The San Francisco Speed Event 2006

by Michelle Slade on 3 Feb 2006 San Francisco Speed Sailing Management will launch a new annual sailing event on San Francisco Bay June 15-18, 2006, The San Francisco Speed Sailing Event. Expected to draw windsurfers, kite surfers, skiff sailors as well as mono and multi hull sailors from all over the US, the Event offers speed sailors a unique opportunity to offically record and document extreme sailing as it exists on a daily basis in one of the best international sailing venues, San Francisco Bay.

The concept is simple: to go as fast as you can with your sail powered watercraft, straight line sailing through a 500 metre course (about one third of a mile), racing against the clock and the elements. Consider that at a speed of 30 knots, it would take a vessel approximately 30 seconds to cover 500 metres - in a word, FAST.

The San Francisco Speed Sailing Event is open to all sailcraft: catamarans large and small, Olympic and international skiffs, windsurfers, kiteboarders and other types of sailboats. The speed course will be raced in a 'box', marked by bouys and set on central San Francisco Bay, east of the Golden Gate Bridge, and just off the beaches of Crissy Field in the Presidio and the San Francisco Marina Green.

Registration is available now online at http://www.sanfranciscospeed.com

Recognizing that the course area is subject to constant tidal action and water movement, the Event has been scheduled to coincide with the strong flood tides of June. Prime conditions are expected in the afternoons when the strong winds and incoming tide combine to produce the flat and fast conditions conducive to speed sailing.

'Having been involved in race management on San Francisco Bay for many years and understanding what it is that makes a great sailing event, I always considered that the Bay was ripe for an all-out speed sailing event,' explained Matt Jones, Event race manager. 'We’re living in an era where going fast and breaking records is exciting and fun. To date, there are no official speed sailing records that exist for the Bay so the San Francisco Speed Sailing Event will create that precedent. To our knowledge, it will be the first event of it’s kind on mainland US.'

In its role as event host for the inaugural San Francisco Speed Sailing Event, the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) continues its tradition of supporting new, cutting edge events in sailing. Located on the beautiful and windy San Francisco City Front, GGYC currently holds the title of Challenger of Record for the America’s Cup. With magnificent sailing conditions just outside the clubhouse doors, GGYC will be the Event hub for viewing the speed course, as well as the site of the regatta office, press center and competitors’ hospitality area. Race control and live announcing of the action on the water will take place from the GGYC Race Deck.

Event website: http://www.sanfranciscospeed.com