Vanguard 15 West Coast Fleet 53

Nationals is shaping up to be a great regatta. We've hit 28 official registrants, and will end up at 30+ once everyone pays (non-payers, refer to YouTube video below) We've got some volunteers working super hard to make this happen, but here are some things you need to do at your end:

1) Plan for extra time to get to Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC). This is because the BART Transbay Tube will be closed this weekend, sending more traffic to the Bay Bridge. Unless you're planning on swimming over (like Sessions?) you'll be spending more time in your car. How much more? I don't know, but Google Maps and Waze might. TISC address: 698 California Ave, San Francisco, CA 94130

2) BYOW (Bring your own water). Being on a former Navy base, TISC doesn't have a drinkable water line. Being in California, hydrating pre/during/post sailing is a good idea. So fill up those Nalgenes. We'll have around 20 gallons of drinking water at TISC, but if you do the math, that's a limited amount for 60 sailors over 2 days.

3) Join the national V15 class. You gotta do it to race Nationals, and it's just 15 bucks. We've made it super easy: use PayPal to send $15 to gmedley@conncoll.edu. Takes maybe two minutes. If you want to go all old school and write a check: http://v15.org/membership/index.html

4) Fill out a TISC medical form and liability release, if you haven't already done so for the year. It's windy on this course, and getting injured is a very real possibility. If we need to get you to the hospital, the info on this form is critical. BOTH sailors need to do this. Drop it off at the TISC office (the elegant double wide trailer) once complete. https://drive.google.com/a/newrelic.com/file/d/0B2NLzcrj52_9WlhHU...

5) Bring the right clothes. It'll be windy and the water is mid-50s. Hypothermia kicks in around 10-15 minutes. Here's how to dress: https://medium.com/@alsargent/what-to-bring-when-sailing-vanguard...

6) Make sure you got the rigging basics covered. It'll make your weekend a lot safer and more enjoyable: https://medium.com/@alsargent/top-5-vanguard-15-rigging-tips-a479...

7) Have a capsize plan. Did I mention it'll be windy? Well, Clipper Cove is super shallow, a few feet in places. If your masthead hits the water, 99% chance you'll hit mud. This means if you hop on the daggerboard to right your boat, you'll only end up pile-driving your mast further into some of the nation's most expensive real estate. Plan on both people jumping into the water. One person holds the mast up, and the other swims the bow around so that the mast is to windward of the hull. Then get on the daggerboard.

8) Read the sailing instructions. Don't you hate it when SIs get published the morning of the race? We do. They're now up. Read them, and email forrest@sfyc.org if you have questions. http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/10819#_docs

9) Tell us if you need housing. Specifically MCSessions@gmail.com. Members of our fleet have places you can crash. Don't plan on camping at TISC; as you're probably guessing from the mentions of double-wides and no water, it's not a yacht club in a posh neighborhood. (But it IS an awesome sailing venue!) It's not unsafe during the day, but at night you're likely to get rousted by the SFPD. Not fast. If you really want to camp, a couple of options are at http://vanguard15.org/schedule/826.

10) Bring your own lunch. The Notice of Race states lunch at 11 am both days. To be clear, that means you should fuel up onshore before heading out. We will NOT be providing lunch. That said, Steve Kleha and team are providing two awesome dinners on Saturday and Sunday, with beer from Trummer Pils and wine from Castelli Vineyards.

11) Locate the TIBAG. Or "Treasure Island Bar and Grill" if you're not from these parts. It's where we meeting on Friday after the practice races for no-host food and drinks. http://www.yelp.com/biz/treasure-island-bar-and-grill-treasure-is...

12) Get your photographer friends to come out. If you know of someone that'd like to come out on Saturday or Sunday and capture the moments and mayhem, email al.sargent@gmail.com Make sure they're dressed in summer clothes: foulies, fleece, lifejacket.

13) Put your stuff in the right place. We won't be the only ones at TISC, and we need to keep the path to the hoists and docks clear. Put your dollies in front of the east (further from SF) TISC office (double wide). Put your trailers to the west (closer to SF) of the TISC office.

14) Help us with registration on Friday and Saturday. We need someone to be onsite Friday afternoon and/or Saturday morning to ensure folks have registered, paid their class dues, and signed the med/liability form. If you can help -- please?! -- email al.sargent@gmail.com

15) Fight the power! Not a requirement for Nationals, but there's a plan to fill in much of where we'll be sailing with a huge marina. We're asking for it to be scaled back so we can share the space. Like adults. Space for a marina. Space for sailing. If you think that's a good thing, sign this: http://saveclippercove.nationbuilder.com/petition

16) Pass this note on to anyone I may have missed. Like your crew (that person in the front). Or slackers that haven't signed up yet (see video below).

Phew! That's a lot of stuff, no one ever said our sport is simple.

Thanks for reading to the end, but more important DO all things above!

Really.

Do it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPAJtvy1uL0

See you out there!