Latitude 38 March 2014
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VOLUME 441 March 2014 WE GO WHERE THE WIND BLOWS THREE BRIDGE FIASCO — The turnout for this year's Three Bridge Fiasco was remarkable. Each of the 357 boats' shorthanded crews de- sailed Jonathan's 1D35 Dark scended upon the Cityfront on Janu- and Stormy across the fi nish line ary 25 under clear blue skies, without with only 20 minutes left before much more than a whiff of breeze. The the 7 p.m. cutoff time. Jonathan event's unique rules were the same as and Rod chose to head directly to always: competitors could go around Blackaller where they deployed marks near three San Francisco Bay their anchor before attempt- bridges in any direction they want- ing to make it across to Marin. ed. And they could Their selec- start and fi nish in tive use of any direction also. the anchor Try as they There is nothing like and care- might, no mat- ful atten- ter which direction having a wall of 50 boats tion to sail they decided to go, trim, cur- the situation grew parked against a tideline rents and increasingly dire within inches of each anything as the day wore on that looked — sailing the en- other and everyone like breeze tire 21-mile course having a good time not got them looked more like an through this impossibility than a going anywhere. fi asco with reality. just minutes Racers who to spare. headed to Blackaller fi rst were forced to "It was an immensely satis- fi ght an increasing ebb that threatened fying win," says Jonathan in an to send many directly out the Gate. If interview with www.norcalsail- they'd chosen the easterly route around ing.com. "It is the unoffi cial sea- Yerba Buena Island, they likely made son's championship in my mind. it as far as Fisherman's Wharf, where Everybody is there racing, and they languished, and then in many cas- it's a huge challenge and a very, es eventually anchored. very fun afternoon. We won our class a You might ask why so many rac- For those who made it beyond few years ago in the Big Boat Series but ers would subject themselves to sailing these two zones, the picture was not this one feels better. There were people around a 21-mile course in the middle much brighter — the breeze never re- on the jetty cheering us on as we fi n- of winter on San Francisco Bay — ev- ally fi lled in. ished, and that was a great heartwarm- ery year the Fiasco draws far more en- Within a few hours of the staggered ing feeling after working hard all day. It tries than any other race. For those who start, the calls began to come in to was the best gun I ever got. have never done it, the answers might the Race Committee over the VHF an- "Approaching the breakwater near surprise you. But for the hardy individ- nouncing retire- Golden Gate YC uals who have done it, the answers are Jonathan Hunt and Rod Hagebols sailing toward ments. The con- Treasure Island aboard Jonathan's 1D35, 'Dark some Melges 24 pretty obvious. sistent and steady and Stormy.' sailors who had Ants Uiga, founder of the 3BF, was stream of calls ac- retired cheered us on a rather ingenious train of thought tually made it dif- on, as did many of when he envisioned the race. He want- fi cult to get a word the crowd at Gold- ed a race in January, when one wasn't in edgewise. en Gate YC," says being held. But this presented a pre- Despite the Rod. "With fl ash- dicament. "Typical January conditions lack of breeze, it lights blazing and include little wind, fi ckle breeze, strong was a beautiful Jon cheering we currents, and big changes in each of day and a great crossed the line. these variables. It all adds to a race opportunity to Shortly after, we chairman's dilemma in trying to fi g- say hello to your learned we were ure out a way to confi gure a race," says friends while you the fi rst to fi n- Uiga. "Besides, I was never a good sailor sat around on an- ish — that’s when and couldn't fi gure it out," he quipped. chored boats. Jon really start- Uiga doesn’t quite remember when Of all the start- ed to lose it. He he fi rst had these seemingly crazy ers, offi cially only could be heard all thoughts: "Flash back to 1984 or 1985? a single, solitary the way down the The memory gets a little vague," he doublehanded Oakland Estuary says. But in order to make the 3BF a entrant fi nished. as we approached reality, he "transferred the decision- Jonathan Hunt our berth. It was making from the race chair to