2024 Singlehanded Half Moon Bay Race - Westsail 32 Tortuga

Was a misty start to the day for the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s 2024 Half Moon Bay Race! There was lots of activity around the city front. There was an organized group of swimmers from the south tower of the GGB across the opening to Finger Point, there was an Alcatraz Invitational swim from The Rock to the city front and an YRA race start at StFYC and all were happening before and around our start time. I had to leave pier 39 and go out and around the backside of Alcatraz to port to avoid that group of swimmers. There was a bunch of chase boats all around so it was easy to see where it was happening. I got to the starting area pretty early so sailed around marking time contemplating the sail configuration. The wind piped up in the teens before the start but then ended up being a nicer 10-12 knot breeze. I’m glad I didn’t hank on the big light air jib because I knew I was going to have to do a lot of short tacking to try and get out and just before the start I would have been waaaaay over powered. The visibility cleared up and in shore at the line, the wind was much lighter. I started with the full main and staysail. Once I tacked over to port I immediately put up the working jib to get over the line as the flood was already in effect. I could see boats struggling and affected by the flood current closer to the bridge and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make it out. After tacking back and forth, the only option was to get closer to the south tower and eek my way out on that side. The flood was building so it took quite a few tacks to get under the bridge and then it was slow going trying to make any progress forward. What I’d gain on one tack I’d lose on the other. Watching all the lighter boats be able to work their way out was disheartening. I lost track of how many times I tacked back and forth. By about 2pm I still hadn’t cleared Mile Rock. I’d been beating my head against the current wall for over 3 hours! I should have know better that I wasn’t going to be able to make it out. With a full keel, the adverse current affects your speed and pointing ability way more that a fin keel and then you get smacked again because you’re going even slower and once all the other boats have made it out, you’re in even stronger current! It was still 20 miles or so to finish even if I could have worked my way out past Mile Rock and I didn’t want to get in late to Pillar Point. I decided to pack it in at that point and ride the remaining flood back in.
Add this race to long list of DNFs for Tortuga due to adverse current!
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