captain Smollett]

Bob,

That's a pretty cool chart.  Something like that would come in very handy for planning on the ICW around Charleston (yes, Eliot Cut, I'm thinking about YOU).

Shall we assume that since you've posted it here, the idea is now in the "public domain?"   ;D

One question: Your blue line is pretty straight, so does that mean it has not been 'corrected' for the influence of tide on the Velocity Made Good?

[BobW]

If you can use the idea, go for it!  Consider it in the "public domain."   :)

Actually the speed line is SOG, so it has been "corrected" for the the effects of the current.  Heck, I wish by speed through the water held that constant over 30 miles!

[Zen]

Yeah good chart.

You are right there is not that much difference between, Benica and Martinez. I generally use Benica Tide reading. It is only about 45min under sail or less away, 20 min or less under power with the Tide.

You'll be getting into martinez on Thursday then. If I did nto have a class to teach I'm swing by with some Wine?sake/Grog, however duty calls.

I will keep the event in mind for next year.

The IYC. in theory is a group of Boaters who are spread across the globe. When someone is in their area and needs, directions, aid, info, grog, etc the members would have a contact. Eg: The comodor is heading to Spain, another member is in Indonesia, I'm in The Bay Area, another memeber is in Japan, and so on. It could be helpful...

[BobW]

Zen,

Thanks for the info re the International Yacht Club.  Interesting.

You suggested exercising caution entering Martinez on low tides.   How low a tide warrants extra care?  Low tide at Benicia on the 25th is .79 at about 1330. 

Depending on conditions we could be approaching Martinez around 1400 - more likely it will be later, but ya never know.

[Zen]

BoB:

.79 should be ok. It is when it is minus something that starts. Also being in the guest dock generally is not a problem. As you are center channeled.

Maybe I slip by and bring some sake.  ;)

[BobW]

Zen,

A little sake would be a nice welcome to Martinez!

Thanks for the info re the entrance to Martinez.  Prelude draws 3'6", and I use a fishfinder for depth, but a little local knowledge is always appreciated.

[Zen]

Ok, the sake will be warming after a cool trip. I'll have the good stuff! Not the rock gut they serve in resturants here.  ;)

I'll double check on the depth and the path with the office, just to be double sure.

[BobW]

Warm sake... something to look forward to while crossing the Middle Grounds!  :)

I appreciate you checking with the office re the depths and channel. 

Do you know if the Marina takes reservations for guest dock space or is that not a concern in late January?

Thanks.

[BobW]

Well, we leave in the morning for San Francisco Bay.  We'll leave Owl Harbor between 0700 and 0730, and plan to overnight at Martinez.  That leg of the trip is 30 miles.

Friday morning we'll leave Martinez and ride the morning ebb current to Richmond, a distance of just over 20 miles.

Saturday is the Three Bridge Fiasco, a 21 mile race around the Bay using the Golden Gate, Bay, and Richmond Bridges as the marks.  As of this evening there are 284 boats entered.  Things will be crowded around the start area (it's a pursuit race with start times assigned according to PHRF ratings, slowest boats start first.  With Prelude's rating of 264, we enjoy the earliest start of the race!  :)

We're planning to leave Richmond in the wee hours Sunday morning to take advantage of the flood current.  Conditions permitting we'll be home late Sunday afternoon, otherwise we'll stop along the way and finish the trip home on Monday.

The forecasts for the next four days call for light (5-8) winds and a slight chance of rain.  While it would be great to have a bit more wind, we'll deal with what we get.

I'll let you know how the trip and the race go.   

[CapnK]

Have a great 'race' and trip, Bob! Will look forward to the story and pics afterwards. :D

And a Grog fer ya, ta start yer journey right! ;D

[Zen]

I met with Bob this eve. They had a safe trip down to my neck of the river. The forecast called for rain but they came through dry. I met up with them at dinner time. They are off for part two of the trip on friday morning. I may drive over to Berkeley on Sat to take a few long distance shots from the shore and hills. They are expecting close to 200-300 boats for the race. WIth that many boats it should be interesting to view. Hopefully the weather will hold up!


They were just sitting down to dinner when I found them.

[AdriftAtSea]

Zen-

thanks for the update... :D

[Captain Smollett]

Hey Zen/Bob,

Was that a pic of the new table in action?

Very cool.

[CharlieJ]

John- that's Bob on the right in the pic, and looks to be the new table, yessiree.