A cold and foggy Friday saw 52 boats set off under the Golden Gate Bridge, fighting a flood and with promise of light winds to Monterey. Once out the Gate some of the fleet went out to look for more breeze but found the same 10 knots of southwesterly that was felt closer in.

Greg Nelsen on the Azzura 310 Outsider went down the middle. "We were one of the outside boats (except for a pack that went WAYYYYYY out right after the Gate like they were heading to the Lightship). We went by Half Moon Bay trying not to sag too far into the beach and were  5-7 miles out.”

“We were able to set the kite before Pigeon Point,” continued Greg, “and held a steady line down the Coast. Criminal Mischief went right along the beach and said they had great wind, especially near Davenport." Criminal Mischief won PHRO1A. Outsider came in second after John Siegel’s Wylie 42 Scorpio in PHRO1.

Boats were forced to two-sail reach for what seemed a long time. Remember the days of setting just past Montara?

New to the race was the Mini Transat Zero Poco Loco, which used the race as a practice for future ocean races. Co-owner Edda Rottscheidt summed up their race: "It was a long weekend. We found a hole, and by the time we were moving again it was over. We had a great time though, and it was well worth the effort." The effort included packing up the boat and hauling her back to Alameda. Not an easy task on a Mini. A long weekend indeed.

Results have been amended after the J/109 Joyride admitted to an OCS - a shame for such a long race! For final results see www.sfyc.org. Our video (with help from Poco Loco) has been posted.