Single- and Doublehanders Race From S. F. Bay to Half Moon Bay

Heading out the still-foggy Gate on busy September 7 was a fleet of single- and doublehanders racing to Half Moon Bay.

Randy Leasure of the Westsail 32 Tortuga checked in with this report: “There was lots of activity around the Cityfront: an organized group of swimmers from the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge across to Horseshoe Cove; an Alcatraz Invitational swim from the Rock to the Cityfront, and a YRA race starting at StFYC all before and around our start time. I had to leave Pier 39 and go out and around the back side of Alcatraz to port to avoid swimmers. There was a bunch of chase boats all around so it was easy to see where it was happening.

“The wind ended up being a nice 10- to 12-knot breeze. I’m glad I didn’t hank on the big light-air jib. I was going to have to do a lot of short-tacking to try to get out, and just before the start I would have been waaaaay overpowered.

“I started with the full main and staysail. Once I tacked over to port I immediately put up the working jib to get over the line as the flood was already in effect. I could see boats struggling and affected by the current closer to the bridge, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make it out. The only option was to get closer to the South Tower and eke my way out on that side. The flood was building, so it took quite a few tacks to get under the bridge. Then it was slow going trying to make any forward progress. What I’d gain on one tack I’d lose on the other.”

“Watching all the lighter boats be able to work their way out was disheartening. By about 2 p.m. I still hadn’t cleared Mile Rock. I’d been beating my head against the current wall for more than three hours! With a full keel, the adverse current affects speed and pointing ability way more than with a fin keel.

“It was still 20 miles or so to the finish, even if I could have worked my way out past Mile Rock, and I didn’t want to get in late to Pillar Point. I decided to pack it in at that point and ride the remaining flood back in.”

“The key to the race was to get out of the flood,” agrees Don Martin of the Wyliecat 30 Crinan II. “I think the race could have been called at Seal Rock, as positions didn’t change much between there and HMB.

“This year’s race was really interesting,” adds Tim Roche of the J/92 Zaff. “The currents were tricky in the Gate, with the ebb turning to a flood right around the start time, leaving a bit of a swirling mess of ebb and flood between the start and the bridge.

“On the trip down I was hoping to see some whales. I had heard reports of lots of them, but none were to be seen. All was not lost, however, as I was fortunate enough to see two sharks swim by — what looked like a juvenile and a much larger adult. The little one just swam on by, ignoring me, but the larger shark made a lazy turn and looked like it might follow for a minute. But her attention wandered and she sank beneath the surface not to be seen again.

“The next interesting action in the race was choosing when to jibe in for the finish. I always jibe too early there, so I held out a bit longer than I thought wise. The wind didn’t cooperate this time and didn’t have its usual bend into the bay, so I overstood a bit.” Despite overstanding, Tim won the Singlehanded division.

“The Pillar Point harbormaster was aware of the race,” said Don Martin. “They had slips ready for assignment. I saw the baby whale at the end of F dock, but even though I had my phone in hand ready to take a picture, it dove before I got one.”

HMBYC welcomed the racers and put on a feast in its clubhouse on the north shore of the bay.

See more race reports in October’s Racing Sheet.