3 Bridge Fiasco

The first race for The Pork Chop Express happens to have the most entries of any race in North America. Hey, I have an idea: buy a new boat and enter a crowded race where everyone starts at a different time (according to their handicap) and can go ANY WAY THEY WISH around the race course! Thinking we were smart we opted for an Easterly start – yes, you can cross the start finish line whichever way you please. the boats that started close to our time were going the other way making us feel like Shelly Winters in The Poseidon Adventure “You’re going the wrong way!” We soon congratulated ourselves on this idea – heading for Red Rock first, as we had lovely clear air and very little company. It was upwind to get there but some pleasant sailing – still, something was up with our boat speed. After rounding Red Rock (adjacent to the Richmond Bridge) we headed for the Bay Bridge with an ever increasing crowd. Light air and 4 spinnaker changes kept us working until a light Northeasterly filled in and boosted us through surrounded by 200 other boats. We stayed well outside of the Coast Guard station as the current was against us and were happy with that. Several boats were pushed into the docked Coast Guard buoy tender and got a tongue lashing via VHF radio. We kept the boat moving and got around without issue, doused the kite and took off with our #2 jib. Riding the ebb out to Blackaller (adjacent to the Golden Gate) was uneventful but the damage was done. We did indeed go the wrong way and could see we were going to be pretty far back in the pack. No matter as it was a delightful day with the missus and the boat performed flawlessly.