The Three Bridge Fiasco is rarely just a race; it’s a tactical puzzle that changes with every gust and current shift. With over 300 boats on the water this past weekend (race day was January 31, 2026), the 3BF lived up to its name, offering a chessboard in Bay navigation.
We’ve asked our instructors to share their view from the helm to see how different strategies played out across the fleet. First up, we hear from David Dolenc, who tackled the course singlehanded through the North Bay.
Sailing in the morning’s gentle breeze from Sausalito to the Three Bridge Fiasco start line was an early indicator that the high-resolution wind predictions were correct and that there would be no shortage of wind during the race.
Due to a large number of boats (304 registered for the race this year) and since I was sailing singlehanded, I decided to use a high-cut jib, which provided good visibility from the cockpit, even though this left me with reduced pointing ability and power.
After the start in front of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, I first headed to Red Rock, aiming to get there before the start of the ebb. The approach through Raccoon Strait turned out to be a good decision, as NNE winds and flat water guaranteed fast sailing. This also gave me ample time to avoid an oil tanker that was leaving the Richmond Outer Harbor. I rounded Red Rock to starboard and continued on a broad reach to Treasure Island.
By this time, the wind had backed to NNW, and sailing in the wind shadow of Treasure and Yerba Buena Islands against the opposing current provided a hint of what racing in the 3BF usually feels like. After that, the peak ebb current and consistent wind provided a fast transit to Blackaller. Rounding the mark to port, I stayed close to shore to avoid the adverse current, and completed the last leg back to the Golden Gate Yacht Club.
I finished the race at 15:14, fourth out of the seven boats that started in my division (singlehanded, non-spinnaker, PHRF < 162).
Spending the day on this beautiful bay while being surrounded by so many fellow sailors was an amazing experience.
- Written by David Dolenc, Modern Sailing Instructor.
This is the first in a series of reflections from our instructors on the 2026 Three Bridge Fiasco. Check back shortly for tactical breakdowns from Instructor Philip Strause and Race Coach Paolo Juvara as they share how they tackled the Three Bridge Regatta.
