SFBA May 96 Newsletter

Membership Month | SFBA T-Shirts | Party | Cal Cup Series | Why Consider Sailboard Racing | Shreddin' Bettys | H2Optix Windsurfing Tour | Crissy News | Northbay News | In Memorium | Safety Reminder | Peninsula News | Vote for SFBA Board Members

Membership Month - Renew or Join Today!

The beginning of the season is here, and the time to renew your membership In the SFBA is now. As a nonprofit organization run solely by volunteers, the SFBA is dedicated to the improvement of boardsailing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through the active involvement and support of its members, the SFBA works to promote safety, provide education, ensure access and improve facilities for windsurfing throughout the Bay,

SFBA members receive access to windtalkers located around the Bay, plus seasonal newsletters to keep you informed on issues and events. Some of the activities sponsored by SFBA's local chapters include beach clean-tips. maintenance of safety signs and facilities, and lobbying on local access issues Membership dues received each year arc the sole source of our operating expenses. and are vital to the continued success of SFBA's efforts. If you care about the quality of boardsailing and access throughout the Bay. please join or renew today (form on back of newsletter).Your support makes a difference.

SFBA T-Shirts

We have a limited number of SFBA T-shirts available, left over from the AWIA show last fall. The shirts are ash colored with the popular SFBA logo on the front and back, as wall as the AWIA logo, Cal Cup Racing and Ultra Nectar names on the back.

Members who send in their 1996 SFBA renewal or new memberships at $20 (rather than the individual $10 level) will receive a T-shirt free while supplies last It has been several years since we produced SFBA T-shirts. so get one while you can. If we sell out, we will consider ordering a new batch for 1997. Please indicate L or XL when ordering. Also let us know if you would like a $10 refund on your membership payment if we are already out of T-shirts when you send in your membership.

Party May 31, 1996

Come celebrate the beginning of the season with fellow boardsailors at our annual season opening party. We will gather at 7:30 PM to discuss developments at Crissy Field and SFBA chapter news, then start to party at 8:30 PM with music, food and drinks. Be sure to come to the pre-party meeting to find out the latest developments and voice your opinions on access issues throughout the Bay.

Organized with the help of Bob Smith and Larry Russo. the evening will rock with Medicine Man, a popular SF band. at Mercedes Restaurant and Bar in the financial district. Located at 653 Commercial Street, the restaurant is on an alley between Clay and Sacramento, off Kearny or Montgomery Streets. ,,The $10 admission will pay your minimum 1996 SFBA dues, as well as beer and snacks while supplies last, Mercedes also has a full bar which will be open for the entire party. Parking is available at the Portsmouth garage and the Holiday Inn Chinatown garage, both at Kearny and Clay.

This is going to be a great party, so be sure so mark your calendar now!

Cal Cup Series

Join the challenging and fun Cal Cup races this year, either individually or as a series. The cost is $150 for the series, $30 advance registration for individual races, and $35 day of registration. Come to the first or second races to find out more information, or call the sponsoring shops.

Why Consider Sailboard Racing

So you got a good work-out the other day reaching back and forth from the beach. You were maxed out on your 4.5 with a 8'6" bump and jump. After a while you would sail back to the beach and rest. Well, consider this...

Last year In the San Francisco Bay Classic, about forty sailors raced from Crissy beach around the Golden Gate bridge and back, two times around. Then the 10 to 15 mile broad reach down to Berkeley began. And all this with the tame 20 to 25 knot winds. powerful 6.5 - 7.5 race sails. the lightest and fastest race boards, and 16" fins so powerful they would blow out the fin boxes on some older boards just reaching along!

By the time you finish just doing the two triangles around the bridge. your muscles are hot. But now the high speed reach to Berkeley starts and the guy just in front of you is someone you've raced with for years and never beat. So you put the hammer down and hope that he blows up before you do. You're flying down six foot swells faster than you've ever gone and slowly you're catching him. Adrenaline has now taken over and you must be doing 100 mph. or so It seems. for your board is only just touching the wave tops. Your thighs are into full burn now as you fight to stay In control. and you're almost past him- You put the pain out of your mind. wondering "how can I be going this fast for so long when just a couple of years ago I had to rest after one reach back and forth?" (Must be the shoes!)

