2012 Three Bridge Fiasco

[SSSForumAdmin]

The 2012 Three Bridge Fiasco Skipper's Meeting is tonight at the Oakland Yacht Club. Don't miss it. Charts, theory, drinks... and most importantly - The deadline for race entry. If you haven't entered for this years race, you need to do it now online http://www.jibeset.net/JACKY000.php?RG=T002037580 Currently, there are 308 signed up. This year's race is going to be huge and the sooner you get your entry in, the sooner the race information can get it approved before the deadline. Any PHRF or ratings issues need to get taken care of now.

[Matt]

A couple possible course charts.https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HnwtxqwfMyg/TyBGX-rCqfI/AAAAAAAAtHA/O48RGgbPJwk/w450-h500-k/TBF_Course_Tinker-2011.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xcokKLs4rFo/TyBGZbB7gWI/AAAAAAAAtHI/cb45IyGPx60/w240-h284-k/TBF_Course1-2.jpg

[SSSForumAdmin]

In an effort to keep this post at the top of the list for a couple more hours.

[H2oshots]

Pressure Drop Members can get a free set of the Tide Tech Charts for Saturdays
3BF if they will promise to write a review for same in return.

Clicky (http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/showthread.php?2275-2012-3-Bridge-Fiasco-Unofficial-Pressure-Drop-Divisons)

You can also win some cool shiznit!

[Deep6]

The 2012 Three Bridge Fiasco Skipper's Meeting is tonight at the Oakland Yacht Club. Don't miss it. Charts, theory, drinks... and most importantly - The deadline for race entry. If you haven't entered for this years race, you need to do it now online http://www.jibeset.net/JACKY000.php?RG=T002037580 Currently, there are 308 signed up. This year's race is going to be huge and the sooner you get your entry in, the sooner the race information can get it approved before the deadline. Any PHRF or ratings issues need to get taken care of now.

Photos from the Race Deck:

https://picasaweb.google.com/115159287155577970871/3BridgeFiasco2012#

parking lot shots ;)

[kapiib]

http://youtu.be/kYvEauOe4zo


:)

[BobJ]

I notice the time on Ray Irvine's preliminary results page is less than two hours after the last boat's finish time. Great work, R/C and Ray!

If you didn't find it, go to the race's Sign-Up page from the SSS home page.


Ragtime! (the J/92) is very bummed to have missed this year's edition of the 3BF.

[talonf4u]

Hmmm.... I raced my Moore around the track but was scored DNC. On our check-in we radioed in a sail number change and thought we were acknowlaged. On subsequent hails we recieved no response, which makes me wonder about my transmitter. Who might I contact to clarify the situation?

[Matt]

There were several boats that did not get radio confirmation from the race committee that may be scored DNC. If you still finished, the finish time is recorded but the DNC may still stand because there was no acknowledged check-in.

Any questions about your results, email sail@sfbaysss.org. Include your boat name, sail number, finish time and if you were in front of or behind another finisher.

The results are preliminary.

http://www.jibeset.net/JACKY000.php?RG=T002037580

[Matt]

My wife. Yelena. took some pictures from the race deck starts. Wow!!! what a gorgeous day for sailing. I'll weed out the blurry pictures later.

Here you go: https://picasaweb.google.com/116385020517971707843/2012ThreeBridgeFiasco

Matt

[pogen]

At the moment the prelim results page has the Division names all jumbled up; last night it looked OK.

Great day racing and thanks to the committee for their prompt work.

I heard elsewhere about problems with commercial traffic and 5-horn incidents near Pier 39. How much of a problem was this really? And are we talking freighters/tankers, which are vessels constrained by draft, or just the Alcatraz sight-seeing boats, which I don't believe have legal rights over sailboats, although I do my best to stay out of their way, and also the ferries.

[Jonathan Gutoff]

We heard the Alcatraz ferries complain about the sailboat traffic on the VHF stating rule 9. I don't think that applies to them but they were mad that they couldn't get in or out of Pier 39. One ferry captain laid on the horn while still out halfway between Alcatraz and the pier.(with no sailboats around yet) Another came charging into Pier 39 way too fast while blowing the horn. Obviously frustrated but still bad form...

Rule 9 is here:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent#rule9

[Deep6]

We heard the Alcatraz ferries complain about the sailboat traffic on the VHF stating rule 9. I don't think that applies to them but they were mad that they couldn't get in or out of Pier 39. One ferry captain laid on the horn while still out halfway between Alcatraz and the pier.(with no sailboats around yet) Another came charging into Pier 39 way too fast while blowing the horn. Obviously frustrated but still bad form...

Rule 9 is here:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent#rule9

I did here that, and wonder if that person is just new to bay sailing. It's not like they have remote control for the boats out there.

