3-bridge Fiasco - After the Golden Gate Parking Lot, en route to Raccoon Strait

Photos Ultimate Yachshots and Nat from Elise or from Pressure Drop's writeup

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?4139-2014-3-Bridge-Fiasco-There-Can-Be-Only-1-Winner

I sailed well into the Bay before turning to get over to Raccoon Strait, basically all the way to the wind line which was West of Alcatraz.

What I love about this race, other than the fact that it is the largest race in the United States is that it is short handed (a big hobby of mine) and that boats of all sizes, and of all types participate. There is a non spinnaker division, etc... it is all about participation, and a fabulous expression of the love of sailing.

Particularly since most years, it is just a collection of parking lots with most boats struggling to finish before the cut off time. This year was not an exception...there was only one finisher...

 I love this photo that Serge took, with the monster city of San Francisco towering the boats

 102 leaving the parking lot

 It was super light near Angel Island also

 Another Express on the race course

 On the radio it was a long list of boats hailing the race committee to tell them they were retiring and the race committee doing a fabulous job at making the day fun with remarks like

'we sadly accept your resignation'

or

'enjoy your retirement'

or

'may we ask for the reason for your early retirement?'
and a boat replied 'we've run out of beer'

The J22 fleet were out in large numbers

the view from Elise while I am enjoying lunch - packed by Serge.
Lemon water, a banana, tuna salad and crackers, a slice of whole wheat bread and banana bread. Delicious!

Sailing toward Alcatraz before turning toward Angel Island, sailing along the wind line.

On my way to Angel Island

Hi everyone! I kept a tidy boat that day. I had plenty of time to move around the boat and make sure that everything was nicely packed...

Yes, that's right, the wind was dying even further as the day advanced...The central bay between the golden gate and alcatraz was really the only place I could see a bit of wind.

So I opened up a bottle of cold beer. We have to make tough choices sometimes.

Hehe...What a gorgeous day though.