2026 Master Mariners Regatta
Please download the Regatta Race Packet and keep copy with you during the race.
Master Mariners Regatta
Sailing Instructions
San Francisco Bay, Saturday, May 23, 2026
1. Rules
1.1The regatta will be governed by rules as defined in Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
1.2These Sailing Instructions may change certain RRS rules; each change is noted in the relevant section.
1.3Rule 40.1 will apply when boats are racing: each competitor shall wear a personal floatation device.
1.4All vessels will have a minimum of two crew members aboard while racing.
1.5All yachts shall comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment regulations.
1.6Modified RRS 44.1: A boat may take a 360° penalty turn (one tack and one jibe) instead of a 720° turn.
1.7Modified RRS 77: Yachts must display custom identification (see Section 3).
2. Communication with Competitors
2.1Notices to competitors—including entry lists, amendments, class merges, logistical information and changes to these sailing instructions—will be posted on the Master Mariners website no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, 22 May 2026.
2.2On the water the Race Committee will communicate on VHF Channel 72.
2.3Yachts retiring from the race must inform the Committee as soon as possible, and receive acknowledgment, via VHF 72 or by calling 415-272-0391 (Bob Rogers).
3. Identification and Flags
3.1Yachts shall display 18-inch racing numbers on both port and starboard sides (either on the mainsail or on visible banners or boards).
3.2At least one of the following flags shall be displayed: Master Mariners burgee, race flag, sponsor flag, or the U.S. yacht ensign.
3.3Failure to display at least one flag will result in a 1-minute time penalty added to the yacht's elapsed time.
3.4Advertising: No advertising may be displayed except that of the yacht's official Master Mariners Regatta sponsors.
4. Schedule of Racing
4.1The first warning signal will be at 11:50 AM. See Section 8 for starting details.
4.2The first class starts at 12:00 noon when the red shape and one sound are made.
4.3Each yacht's start time is listed in the attached Start Times table.
4.4Only one race will be sailed.
5. Class Descriptions
5.1All entries are grouped into classes by rig type, length on deck, or one-design class.
| Class | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BS | Big Schooner | Large schooners |
| M1 | Marconi 40'+ | Marconi rig, 40 ft or greater |
| M2 | Marconi 35'–40' | Marconi rig, mid-size |
| M3 | Marconi 30'–35' | Marconi rig, smaller range |
| M4 | Marconi < 30' | Marconi rig, under 30 ft |
| G1 | Gaff Rig 40'+ | Gaff rig, 40 ft or greater |
| G2 | Gaff Rig 30'–40' | Gaff rig, mid-size |
| G3 | Gaff Rig < 30' | Gaff rig, under 30 ft |
| OCEAN 1 | Ocean 1 | PHRF-rated yachts, 40 ft or greater |
| OCEAN 2 | Ocean 2 | PHRF-rated yachts, 30 to 40 ft |
| FC | Farallone Clipper | One-design, included with Ocean 2 |
| BIRD | Bird | One-design |
| BEAR | Bear | One-design |
| L-36 | Lapworth-36 | One-design |
5.2Separate scoring and awards. Each class will be scored independently for the purpose of determining its 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place trophies. A boat's finishing place is calculated only against boats in its class.
5.3Big Schooner Class — Special Provision
Change to RRS 28.1: A Big Schooner shall start, leave each mark on the required side in the correct order, and finish so that a string representing her track would, when drawn taut, pass each mark on the required side. However, hitting a mark with a potato thrown from the Big Schooner will count as a correct rounding regardless of which side the schooner actually passes.
Big Schooners may also use their engine for up to 15 minutes without penalty.
6. Courses
6.1Course Assignments. Each class will sail the course indicated below. All mark roundings are designated P (port) or S (starboard). Distances are approximate. See Section 7 for mark descriptions, and attachment Course Marks for visual reference.
