Sea Trek is a kayak outfitter in Sausalito on the shore of Richardson Bay, a lobe of the San Francisco Bay. Once a year they have a big kayak race to benefit Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC). ETC is an organization that takes physically handicapped people on outdoor adventures like snow skiing or kayaking. For the benefit race you can sign up for a short 3 mile race around Richardson Bay, a six mile race around Angel Island, or a longer race around both Alcatraz Island and Angel Island. There are lots of different categories, single or double boats, mixed or not mixed couples in doubles, touring or racing boats, children adults master or senior, and combinations of all of these. So there are lots of chances to win a ribbon "in your class". Penny Wells says that her strategy is to find a class that only has one boat in it (mixed double seniors in a standard touring kayak) and then you are guaranteed a blue ribbon if you can finish the race!
I'm not fond of races, perhaps because I'm not all that fast of a paddler despite taking forward stroke classes from the best. Maryly was doing this race in a double kayak with Jan Sommers (womens double seniors in a standard touring kayak) so I came along to help carry the boat. Instead of joining the race, I volunteered to help out for four hours. In return for volunteering I got a ticket to join the racers in the dinner and auction later. But I could not bear to show up at a beach full of kayaks and not get wet myself! So I brought my Baidarka and went for a short one hour paddle in the morning while Maryly was attending briefings about the course and strategies for dealing with the tides. I paddled in and out of a marina and found narrow passages between boats and under walkways to stay close to shore. I found myself at Dumphy Park and turned back so I would not miss the start of the race. On the way I practiced a couple rolls, but did not do enough to follow "Rogers Rule" of practicing six rolls on every paddle. I was still nursing sore shoulder joints from an ice skating fall on Monday. Just taking my boat down from the car and putting it back up later caused my left arm to get a lot worse than before. It is probably just as well that I was not trying to enter the race.
I thought the race would be exciting to watch since there were 250 boats to churn up the starting line! But the starting line turned out to be half way across Richardson bay and all I saw was a blur of colorful spots start to slowly move across the bay. My volunteer job was to help move tables, set up items for the silent auction, and haul food and equipment for the caterers. So I was busy when the boats started to return to the finish line, which was sandy Schoomaker Beach. Next year I'll do this race, just for the experience of seeing it up close.