[Critter]

The problem with Rule 9 around here, as I understand it, is that much of the bay is designated a "narrow channel". The ferries aren't constrained by draft, but obviously they can't operate outside this "narrow channel" if it includes the whole bay.

I've searched for a chart showing what's designated a narrow channel, but I've never found it.

Max

[Now&Zen]

Maybe some outreach is in order. I can understand why they were frustrated and we may not fully understand some of their limitation. The question is really were they just frustrated and having a difficult time keeping schedule, or was the situation really unsafe.

They may not understand why we don't just fire up our motors and get out of the way. I think any of us would do that if the situation became unsafe. But they may not understand or care that it would disqualify us.

if it is just frustration or schedule keeping I say tough luck and welcome to the Bay. Other forms of traffic are affected by other sporting events like bike races, marathons etc.

Tony

[Jan Brewer]

About Pier 39 I kept getting the term "restricted area" used by, first, a man who identified himself and then a woman came on the radio quite frustrated with us and giving us a warning of when she was coming into Pier 39. At that point I put the radio down and wouldn't engage any further in the conversation.

On race deck we can hear the horns and we had not heard any 5 blasts until long after the transmission I received so . . .

And about results, does anyone remember my memo at the skippers' meeting about don't even go there with me. I'll just tell ya that Matt and I spent the better part of this evening going over the video and we are up to 50 boats maybe so . . . as Foster says "to be continued."

[bobwalden]

This old one again. :)

Ferries have no special rights on SF bay. This has been established several times. A sailing acquaintance of mine even brought it up face to face with a ferry skipper one day and this was acknowledged.

Most folks make reference to the Port Captain's directive contained in SF Public Advisory 05-95, which basically says all the deep-water channels marked in the bay are considered narrow channels for the purpose of rule 9, which says vessels less than 20 meters, and all sailboats, will not impede the safe passage of a vessel that is constrained to stay within the channel.

See http://www.uscg.mil/d11/vtssf/rule9.asp for a discussion of rule 9 on SF bay.

THe port captain's directive 05-95 used to be posted online but I can't find it any more. I have a PDF copy if anyone would like it, send me your email.

The port captain's directive "...identifies areas where deep draft commercial and public vessels routinely operate." The term "public" here refers to recreational boats.

So the focus is clearly on having small vessels stay clear of large vessels that are a) not very maneuverable and b) required to stay in the shipping channel. Ferries are a) very maneuverable and b) criss-cross the channels all the time.

So: rule 9, and the SF public advisory 05-95, do not extend to ferries, tugs, pilot boats, work boats, or other sundry "non-recreational" boats. In other words: commercial vessels (as such) don't have any more rights than non-commercial vessels.

Also, a quick perusal of the charts for the Pier 39 (or Pier 1, for that matter) area don't show any special restriction. The waters around Pier 39 are part of the eastbound lane, in which sailboats must not impede constrained vessels. But ferries ain't constrained.

Now, I would say it is only common courtesy to avoid interfering with a passenger vessel on a scheduled run, especially right next to its dock where it may be trying to maneuver in close quarters with obstructions, etc. But that's common sense, not regulatory.

Just my .02,
Bob Walden

[bobwalden]

Jan: How did these people contact you--radio? What channel? Were they VTS, or ferry crew?

[tiger beetle]

And about results, does anyone remember my memo at the skippers' meeting about don't even go there with me. I'll just tell ya that Matt and I spent the better part of this evening going over the video and we are up to 50 boats maybe so . . . as Foster says "to be continued."

Hi Jan - any chance of bringing the start line video over to the club for running in the background at the trophy presentation? We could bring OYC's big TV upstairs and run the video on it - always kinda fun to see the mayhem from the RC's perspective!

- rob/beetle

[Mitch]

I big thank you to SSS and the race deck - what a job - and the results up so quickly. Mucho appreciated.

Greg Mitchell
HapaGirl
Contour 34

[ronnie simpson]

I second that sentiment. Outstanding job by the race deck and everyone involved in setting a temporary mark for Blackaller and making sure that things went smoothly. Thanks a bunch.

[Jan Brewer]

Okay, Rob, I've already been pluggin' for this with Matt. He's gonna edit my obscenities and other comments -- I sound soooooooooooooooo Southern -- and hopefully put together something funny as well.

Now the start, we haven't watched yet. Basically the video was pointed on the line and that's it. The finish? Matt got a great video of the first two and then it goes stationary again.

About Pier 39 and your question, Bob, I was contacted by radio, channel 69 and I think I switched them to 68. I can't remember. Anyway, the gentleman identified himself and later repeated his identification and the woman didn't say who she was. I assumed (oh, I hate to do that) they were either Blue and Gold or Red and White, not necessarily the ferries 'cause the man immediately said Pier 39. In fact, it never ever occurred to me it could be a ferry so . . .