With Berkeley in sight and your body numb from pain. you pass your buddy. You fight him off for the last couple of miles. although he has called up his reserves and is closing in for the kill. As you both round the leeward mark in a photo finish, you realize that he is sailing back up wind! Oh no! You forgot, the race isn't over, About 20 racers went on to finish that race. The first `Ultra Nectar Challenge' was a return race hack to Crissy beach, about 30 miles total!

acing will give you the kind of conditioning you would never have thought possible. Come join us for the thrill and satisfaction of being more than you ever thought you could be.
-Don Lester

Shreddin' Bettys

Shreddin' Bettys. a newsletter for women of the wind, is entering its second season of publication. This year. in addition to publishing the only newsletter focused on women in the sport, we are organizing group sailing events for women. The first event will take place May 18. To subscribe, send $10.00 for the season (4 issues) to Shreddin' Bettys. 207 Bayview Street, San Rafael. CA 94901. For more information. phone or fax (415)433-5345. Join us.

H2Optix Windsurfing Tour - June 8-9, 1996

Unlimited Demos!

All the top manufacturers will bring their latest gear to the beach for you to demo. Boards and rigs, all ready to go. will line the beach at Coyote Point in San Mateo June 8-9. In one day. You'll know more about windsurfing equipment than any of your friends who miss the event. There is a $10 charge to demo equipment. You will receive a wristband which gives you unlimited access to all the hottest equipment. already rigged and ready to go.

SpeedMate 2000

All day long on Saturday and Sunday there will be a distance event. You sail for 30 minutes, regardless of wind conditions, without any set course. The winner is the sailor who has gone the farthest distance that day. The six groups competing. based on age and gender, will be: women/men. ages 0-18. 19- 35. and 36+. All contestants will sail on supplied demo boards and sails. Each will be equipped with a Curtis racing fin and SpeedMate knotmeter. Race entry fee is $5 per entry. There will be prizes for distance, speed and combined standings, consisting of equipment vouchers that can be used at any windsurfing dealer in the country.

Free Lessons

Turn your friends on to windsurfing for free. Certified instructors will be on hand to give introductory lessons on the FORCE 4 computerized windsurfing simulator. `This simulator imitates the wind in the sail by providing variable resistance as the rig and board turn relative to the wind. Anyone can learn the basics of uphauling. steering. tacking and jibing without ever getting wet,

On Saturday night there will be a party nearby Coyote Point. Party passes will be available at the beach. For more information. please call Scott See at the American Windsurfing Industries Association at (800) WND-SURF (963-7873).

Crissy Field Update (As of April 30)

Near the end of last year's windsurfing season, we commented in the newsletter on how slow the Crissy Field site design process was proceeding and alluded to the fact that the molasses-like pace wasn't all bad. I also mentioned we were working to ensure that building demolition in the Crissy Field east end area wouldn't Interfere with the remainder of the `95 sailing season.

Well, a lot can happen between 9 and 5 (9/95 and 5/96), like two major federal government shutdowns and relentless attacks by Republicans on Capital Hill aimed at dismantling national environmental and park programs. If a certain congressman from Alaska has his way, there will be beachfront condos built on Crissy Field. That's right, smack-dab In the middle of our sacred launch site. So If you're not quite into the public process just yet, or you figure someone else will speak up for you, think again, because the threats from Congress are real! For those of you who do speak up as stewards of your environment, please keep it up.

Which brings us to the Presidio Trust legislation that still has not passed. This legislation is critical to the establishment of a sustainable Presidio National Park, and absolutely necessary to keep developers away for at least the next 20 years. If you've been following the issues, take the time to write, email or fax our members in Congress to express your support for the Presidio Trust legislation. Acknowledgments of thanks and appreciation to Senators Feinstein (CA), Boxer (CA). Bill Bradley (NJ). and Representative Pelosi (CA) are encouraged. If you'd like to know more about this vital issue, please contact the Sierra Club Presidio Task Force at (415) 44l-6700.

