After I got my certification to sail, I joined the Berkeley Yacht Club and started racing. As I’ve said before, I am a better skier than a sailor, and in no instance was this truer than in racing. First of all, I am dreamy, and the San Francisco Bay is ever changing and exceedingly beautiful, so keeping my mind on the race was difficult, so I would often miss my signal to pull in a line, or do the job I was assigned to. Unlike skiing, sailing is a team sport. Second, I found the Race Committee. I’ll make this story short: I quit the Berkeley Yacht Club and moved over to the St. Francis Yacht Club. The St. Francis Yacht Club Race Committee is renowned for running some of the best sailboat, kiting, and windsurfing races in the world.
Now Ocean SF is the Sustainability Partner for the Rolex Big Boat Series. Here is an outline of the races this weekend.
The boats will be docked around the bay at different yacht clubs. The first warning signal will be at 11:00 a.m., so you will see the boats waiting and ready for the race committee to do the countdown for their class.
In a typical sailing race, the race starts five minutes after the first warning signal. The standard starting procedure, called the “5-4-1-Go” sequence, is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
This sequence uses both flags and sound signals to communicate the countdown to the racers.
- 5 minutes (Warning Signal): The race committee raises the class flag for the boats that are about to start and sounds one short signal. The start line is now established, and racers begin their final preparations.
- 4 minutes (Preparatory Signal): The committee raises the “P” flag (the Blue Peter) and sounds one short signal. Racers must now stay on the pre-start side of the line. In some races, other flags like the “U” or “Black” flag may be used to indicate stricter starting penalties.
- 1 minute: The committee lowers the preparatory flag and sounds one long signal. This marks the final minute before the start.
- 0 minutes (Start Signal): The committee lowers the class flag and sounds one short signal. The race has officially begun.
All Classes:
Friday, September 10th – First Warning 11:00
Saturday, September 11th – First Warning 11:00
Sunday, September 12th – First Warning 11:00
You can watch the races from Marina Green or Fort Mason. Come and join me!
Love and blessings to all.
Sydney 