the skip- and his buddy a great day of sail- per," allowing them to go in any direc- Rod Hagebols LESLIE RICHTER / WWW.ROCKSKIPPER.COM ing." tion around the course. "Fiasco seemed Page 86 • Latitude 38 A YEAR TO REMEMBER race run on San Francisco Bay." Darren Doud: "Let me count the reasons: • "Anyone has a chance to win one of the largest sailboat races, so why miss out? • "It feels a little like playing the lottery. Will this be my year to win the Three Bridge? The race format combined with the shifty winds, large wind holes, and strong currents creates so many passing opportunities. If you make enough right deci- sions, combined with some luck, then you might have a shot at the top spot. • "More choices in race tac- tics. I think the wider range of race tactics creates a more in- teresting problem to solve. One of the fi rst questions I am asked by other racers about the Three Bridge is which way are you go- ing or which way did you go. It is one of the fi rst big decisions we have to make in the race, and if it turns out to not work out, then you spend the rest of the LATITUDE / ROSS LATITUDE year wondering if you could have done better going the other di- It was a beautiful day to anchor your boat on the boat when sailing." rection. San Francisco Bay. Many took it as an op- Daren Heldstab: "Because it's a • "Mid-race progress report. It is al- portunity to catch up with old sailing buddies. blast? Seriously, the thing about the ways fun to pass boats going the other like a good name. If no one fi nishes, the Three Bridge is that it's a real sailor's direction and gauge your process mid- race chair wins. This gave me an oppor- race. The racers have to deal with Jan- race. It keeps you in contact with other tunity to win something that I wouldn’t uary's often very light, fl uky conditions boats that are racing. as a skipper." in addition to adverse currents, etc. But • "Tradition. My dad introduced me Uiga sends out, "a big special ‘thank the weather is often midwinter spectac- you’ to all the ‘volunteers’ who manage ular! Also, the folks with the most high- Ants Uiga's trophy from the very fi rst race puts the race each year!" And he continues tech, expensive gear aren't necessarily everything about the Three Bridge Fiasco into perspective. to marvel at how the race has grown in going to seize the day since there is no popularity. set course, and things are so fl uky that The following are responses to the time of year that things could go a num- question posed in a recent 'Lectronic ber of ways, and often local knowledge Latitude post: "Why do you love doing trumps bankroll." the Three Bridge?" Robby Robinson: "It is past tense for Larry Riley: "Well actually, I have me — many years ago. Dolores and I found that for the most part the weath- usually never did well aboard Rolling er is pretty nice. I'm usually praying for Stone due to lack of wind during the wind. That said, we'll probably have a Three Bridge, but I remember one re- 30-knot sleet storm this year. So, yes ally, really stormy race with one squall a bit colder than summer, but the race following another, the old IOR One-Ton- has other things going for it: fl at water, ner fi nished fi rst in class. I've done a lot typically mild wind, and great lighting, of singlehanded racing, including two as the sun is low in the sky. TransPacs (1982 and '88), but I can still "Why singlehand? Hmm, poor per- remember that Three Bridge race. sonal hygiene? Crappy personality? Too "The Three Bridge gives meaning to cheap to feed the crew? In love with my crowdsourcing. I could never under- spinnaker and want it all to myself? All stand why more YCs or the YRA didn't of the above. run races similar to the Three Bridge. "Honestly, I just like single- and dou- It requires thinking beyond boat speed. blehanding. Just don't like a crowd on It has obviously been the most popular ANTS UIGA THREE BRIDGE FIASCO — Top row, left to right: Adam Spiegel aboard "Jam Session;" "Lelo Too" squeezes past "Nobody's Girl;" a fl eet of Moores; looking intense on "Humdinger;" (Middle Row l-r) "Bad Hare Day" slips by the bigger boats; Wylie twins; "Oreo" and "California Condor" at Pier 39; enjoying the scene aboard "Bandido;" "Don Quixote" drops anchor; (bottom l-r) shipping traffi c was intense on race day; "Now & Zen" doublehanding and happy; "Red Hawk" gets covered by "Anduril" on the way to Blackaller; "Tai Kuai" waves hello.