Bring It On by Norman Davant

Most folks would agree that one of the most memorable America’s Cups in history was the 1987 edition in Fremantle. As a young sailmaker at the time I had the opportunity to work and sail some for Stars and Stripes. Despite the fact that the old 12 meters were slow and wet, what the Freo Dr. served up made for tremendous racing.

Now imagine Freo like breeze, but in a protected bay, and in boats that are twice, maybe three times as fast. Then imagine strolling along the sidewalk in one of the largest and most picturesque cities in the world, and being nearly grazed by a set of spreaders on an AC boat as it hauls ass up wind right by pier 39. Imagine standing on the sea walls and being able to hear the unique moans from the carbon winches because the boats are so close. That’s what AC34 in San Francisco would be like.

There’s a reason that so many classes host their nationals and worlds in San Francisco. The racing is as good as it gets. Let’s consider what we’ve heard since BMWOracle racing won AC33. They want spectacular racing – as in great viewing both for spectators and TV audiences.

The choice of boat and venue are inter-related as are the economics, not just for syndicates to participate, but in terms of sponsorship ROI. Leaving aside the fact that there will be lead up regattas mostly likely in the form of the LVTS, the finale itself has to produce the big viewership, and exciting racing (fast boats + fresh breeze) is what it takes.

Now as to the doubters chiming in that the DoG mandates that the race courses be free of headlands, and other propeller heads laying out three mile course grid overlays on SF Bay charts with their rusty 1950’s protractors. Get your heads out of your asses. Does anyone honestly believe that AC34 will not be a mutual consent affair? Who gives a shit about headlands. And you can put your protractors away too. Beginning somewhere between the Paleozoic and Mesazoic eras, the wind in SF has been blowing steady from 237 plus or minus a degree or two right through the Golden Gate, and it does that about 250 days a year, day after day, after day. Very conveniently that constant wind direction creates a race track that runs up and down the bay, along its natural formation. I suspect there would be very few race day postponements – good for the sponsors, TV crews and production companies.

I’ve raced here for 25 years in everything from Express 27’s to maxis and was tactician on last year’s IRC-A winner and IRC National Champion. In my spare time I run a few regattas. Having been chair of the StFYC Rolex Big Boat Series for longer than most good single malts take to age, I think we have pretty much figured out how to accommodate big boats. We have also over the years developed a good relationship with both the Coast Guard and Vessel Traffic (VTS) who go out of their way to be accommodating and with whom we have constant two way communications on race courses and activity, and the shipping traffic routes for the day. Setting two race courses – out of the way of shipping lanes - run simultaneously for 100+ boats including maxis, mini-maxis, STP65’s and TP52’s is just another day at the office. Now if you take about 94 boats out of the picture and race what will likely be something along the lines of an STP65 or 55-60’ RC44, or even 60’ inshore multi-hulls, I’m just not seeing the problem.

CityFront Course

A lot has been speculated about the distances and locations, there are two distinct race courses that one sails based on the predominate wind: the City front course (left) which starts off of Treasure Island and goes to a weather mark up past the yacht clubs, around a weather mark just inside the GG bridge and then back down to Treasure Island. This course is a long course, the leg is over four miles long, this is actually too long in my opinion to make really short course entertaining racing. You can shorten at either end to accommodate traffic or spectators.

North Course

Before the 2003 Moet Cup BMW ORACLE did a match race within their team east of Angel Island, this was essentially the North Course (right). The course starting line is just into deep water off the Berkeley Pier, you can get about two miles without pushing into the shipping lanes too severely. This race course is used for the windward leeward courses during the Big Boat Series and other major events such as the Farr 40 Worlds. This is a great race course that could be used in 60 or 70 footers going mach 3 up and down all day, every day. I think the push here is for short courses with under 1 hour races so we are likely looking at consent for 2nm and under length courses.

Berkeley Course

If you really wanted to change it up you could just go straight to multi-hulls. If the boats that raced for AC 33 had to be mono hulls with no other restrictions, they would have had 25 foot drafts, “see model yachts”. If you raced multi-hulls the board and rudders would be maybe 8’ deep, this would allow you to race all the races on the Berkeley Circle. If you want an idea of what this means go back to last August and the 505 Worlds. Only the strong survive here brother - and it provides mucho excitement.

At the end of the day, San Francisco Bay is plenty big enough to do anything you want, so…………bring it on, what a cool event it will be.

Norman Davant
Sail California