6.2Before the first warning signal the RC may alter the published course for safety reasons. If conditions deteriorate after a class has started, the RC can abandon the race by displaying flags N over A and announcing the abandonment on VHF 72. Once a class has started, the course will not otherwise be changed.
| Course | Classes | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M4, G3, BEAR | Start → 12-P → 16-P → 18-P → 24-S → Finish | ~12.8 nm |
| 2 | M1, M2, M3, L-36 | Start → 12-P → 16-P → 18-P → BK-S → 8-P → Finish | ~15.6 nm |
| 3 | OCEAN (incl. Farallone Clipper) | Start → 12-P → 16-P → 18-P → 23-P → 17-P → Finish | ~17.0 nm |
| 4 | BS, G1, G2 | Start → 12-P → 15-P → 18-P → BK-S → Finish | ~14.2 nm |
| 5 | BIRD | Start → 12-P → 16-P → 18-P → 8-P → 17-P → Finish | ~15.2 nm |
7. Racing Area and Marks
7.1The racing area is on San Francisco Bay, beginning near the St. Francis Yacht Club and finishing east of Treasure Island. Refer to the attached Course Marks chart.
7.2The marks of this regatta are permanent marks of San Francisco Bay, YRA standard marks, and the Bob Klein (BK) mark of the Richmond Yacht Club.
All marks referenced in Section 6 are described below:
| Mark | Description |
|---|---|
| Start | Between the Race Committee Boat (orange flag) and Mark "X" |
| A | Limiting buoy — St. Francis YC Yellow Sphere. MUST BE LEFT TO PORT AT THE START; NOT PART OF START LINE. |
| X | Golden Gate YC Yellow/Blue Sphere |
| BK | Bob Klein — Yellow Sphere (approx. 0.1 nm WNW of South Hampton Shoal) |
| 8 | R "4" Fl R 4s (1 nm E of Point Blunt) |
| 12 | Little Harding Rock — G "1" Fl G 4s (1 nm SW of Point Knox) |
| 15 | Easom (Yellow Bluff) — Lighted yellow column buoy (0.5 nm E of Yellow Bluff) |
| 16 | Blackaller (Crissy Field) — Lighted yellow column buoy (0.2 nm E of Fort Point) |
| 17 | Harding Rock — RG "HR" Fl (2+1) R 6s (1 nm S of Point Knox) |
| 18 | Blossom Rock — RG "BR" Fl G 6s Bell (1 nm SE of Alcatraz Island) |
| 23 | RW "A" Mo(A) (0.5 nm E of Quarry Point) |
| 24 | R "6" Fl R 4s Bell (1 nm E of Quarry Point) |
| Finish | NE of Treasure Island. Between Race Committee Boat (orange flag) and a temporary inflatable buoy. |
8. The Start
8.1The start line is between Mark "X" and an orange flag on the committee boat.
8.2Mark "A" is a limiting buoy, which must be left to port at the start.
8.3A boat shall not enter the starting area until five minutes before her scheduled start.
8.4Starting Sequence (Modified RRS 26). Each visual signal shall be lowered one minute before the next visual signal is made:
- 10 minutes before start: Yellow shape & 1 sound — Warning
- 5 minutes before start: Blue shape & 1 sound — Preparatory
- Start (0 minutes): Red shape & 1 sound — Go
- Subsequent starts will follow in 5-minute intervals.
8.5Times shall be taken from visual signals; sound signals are a courtesy.
8.6Postponement — General procedure (changes RRS 27.3 & YRA §11)
Signal and meaning
- Answering Pennant (AP) — a long red-and-white vertically-striped pennant — hoisted with two sound signals (horn or gun) means "Start sequence postponed."
- The postponement is used only when extreme weather, lack of wind, an accident, or traffic makes an on-time start unsafe; the RC will try hard to avoid using it with our large fleet.
- While AP is displayed, monitor VHF 72 for updates.
Resuming the sequence
- When the course is clear the RC lowers AP with one sound.
- Exactly one minute later the yellow shape and one sound are made — this is the new 10-minute Warning Signal that restarts the full 10-5-0 sequence for the next group to start.
- All classes that have not yet started will follow in their original order at 5-minute intervals.
Revised clock times
- If the RC also hoists Code Flag W ("Whiskey") — a square white flag with a solid blue square centered inside — it means the absolute clock times for every remaining start have been shifted; only the times change, not the order of classes.
- Any revised times will also be announced on VHF 72.
