WaveChaser Coastal Relay
Saturday, April 19th

The WaveChaser relay race is Saturday April 19th. This popular annual surfski and outrigger canoe race was not held in 2007 due to major renovations at the finish line (and post race party area) at Bair Island Aquatic Center. The BIAC improvements have long since been completed, and relay race is on. The typical Bay Area summer afternoon winds have been blowing, so the second half of the relay will likely offer good downwind paddling. An incoming tide should aid in creating fast times.

In the past we've used Treasure Island as a relay exchange point. Our access point on TI is not available so we've had to shuffle around the exchange points a bit. Total distance for the four legs will be 34.7 miles (17.6 miles for the odd numbered legs and 17.1 miles for the even numbered legs). Additional details are below.

Start at Shorebird Park in Berkeley

First leg goes to Islias Creek in San Francisco (8.75 miles)
Route via water (9.4 miles): http://routebuilder.org/25y
Route via land (14.1 miles): http://tinyurl.com/5l4ef5

Second leg goes to Oyster Point
Route via water (7.5 miles): http://routebuilder.org/25z
Route via land (7.7 miles): http://tinyurl.com/6bpvg7

Third leg goes to the 3rd Avenue kite surfing launch in Foster City
Route via water (8.2 miles): http://routebuilder.org/264
Route via land (13.1 miles): http://tinyurl.com/6pzya4

Fourth leg goes to Bair Island Aquatic Center in Redwood City
Route via water (9.6 miles): http://routebuilder.org/263
Route via land (8.6 miles): http://tinyurl.com/6gjk4v

Route via water for the entire course: http://routebuilder.org/26f

The starting time is 9:00 for women and 9:30 for men. Depending on the entrants received on race morning, we may do a 9:15 start for coed teams. Registration starts at 8:00 and closes at 8:30. Please have your entire team register together. Race fees are $20 per paddler in small boats, and $10 per paddling for OC6's. Fees include the post race BBQ and party at BIAC.

Each team may do their relay exchanges in their own format with respect to who paddles what leg and how many legs each team member paddles. Additional changes (between official checkpoints) are allowed. Paddling through a check point without a change in paddlers is allowed (although you must paddle to the checkpoint). Anything goes with respect to the format of your team. If you are a OC1 paddler and want to team up with a surfski paddler, you may do so. (ie you paddle OC1 on legs 1 and 3; partner paddles surfski on legs 2 and 4.) You may mix and match the gender of your teammates as you choose.

But there are a few firm rules:

1. Each team must paddle to every checkpoint even if they are not changing paddlers at that checkpoint.
   
2. If a team drops out, they must inform the race officials of their status. For safety reasons, we need to keep track of the whereabouts of each team.
3. PFD's must be worn at all times while on the water. (PFD use in your car as you drive to the next checkpoint is optional.)
4. Everybody needs to fill out and sign a new liability waiver. Registration will be faster if you fill it out before hand.
5. A designated driver is recommended if you plan on consuming copious amounts of the post race recovery drinks.

Also, cut off times have been established at the second and third checkpoints. Those not meeting the cut off times will be asked to withdraw from the relay. The Oyster Point cut off time is 12:30 pm and the 3rd Avenue cut off time is 2:00 pm.

Some additional course info:

1. You will be paddling under the construction of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Paddlers must not go within 50 feet of any of the bridge supports.
2. Look closely at the routebuilder.org maps for the exact location of the checkpoints.
3. You are required to go around the fishing pier that is under the western end of the San Mateo Bridge (just after the 3rd Avenue checkpoint).
4. Unlike the course in our summer downwind races, you are not required to go around the red channel markers south of the San Mateo Bridge.

There's a pretty good incoming tide during the race that will be of benefit after the first checkpoint. By the time paddlers get to the second half of the course, the tide will be plenty high to easily paddle over areas that are very shallow during low tides.

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