Safety

The San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean are unique in their beauty, as well as the frigid water, tricky currents, and fast changing conditions. These conditions must be respected to ensure Wavechaser’s continued safety record.

There are typically 2 or more safety boats on the course, but the safety of the racer is primarily their own responsibility. If a safety boat must rescue or closely monitor you, they are not available to the rest of the racers. This puts everyone at additional risk.

Please look out for your fellow racers.

Inform the WaveChaser staff in the finishing area that you have abandoned the race.

Additional course information will be available at http://www.wavechaser.com prior to each race. The course may change the day of the race and/or during a race depending on weather or course conditions. Each racer is required to attend the pre-race meeting, and must carry the required safety gear.

Basic skills

• Navigation
• Remounting your boat
• Appropriate skills for your selected course and race conditions.

Select the course appropriate to your abilities and conditioning (link)

• Do not place yourself and others at risk by entering a course that is beyond your level of skill or conditioning.
• Always check currents and weather and be aware of their effect on conditions (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/gmap3/).
• Keep in mind that weather and water conditions can change rapidly, so be prepared to be flexible.
• If you determine during a race that you are at risk, abandon the race and head toward the finish. Inform Wavechaser Staff that you have withdrawn and reached land safely

Dress for immersion

• Hypothermia prevention, recognition and treatment
• Wear a coast guard approved PDF
• Flares or signal device
• Wear a leash (paddle or leg)

Optional safety equipment

• Marine Radio (channel 72 for races)
• Whistle
• Length of Rope (for rudder repair)
• “extra” layer of clothes
• GPS or compass