Team Uhoo! (Howard Elfant and Mike Josselyn) took the CCW approach as we decided that if the wind came up as predicted at YBI, we would make it around and take the remaining ebb up TI towards Red Rock along the eastern shore and then have a sleigh ride from Red Rock to Blackaller and to finish.
Turns out we were abit early getting to YBI. We had a reach to the middle of the Bay Bridge and stayed out from the wind shadow of YBI whereas much the the fleet decided to go along the shore of YBI. Big mistake as the wind was non existent and they moved backwards as a group. We stayed about a 1/3 mile south of YBI and while the wind came to a stop, enough of zephyr was present for us to drift out to the ebb current going north and then catch the developing breeze. We were the second boat to round YBI. Nonetheless, we lost about 10 minutes to a very slow transition.
We sailed with the dying northernly flood up the east side of TI and briefly sailed to stronger pressure towards the west, but were met by choppy water and building ebb from Red Rock, so sailed back towards the eastern shore and worked our way north. Really only had about three tacks until we got off the Richmond terminal wharf and had to divert for a tanker coming into the port. Took off some time as we diverted and then sailed with a clean port rounding of Red Rock.
Launched the spinnaker and used the ebb to crab towards Racoon Straits. Began to develop speed with the ebb current advantage. Sailed as close as possible to the wind through the Straits closely moving aft to keep the rudder in the water as the gusts came through. 10-12 knots over ground throughout the run and kept all the other CCW boats behind us except for one Wabbit. Exited the straits and then sailed with spinnaker until winds were consistently above 15 knots and decided that it was safer with the white sails amidst all the ragged wave sets near the Gate.
Unfortunately, the ebb caused us to overstand Blackaller and we lost about 3 minutes getting back to the mark against the ebb. Sailed a reach to the finish along the shore with big smiles on our faces. Great day on the water.
We finished within 10 minutes of the other U20s. Toon Town (Michael Eisenberg and Dave Stewart) finished first amongst the U20s on a clockwise route by sailing around Blackaller and then took the ebb up between Alcatraz and Angel Island. They hugged the Marin shore and then sailed round Red Rock and set the spinnaker for a run to YBI. Next up was a fast reach to the finish. Ubetcha (Cameron Tuttle and Jenny Krone) took a modified clockwise route but sailed to Red Rock first, set the spinny to YBI, and then reached to the finished with the ebb along the City front and then to Blackaller, rounded and sailed back to the finish to capture second among the U20s.
If only we hadn’t spent 10 minutes at YBI waiting for the wind to fill!
