Three Bridge Fiasco - Coast Guard Pier

[Critter]

One partial "solution" for the Chevron Long Wharf anyway, would be to change the course and require leaving Red Rock to Port and transiting a "gate" established by Red Rock and the Richmond bridge.

Thom, I don't see how this helps, unless there's a flood. On an ebb, people will still want to hug the shore as they approach Red Rock - unless they're coming up from Raccoon and the ebb isn't too strong. Or am I missing something?

I think Dan's/Eric's idea of defining a "wall" like the Pinole Channel has potential. A line from G"3" near the long wharf to Castro Rock buoy (maybe with R"2" in between to bulge the line outward - also decreases the distance between buoys, making the line easier to judge) would have to be left to shoreward, no unwinding.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18653.shtml if you don't have a paper chart handy.

I had another wacky idea - not that I favor this, but just throwing it out there. Buy a couple of laser rangefinders. Get permission to station RC members on Long Wharf or the YB buoy station, and they can record distances and file protests.

Max

[Travieso]

It is a great idea if you can find someone to sit on the peer all day with a bullhorn protesting folks.

[BobJ]

I mostly agree with Dan, Eric and Max.

Add R "2" (QR) off the Long Wharf as a mark to be kept shoreward. Heck, do it for all the SSS races going that way so it gets into people's brains/habits. It's far enough out that there's no benefit to dipping back in towards the Long Wharf after clearing R "2".

G "1" off YBI doesn't work as well - the angles are such that people could still dip in towards shore when fighting the current. BUT unlike the Long Wharf, this is a clearly-marked restricted area on the chart. If baffles me that nobody lodged a protest on the YBI deal. (Well, I didn't either!) This area just needs to be added to the list of restricted areas in the SSI's and made a talking point at skippers' meetings for a spell.

[Thom]

Just a brain fart on my part...didn't consider that during an ebb the "gate" would not be helpful.

[Thom]

OTOH, the gate could be reversed for those 3BF races during ebbs. I know that would only work for 3 BF...we have other races that can get us near the long wharf (Vallejo, Richmond-South Beach).

Has anyone discussed this with the Coast Guard and requested permission to transit these areas for specific races? The regulation allows them to grant such permissions.