Back to the Crissy Field site design and building demolition, The good news is that site design has progressed through the roughest part of its journey (max ebb, square waves and small craft warnings). Thanks to the perseverance and vision of all the stakeholders (impacted parties) over the last several months, the future Crissy Field has emerged as a thoughtful and balanced blend of historic, natural end recreational resources. There remain two competing alternatives or schemes, a wetlands scheme and a meadow scheme, one of which will eventually be selected for implementation. Both schemes have much in common, including a position of the historic Crissy (air) Field at the west end, and the active recreation (windsurfing) access and staging at the east end. With either scheme, the size, shape, location and beneficial uses of both the west and east ends remain the same.

Drawings of the two alternatives should be complete and ready for release by early to mid-June, around the time of our next newsletter. If you were to draw a line encompassing windsurfing access and staging at the east end. the total area for parking, staging and rigging will be equal in size to the area used today. A majority of the parking and rigging surfaces will likely be subsurface-irrigated grass with subsurface reinforcement (mylar friendly at the surface). Immediate beach and launching access will begin at the outfall pipe (big pipe) at the west end of the beach as it does today, and upon removal of much of the existing riprap, usable beach will then extend several hundred feet further to the east. Parking will include the area bordered by the promenade at the beach to the north, to new dunes or landforms immediately adjacent to Mason Street on the south, and from the largest existing trees on the west, to another landform barrier formed at the eastern edge of the park adjacent to the St. Francis Yacht Club. The new landforms and landscaping at the southern and eastern boundaries (buffer zones) will discourage transient parking and enhance security. Permanent restrooms and showers will be centrally located within the parking area, and paved parking will remain near the beach and immediately adjacent to the promenade (running/walking path). And last, but not least, two two-way corridors for entry/exit from Mason Street to the parking area will remain. For everyone interested in timing, process and closure, here's the latest estimate of what to expect next: An environmental assessment of the two alternatives (wet- land & meadow) will be completed by early June and presented to the Golden Gate National Park Association (GONPA) Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) at their regularly scheduled meeting on June 19th. No public comment on the alternatives will be taken at this meeting. Between June 19th and July 17th, two public (plan-in-hand, walk-through) sessions will be held to familiarize people wish the site, the plans and the environmental assessments for the two alternatives.

Public comment will be taken at the July 17th CAC meeting. At its September CAC meeting, and after the comment period is over, the Advisory Commission is expected to present its recommended alternative. No CAC meeting is scheduled for August. Assuming everything goes smoothly and there are no problems with the environmental assessment of the selected alternative, final approval would be forthcoming most likely in late September or October. This would occur when the Golden Gate National Recreation Association (GGNRA) Superintendent, Brian O'Neill, signs a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI), Upon reaching this milestone, we can then turn our attention to the exciting process of fundraising, completion of final design & construction drawings, bid documents and finally major construction activity. We may see real showers yet!

Granted. the process can be mind-boggling! So let's get back to the future... what about the existing building demolition? Though it didn't interfere with the 1995 season, It wasn't supposed to extend into 1996. The chief National Park Service (NPS) civil engineer, Charles Swanson, estimates that final building demolition will take about two weeks and should begin and be finished around mid-May. Site cleanup and utility removal (water, sewer, power, etc.) will take en additional four weeks, which means completion by mid to late-June. Will we be able to use the reclaimed surfaces by then? Will the ground be fit for rigging and parking? Mr. Swanson doesn't know, but we're determined to find out. We are grateful to Mr. Swanson for moving the cyclone fence to the east and returning the area next to building 277 back to us for parking and rigging.

Stay tuned as things progress. If you'd like to know more about the alternatives and the plans for Crissy Field, come early to the SFBA meeting and party on Friday, May 31st at Mercedes in San Francisco. I can be reached at (415)885-4357 in the evening, or track me down at Crissy in the late afternoon.
-Bill Robberson, Crissy Field Committee

North Bay News

The North Bay Chapter and the SFBA at large would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Cydnie Glicksberg, who passed away suddenly. Cydnie was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be greatly missed.

The Larkspur Clean-up was a great success. The weeds were removed and (he large rocks were attacked with gusto. The benches made it through the Winter without need of much repair. The debris box provided by the SFBA got filled to capacity. Dave Van Harn had an SPRA membership table set up with information about safety and membership applications. if you picked up information, please do send in your dues.

The SFBA porto-potty is back and like last year will he cleaned once a week. If anyone notices it needing more frequent maintenance. please phone Jeff Hickman at (415)258-9772.

