Thursday, September 16, 2010

Big Boat Series on San Francisco Bay


The 46th Rolex Big Boat Series on San Francisco Bay started today in the fog.  Last year I crewed on winner, Summer & Smoke, with skipper Pat.  It’s a grueling four days of boat to boat competition that tests the equipment, the crew and the pocket book.  This year my seat is in the St Francis press room; it is a different view and I will likely come out of it without bruises.

The boats race out of the fog into the press room view offshore from the St Francis yacht club.  The fleet is smaller this year, likely due to the economy, but the competition and testosterone are still in abundance.  The press boat has the best view today; we can not see much beyond the two buoys marking the finish line.  The sailboats tacking into the wind and the flood tide are revealed and then hidden by the fog; rail meat hangs on the life lines.  The sound of the Golden Gate fog horn is in the distance.

The winds are high enough to make spinnaker handling delicate.  The lagging boats are the ones having difficulties flying spinnaker and losing time to the lead boats.  The Melges 32’s are fast boats; they are so light (3,775 lbs), they fly on top of the water.  The finish is grand; lots of smiles on the boats that get the gun.  But so much for racing … one day down and three to go ... now it’s time to party.  The liquor runs fast and the women are faster.  Me? … I am just an observer.

Today I have a seat on the Pursuit boat.  This provides full access for sports photographers and writers at the turns.  Next to me are professionals with lenses long enough to see the sweat dripping off of the man on the foredeck.  My pocket camera will take a back row and not interfere.  The only time I have been as close to the race boats, I was on one.   The action is spectacular as the boats round their marks; crew scrambles to change sails and advance their position …