April 30 – Might 1, 2022
The primary point out of a race got here in 1925, when PICYA organized a cruise from Berkeley to Vallejo on a Saturday to be adopted by a race again on Sunday. That is in all probability the official origin of the Nice Vallejo Race, now reputed to be one of many largest inland regattas in the USA, often drawing 200+ boats yearly. Now underneath the aegis of the Yacht Racing Affiliation (YRA) and hosted by the Vallejo Yacht Membership, the two-day race marks the official opening of the San Francisco Bay racing season.
The race most frequently begins close to the Berkeley Circle on Saturday morning, rounds a single climate mark close to Alcatraz, after which heads to Vallejo, often underneath spinnaker for the rest of the race. The problem is to take care of velocity via the shadow of Angel Island, discover the very best mixture of wind and present previous the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and East Brother Gentle Station, after which keep away from the mud shoals on the east facet of San Pablo Bay. Relying on the day, the passage could be a difficult breeze (intentional pun), or a depressing drifter, sophisticated—as all the time—by the present, regardless of its course.
Because the boats enter Carquinez Strait, they bunch collectively, making the flip into Mare Island Strait. Due to the topography of Mare Island, in addition to the truth that it sits on the mouth of the Napa River, native data (or a few years of crusing the race) could make the distinction because the yachts maneuver towards the end line on the Vallejo metropolis waterfront. Winds range from gentle to heavy and change into exceedingly shifty. By the point they enter the strait, most of the crews are, let’s say, “over-relaxed” by solar, surf, and suds. That is the place the enjoyable actually begins! Within the mad sprint for the end line, sharp crews can often choose off a number of locations with shut consideration to trim, wind, and present. Simply be sure you test your charts and maintain a detailed watch in your depthsounder!
