Three Bridge Fiasco Coming Jan 29!

The popular single-handed race “Three Bridge Fiasco” is coming up on January 29. Three of our Inspire Sailing staff will be entering this race. For each of the next three weeks, we’ll hear from each skipper about their past experience, and maybe even their strategy for the upcoming race!? :-)

This week, we hear from Inspire Sailing GM, Phil: 

Late each January the Singlehanded Sailing Society puts on one of, if not the, single largest sailboat races in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River:  Three Bridge Fiasco. 

With attendance limited to single- and double-handed crews, 300+ boats are not uncommon. Seasonally light winds and traditionally strong currents make the race a highlight of the year for many Bay Area sailors, including many of the staff members here at Inspire Sailing and our partner club Modern Sailing. Our CEO Leigh Hunt is even making it a little more interesting this year, with a fine bottle of wine offered to the staff member who places the highest among the superfluity of boats. 

While competing in the Fiasco is not permitted on boats chartered from Inspire or Modern, we still encourage you to get out on the Bay on January 29th to take in this extraordinary event! We will be hosting one of our Club Sail’s on that day and we also encourage those who can charter to get out there as well! 

The start/finish line is in front of Golden Gate Yacht Club, and the course rounds the newly replaced Blackaller Buoy by the Golden Gate Bridge, Yerba Buena Island/Treasure Island, and Red Rock which is by the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. These marks can be rounded in any order and any direction adding to the “fiasco” aspect of this awesome event.

The race is a “pursuit” race, meaning the slowest boats start first based on each boat’s PHRF rating which, all things being equal, would mean every boat should finish at the same time. 

Make your reservation now and come be a part of one of the coolest sailing events in the country!

• Phil Strause, GM of Inspire Sailing (and guest contributor to our blog!)

Inspire Sailing’s GM Phil Strause’s Santa Cruz 27 “Wolpertinger” shown at the start of 2020’s 3BF with the blue/green hull.