Memories: 2015 Great Schooner Race at SFYC

With MAYAN moored in her slip while we're sheltering in place from the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to reach back in time to one of our favorite events.

We had the tremendous luck of having the Crowninshield schooner MARTHA visiting the San Francisco Bay for the event, giving us a rare opportunity to sail against a staysail schooner of similar length. The schooners BRIGADOON and YANKEE were racing with us, but their gaff rig puts them at a disadvantage when going upwind.

MAYAN flying her "Lowers", with her small Yankee Jib

The day started with the threat of strong winds. A gray overcast hung above us and a strong ebb tide was forecast. It would be bumpy!

We had set all the lowers: Yankee Jib, Fore Staysail, Main Staysail, and Mainsail, in anticipation of a blow. But as we reached back towards the Knox Buoy starting line, the wind faded away.

"Change to the Genoa Jib!" called Beau, only 4 minutes before the start.

Under the leadership of the foredeck boss, Syntha Petroka, the foredeck crew went to work. With one minute to the gun, the sail-change was completed, we were on the line on time, and had the correct sail flying. As the starting gun went off, the boat settled down, and we started playing the puffs in the surprisingly light air.

MAYAN was new to us all. Thanks to the quick work of the foredeck crew, we had the right sail up and began to extend our lead on MARTHA. But, we didn't know how much wind the rig and sails would take. As we reached the windward mark, the wind was above 25 knots with gusts to 30. We turned downwind and hauled up the massive Advance Staysail to replace the Main Staysail, and set the Spinnaker flying from the bowsprit. With her centerboard pulled up, MAYAN has far less wetted surface than the other schooners. As one of the crew said: "She's lifting her skirts to run away now."

On the wind sailing back from Southampton Shoal to Alcatraz

The leeward mark far to the east of Angel Island was fast approaching and the wind was still in the high 20s to low 30s. Just before rounding the leeward mark the Advance Staysail and Spinnaker came down, the Main Staysail went up, and we took a chance by flying the Genoa Jib. Our crew boss, Skip Allen, had the team working beautifully.

"Wayne, how much can that bowsprit take?" Beau called out.

"More than the sailcloth can!" responded Wayne with a smile.

Wayne had entirely rebuilt MAYAN a decade earlier, he was confident in her strength. He was right. With the large jib drawing well MAYAN started clawing her way back upwind, bouncing in the ebb chop, and covering her crew with cold saltwater. A typical spring day on San Francisco Bay.

As we approached Alcatraz Skip Allen could see the ebb pushing us westward, directly upwind. MARTHA was gaining on us now, her full keel holding her to a lot less leeway than MAYAN makes with her centerboard.

"Bow down, Beau" called Skip. "Don't pinch her in this chop. You'll be too close to the island."

Beau pushed the bow down and MAYAN picked up a knot of boat speed. She was romping along now, spray flying everywhere. As is usually the case, Skip was right. The ebb tide kept pushing MAYAN westward towards Alcatraz and we ran the risk of getting into the lee of the island. What's worse, if we got too close, we'd be lifted out of the favorable ebb tide.

MAYAN riding the edge of the ebb tide upwind past Alcatraz

As we shot past Alcatraz, Beau called to Skip: "Call the layline. We don't want to go any further towards the City than we have to."

Skip grinned and started to gauge the current, wind, waves, and boat speed. One of the most experienced racing sailors in the world, this was a call he was really enjoying. 

"Stand by to tack!" rang out as Skip rallied everyone to their positions. "Tacking in 5, 4, 3..." he counted down. 

"This is nuts." said a friend from the Pacific Northwest as he took his position at the Genoa sheet winch. "We will never get around the island. We'll be headed right for the center of it."

"Just watch," Beau replied with a grin, and then called out: "Helm's a lee!"

As MAYAN completed her tack she was indeed pointed right at the rock cliff in the middle of the south side of Alcatraz. People ashore and on the ferries started to point at us and pull out their cameras. We were only six or seven boat lengths from the cliff and going fast. Our friends from out of town were worried.

But, Skip did what Beau knew he would. He had judged it perfectly. The ebb tide continued to push MAYAN upwind at over three knots. It runs especially strong along this southern cliff. "Keep the bow down, Beau." Skip called out. "You'll clear by two boat lengths."

Often referred to as The Elevator, the tide along this cliff is legendary. It is also extremely difficult to judge just how much a sailor can count on it. MAYAN did clear the southwestern tip of Alcatraz by two boat lengths as Skip made himself helpful by coiling lines and pointedly not looking at the island as it rushed past. 

MARTHA, not knowing the local conditions, had stood on a while towards San Francisco. There she tacked only to discover that the ebb tide and pushed her a long way west and she was badly overstood. The rest of the race was a romp back to Knox Buoy as both boats eased sheets and reached along with spray flying everywhere.

Wayne had brought his movie camera along that day, and just recently provided us with a beautiful video of the race. A special thanks to him for his efforts and a reminder that all of us who cherish these old wooden boats need to keep guys like Wayne going strong. You can find the race video at this link, and please visit the Maritime Preservation Trust for more information on caring for these lovely old boats.