It was noted that the launch site at Rod & Gun Club fell victim to the bottle breaking gang this winter. Please wear booties and tread lightly at this launch site. A new launch at the end of Pelican Avenue off East Francisco may be safer; check it out.

The winds have not been very favorable in April. However, just like the end of last season. it has been perfect for beginners. So call a shop and take a lesson. see you on the water!
-Jeff Hickman

In Memorium - Cydnie Glicksberg

On March 18, 1996. Cydnie Glicksberg died suddenly at age 42. from unexpected massive heart failure. The apparent picture of health, Cydnie was an extremely accomplished athlete who worked hard both in her business and at sports. She especially enjoyed windsurfing at Crissy; when asked how long she'd been windsurfing, she would answer, "at least since the dinosaurs roamed the earth."

Family and friends were extremely important to Cydnie. Known and loved by many SFBA members, her death came as a terrible and unexpected shock. Her honesty, understanding, sense of humor and zest for life were a constant source of refreshment and inspiration to all of us who had the good fortune to knowher.

We will all miss you, Cydnie. You have been a valued part of our lives. Your gift to us has been to try to teach us to truly appreciate the wind when it blows, as well as when it is still.
-Ellen Dodd

Safety Reminder

With the beginning of the season and people going sailing with rusty muscles and equipment. it is particularly important to remember safety precautions. Remember to; 1) use a buddy system - never sail alone, 2)wear a wet suit. 3) carry safety equipment (strobe light, flares, whistle, tow line, mast leash). 4) check your equipment for wear, and 5) know the local sailing conditions and currents. If you call in an emergency rescue to 911 or the Coast Guard al (415)556-2103, give complete information and identify yourself and your phone number for possible follow up. If you break down and arc rescued by a sailboat or another windsurfer, but the Coast Guard may have been alerted, let the Coast Guard know you are safe.

For more complete safety information, look for the SFBA Safety Guide at your local shop, or request one directly from SFBA. Have fun and sail safely!

Peninsula News

Mark your calendars, locate your mud gear and tools, and work on your stitching technique! Will Mud Man reappear? What strange artifacts will be recovered from the briny depths? Be there and see for yourself. SFBA will once again front the money for sand and gravel, and SFBA and your local windsurf-related businesses will provide refreshments. We have plenty of high-tech sandbags loft from last year. This year we should fix the ruts left by trucks driving through the rigging area, spread another layer of gravel, and finish sandbagging the downwind ramp and the upwind ramp. The sandbags held up well over the winter. but we should fill them up more this time.

We hope to see you on the 8th.

Golf Range Construction and Parking Improvements Proceed

If you've sailed from Third Avenue this year, you've seen the progress on the golf range and pitch and putt course. As of this writing the new entrance toad is just beginning construction. The City of Foster City is still w orking with the Corps of Engineers to finalize permits for tile road improvements. Although it's hard to predict exactly, access to the sailing site should be switched over to the new intersection sometime this summer. This will, of course, interfere with use. We urged the City to avoid any interference, but that's the way it goes. Once the new arrangement is in place there will be substantially more overflow parking along the sides of the access road.

It would be better to regulate ourselves to allow people to drop off equipment at the end of the lot and drive back to the available parkin8. The current double and triple parking practices are just asking for accidents and/or the City to come down on us. One space could be designated as a turnaround, although this would be hard to defend. One approach would be to designate the spaces nearest the gate as handicapped spaces. The City should have done this anyway to comply with the law and may do so when the lot is paved. The handicapped spaces provide de facto unloading and turnaround space.

The City hasn't made any progress on the idea of having a windsurf concession at the site, which was discussed at a City Council meeting last year as one way to generate funds to improve and manage the site.
-Randy Anderson

SFBA Board of Directors Ballot

Remember to send in your ballot (inside the newsletter mailed to each member) for the SFBA board members when you renew your membership dues. The following members have been nominated and have volunteered their time and effort in serving on the SFBA Board of Directors. Please vote for each person you would like to retain on the board,

1. Complete ballot and return with filled in application/renewal form on back.
2. Enclose check if you have not yet paid your 1996 dues,
3. Don't forget the stamp! Thank you for your support.