8.7Late Starters — boats that miss their signal shall keep clear of the line and of any yacht in a starting sequence until they can start without interference.
8.8Recalls (changes RRS 29) — The RC will make no individual or general recall signals.
8.9Premature starts
- If a boat starts early by less than one minute, two minutes will be added to her elapsed time. Racers should not attempt to restart.
- If a boat starts early by one minute or more, she shall be disqualified (DSQ) unless she returns and restarts correctly while keeping clear of boats in their starting sequence.
9. The Finish
9.1The finish line is between an orange flag on the committee boat anchored east of Treasure Island and a temporary orange inflatable buoy.
9.2All boats must finish north to south, leaving the committee boat to starboard.
9.3Racing numbers must be clearly visible at the finish.
9.4Upon docking, each boat shall deliver its completed Record of Finish form to the committee at the event merchandise table at Encinal Yacht Club.
10. Penalties and Infractions
10.1Touching a mark — If a boat touches a rounding or passing mark, she shall promptly take one 360° turn (one tack and one jibe) to exonerate herself. (RRS 31, modified)
10.2Breaking a Part-2 rule without contact — When a boat fouls another without any physical contact, she shall take one 360° turn as soon as she is clear of other boats, but before the next mark or the finish. (RRS 44.1, modified)
10.3Contact between boats — If two boats touch and no serious damage or injury results, the boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 shall take a 720° Two-Turn Penalty (two tacks and two jibes) as soon as it is safe to do so. (RRS 44.2)
10.4Serious damage, injury, or a foul that gains a non-restorable advantage — The boat at fault shall retire (RET) immediately; a penalty turn is insufficient. (RRS 44.1(b))
11. Time Limit
11.1The time limit for finishing is 5:00 PM. Any boat failing to finish by this time will be scored DNF.
12. Protests
12.1A protesting boat shall immediately display a red flag and hail or notify the other boat as required by RRS. The skipper shall also notify the Race Committee on VHF 72 at the finish.
12.2Written protest forms must be submitted by 5:30 PM at the T-shirt table.
12.3Hearings will be held as needed and scheduled by the Protest Committee.
13. Scoring
13.1The Master Mariners Regatta is a pursuit race scored within classes.
13.2Each yacht is assigned a staggered start time based on the Master Mariners handicap system.
13.3The order in which yachts cross the finish line within each class determines placement (first across = first place, etc.).
13.4Time penalties that may be assessed include, but are not limited to:
- +1 minute for failing to fly an appropriate flag.
- +2 minutes for starting early by less than one minute.
14. Safety and Navigation
14.1All boats must yield to commercial traffic and vessels with limited maneuverability. Failure to do so may result in a protest and disqualification by the Race Committee.
14.2A disqualification (DSQ) for a safety infraction is not excludable (further modifies RRS 90.3 and A2).
14.3Restricted Areas (change to RRS 19) — Do not pass between the shore and:
- Anita Rock Light or between Anita Rock light and an unmarked buoy 150 yards west of Anita Rock Light
- The "H-beam" piling 200 yards west of St Francis YC outfall
- Alcatraz west-end green and red bell buoy
- Point Blunt green bell buoy (#3) off Angel Island
14.4Protests based on Vessel Traffic Service or commercial reports may be brought at any time; the protest-filing time in RRS 61.3 is extended for these incidents.
15. Prizes
15.1Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each class.
15.2Perpetual trophies include:
- Lyle Galloway (under 30 ft)
- Billiken (gaff rig over 30 ft)
- Dead-Eye (Marconi over 30 ft, non-ocean)
- Baruna (Ocean 1, 40+ ft)
- Aloha (Marconi 2)
- Homeward Bound (Marconi 3)
- Kermit Parker (Gaff 2)
- Farallone Clipper (one-design)
- J. Everett Hansen (Bird)
- L-36 Trophy (Lapworth-36)
- Gerry O'Grady (Bear)
- Longest Distance (farthest traveled on own bottom)
Attachments
- Course Marks — San Francisco Bay chart, visual reference only.
- Start Times — issued during the final week, check for updates.
- Record of Finish — deliver completed form at Encinal Yacht Club.