Overview
The Round the Rock Alcatraz Challenge will offer two exciting and competitive courses on central San Francisco Bay between the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. All courses are designed to provide: great racing, participant safety, spectacular views of dynamic San Francisco Bay, and to take advantage of the winds and currents on race day

Courses
Short Course – Novice
The Short Course will be about four miles. This course will stay close to shore, out of the main shipping lanes, and with minimal influence from the strong wind and currents of the Central Bay. The Short Course is best suited for: experienced Novice paddlers who are able to stretch themselves with variable conditions.

Long Courses – Women’s, Men’s & Co-Ed Crews
The Long Courses will be about ten miles (final design and race order-dependent). This course will have all the traditional elements of the Alcatraz Challenge including: tremendous competition; the likelihood of high winds and significant waves; strong currents; sail- and ferry- boat traffic; and unforgettable lifetime views of San Francisco. It will pass near the Golden Gate Bridge, go around Alcatraz Island and finish with an epic upwind dash along the City Front. This course is suited only for experienced crews and steers-people familiar with the aforementioned conditions.

Start-Finish Location
All courses will begin and end on the beach about one-half mile east of Crissy Field just west of the intersection of Lyon Street and Yacht Road in the Marina District of San Francisco.

Times
Registration begins at 6:30 AM. The first race launches at 8 AM. The race order (novice, women’s men’s, and co-ed) will be determined the day of the race, based on conditions. return to top

Safety

San Francisco Bay is a world class water sports venue. Sailors, paddlers, swimmers and fishermen revel in the dynamic Bay environment. With its beauty and opportunity the Bay also challenges sportsmen with strong currents, high winds, rough and cold water and lots of commercial, sail and pleasure vessel traffic. Early on most summer mornings the Bay is calm with winds under 7 knots. By about noon on almost every day, a west wind of 20 to 25 knots will funnel through the Golden Gate stirring the Central Bay into a tempest of rough, cold water. The Alcatraz Challenge race courses are designed for varying levels of ability - but it’s imperative that crews take appropriate measures to: choose the appropriate course commensurate with their level; prepare themselves to be safe; and to understand the race-day environment before they get on the water.

There is something for everyone in this race, from paddler to onlooker: great scenery, exciting water, good competition and a world-class City to experience. The pay-off for preparation and participation is tremendous, but safety is our first concern. He'e Nalu will furnish an experienced, expert platoon of safety boats who will monitor the entire course. However, we expect all crews to take first responsibility for being prepared and for being accountable for the safety of their crew. To ensure a great experience and to maximize your performance we recommend these safety measures:

1. Set crews for courses appropriate for the ability of the crew and the steers-person. Novices should race on the shorter course. More experienced paddlers are welcome to try any course as long as they understand the challenge.

2. Use spray skirts. Wind, waves, currents, cold water, vessel traffic and seawalls can create rough to very rough conditions on the longer courses. These conditions are well within the abilities of veteran crews and steers-people but must not be taken for granted. In some parts of the Bay along the seawalls on the City front, crews on the Long Course have reported waves coming into the boat from both sides. Ferry wakes can create confused waves of five to six feet. Strong wind and opposing current can create a short, nasty two to three foot chop know locally as "square waves" because they sometimes seem to leap straight into the air. Spray skirts must be used.

3. Know your huli drill. Boats huli (capsize/turn over) every year in this race and not all of the boats that huli are novice crews. San Francisco Bay water is cold even in summer (55 degrees). You don't want to be in the water any longer than you have to be. Practice multiple times in advance of the race.

4. Think clearly about how this race might be different from what you are used to. Local paddlers know our water, how to dress appropriately and how rough and cold conditions can be. In contrast, if you paddle in Southern California, it will be rougher and colder than what you're used to. If you race in Hawaii, it may not be rougher but some of the race will be upwind, it likely will be colder and currents will play a factor. Bring warmer layers than you think you'll need for paddling and street clothes, along with your regular gear. You won't have to dress more warmly than usual if the weather is not as expected, but at least you'll be prepared.

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Currents & Weather
Current: go to http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/100.html and enter the date. 

Weather: go to http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/ and click on the map of the Bay.

Directions to the race start at Crissy Field
From Downtown San Francisco
North on Van Ness Avenue
Left onto Bay Street
Right on Laguna to Marina Blvd.
Follow Marina Blvd. past Marina Green, bear right into the Presidio
You’ll be on Mason Street and Crissy Field is on the Bay side.

From Marin and the North Bay
Follow Highway 101 south across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco
Take the Lombard/Downtown exit
Take your first right into the Presidio
Take an immediate right onto Gorgas Ave.
Turn right on Halleck St.
Crissy Field will be on the Bay side, where Halleck meets Mason Street.

From the South Bay
Take Interstate 280 north to San Francisco
Take the 19th Ave/Highway 1 exit
Follow 19th Ave northbound
19th Ave will turn into Park Presidio
After the tunnel, Park Presidio will meet the 101 freeway
Stay in the right lane towards the Downtown/Marina exit.
Continue in the right lane and take Downtown/Lombard exit.
Take your first right into the Presidio
Take an immediate right onto Gorgas Ave.
Turn right on Halleck St.
Crissy Field will be on the Bay side, where Halleck meets Mason Street.

Spectators
Crissy Field
The race launches from Crissy Field, a stunning park site within the Golden Gate National Parks. Crissy Field’s 100 acres of wild, windswept shoreline, offers beautiful views, bicycle, and walking trails, abundant wildlife viewing and is a favorite place for windsurfers.
For more information: www.crissyfield.org

San Francisco Aloha Festival (click here for more info)
The Pacific Islander’s Cultural Association of the San Francisco Bay Area offer their talents in music
and dance during this FREE*, two-day festival of arts. The Aloha Festival coincides with the Round the Rock Alcatraz Challenge, making it possible for spectators to experience a day filled with Polynesian culture. Entertainment highlights include Pacific Islander music as well as Polynesian dance. The festival will also feature arts & crafts vendors, island cuisine, and educational exhibits and workshops.

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