Optimist Racing, batteries not included

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” – Mark Twain

From the comfort of St. Francis Yacht Club, its perch along the shores of San Francisco Bay offer full view of this chill – fog, full paddock of sheep, Alaskan current. Nothing kind about it.

But a dream for Opti parents. Leave the RIB at home, enjoy the club’s famous Ramos Fizz while junior gets an education in toughness, fully layered in a catalogue of sailing gear.

But alas, COVID-19 had other plans, and StFYC’s signature Opti Heavy Weather Regatta has been derailed, denying mom and dad of the Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict at Sunday Brunch. Simple pleasures denied.

But to keep the dream alive, this year’s event will use the Virtual Regatta platform for the 2020 Virtual Opti Heavy Weather on June 26. Here are some of the notations from the Notice of Race:

• The regatta will be governed by the Virtual Racing Rules of Sailing (Is this a thing? Dave Perry… help!).
• Personal flotation devices are encouraged while racing, but not required (What’s a device? Is that a doll?).
• Racing is umpired within the game; competitor protests are not allowed (Big Brother is watching).
• The regatta series is open to Optimist sailors age 15 and younger (No creepers allowed).
• The first warning signal is scheduled for 1005 (Because we control the wind, not Mother Nature).
•The racing host may communicate with participants via Zoom audio conference (Told you Big Brother was watching).
• The race area will be set on a virtual reality race course that may include our beloved San Francisco City Front (Maybe it will be inland where it’s warmer).
• Competitors shall participate in the virtual regatta entirely at their own. The Organizing Authority does not accept any liability for hurt feelings, deflated egos, material damage, personal injury, or death sustained in conjunction with, prior to, during, or after the regatta (This is a joke, right?).
• Competitors accept inherent risks associated with using constantly developing software in high demand and the limitations of high-speed internet connections and battery-operated devices – potential bugs and glitches are factors one must occasionally deal with in the game (ie, suck it up, Buttercup).

Limited to 57 participants…click here.