Thanks too for the kudos. Matt and I need them right now big time! Max and Jackie have been fielding emails all day too so . . .

[brianlewis]

Jan (Darl'in) and Company...thanks for getting us the best weather and then mixing up the wind direction to keep us on our toes. This has to be one of the toughest races to manage. Hang in there...My guess that the boats restricted may be restricted based on width, not depth. By the way, my friend is President of the Bay Pilot's Association, Mike Miller. I would be happy to ask for his, or his pilots, insights to commercial traffic and racing on the bay. I have some other ideas when you're ready for a glass of wine and some brain storm'in. That's it for now Darl'in...See you on the 8th. Brian S/V Gavilan

[Now&Zen]

Jan - I stand with the others! Great Race Deck as usual. And I thought you did a great job with the Ferry Folk! I heard most or all of that conversation and I thought you were so polite and handled them very well and yes I had visions of you swearing up a blue streak but being careful to only do it when the mike wasn't keyed!

Tony

[pogen]

Hi Jan and All,

Perhaps the conflict with the ferry/tourist boat/whatever can be reviewed at the trophy meeting?

After reading the regulations, I still don't think we are required to give way to these smaller commercial passenger boats (the high speed ferries, Alcatraz ferries, tour boats, and Hornblower-esque booze cruise vessels), though it is so often done out of prudence or courtesy that the operators of these vessels may have come to assume (oh that word!) that they have right-of-way. After all, a city bus is not allowed to change lanes and run you over in your car, just because it can!

Of course big freighters and tankers are entirely another matter.

I heard there was an interesting presentation on the history of the 3BF (or the SSS itself?) at the skipper's meeting, which I missed. Could this be made available, maybe via a link on the website? My boat under the previous owner was overall winner way back in 1992 or something, though I am not perpetuating the legacy all that well.

[Critter]

David, there were some fun anecdotes from Dan Newland, Pat Broderick and Gordie Nash. No A/V aids unfortunately. Unless someone was taking notes, there's nothing to post.

Incidentally, we had nothing to do with setting the substitute for Blackaller. My best guess is that GGYC set it out some time ago for their midwinters. Thanks anyway to Nick Salvador who rigged up a buoy for us, and Scott Easom who took it out to drop it, then wisely decided it would be confusing to have two temporary marks in close proximity.

[Philpott]

As if I weren't having a hard enough time rounding Blackaller IN THE DARK, my first time on the City Front IN THE DARK, this is where I finally found it: N37 48.521 W 122 27.890. I reached out with my little handheld ETrex and almost touched it. IN THE DARK. Boy, are there alot of things to hit out there!

[SSS.ScottP]

Are we positive it was even one of our boats? I just happened to be "sailing" (read drifting) out near the Oakland side of the bay bridge when I heard the call over the radio and the 5 horn blast and a bunch more commotion and looking over in the area of the ferry I thought "what the hell, none of our boats are even in that area it couldn't be one of us". So I just went about drifting and watching 339 boats going the "right" way around. Really? One of ours?

[todd22123]

Here is a video that shows the crowd at Blackaller for the clockwise boats.

Todd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGEqo_77qmY&context=C3496d1aADOEgsToPDskKqzhOkVZxxoxIFZiN5fnlc

[Critter]

And here's another link for race photos, from Jeremy Leonard of Surf City Racing.

http://surfcityracing.smugmug.com/Boats/3BF/21232936_BnssT2#!i=1690077310&k=bCQtzcp

[nrdmao]

http://printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=the_REAL_photoboy&gallery_id=2948153

[SarahL]

I wrote up our experience as rank beginners - our first ever Fiasco, but not likely to be the last

http://www.3sheets.us/2012/02/02/the-three-bridge-fiasco-2012-a-beginners-view/

And here are a few photos I took as we rounded Yerba Buena - featuring Moonshadow, Chesapeake, sail numbers 155, 28134, 28439, 32215 only. I have higher res/uncropped too if anyone's interested

https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/117820450960509157854/albums/5703541366225340657

Thanks to the race committee for such a fabulous day on the water!

[Philpott]

Thank you, Sarah! Kindof similar to punting on the Thames

[Dodrill]

What a great day sailing. Thanks to everyone for organizing the event. Here's a link to my favorite photos of the day, shot from the deck of Larry Vito's "Dream Keeper."

Best,
Jerry

http://jerrydodrill.photoshelter.com/gallery/Three-Bridge-Fiasco-2012/G0000PV7JFDF.UKI
Click slideshow at right for full screen.