When the Classic was first staged, in 1973, the limitations of even the most up-to-date rigs meant racers would be lucky to get from San Francisco's Marina to Fort Baker and - after a suitable time to rest from the exertion - back again.
Come Saturday, some 50 sailors will skim 22 miles across the bay, skittering from Crissy Field in San Francisco, circling the Golden Gate Bridge a couple times, zooming up towards Belvedere, navigating around Alcatraz and down to the Bay Bridge, then heading north again past Treasure Island and eventually zig-zagging their way to the end of the Berkeley Pier.
"Back in the day, when windsurfing was brand-new, the equipment was pretty archaic," explained longtime windsurfing enthusiast and Inverness resident Bill Weir. "Simply venturing on the bay was a big deal."
Now it's the Classic that's the big deal. Part of the USWA National Race Series, the Classic is the midpoint of a three-day windsurfing extravaganza, which includes smaller races tomorrow and Sunday.
The Classic begins Saturday at 1 p.m., wind permitting, and the winner should take a little more than an hour to arrive in Berkeley, although plenty of lead changes could be in store.
"One of the great things about a long-distance race is that there are so many different conditions, so many different areas, anything can happen," said Weir, whose family splits their time between their Tomales Bay home and one on Potrero Hill. "The wind could be blowing 35 knots at Crissy Field, and you get over to Harding Rock (between Alcatraz and Sausalito) and it could be 0 or 2 knots. Somebody who's head and shoulders ahead of the fleet kind find themselves in last place suddenly. A lot of unexpected things can happen."
One of the toughest legs will be a stretch through the triangle bounded by Angel, Treasure and Alcatraz islands, an area that features a confluence of tides and traffic from three directions. "It's like a washing machine," Weir said. "It's usually very windy, very rough and there's lots of boat traffic, from sailboats to ferries to giant freighters."
For those who dodge those hazards and reach Berkeley, there's the UltraNectar Challenge, a straight-line race against the clock that begins as soon as they cross the finish line for the Challenge. The object: battle against the prevailing winds all the way back to the St. Francis Yacht Club, which is sponsoring the event.
"In the old days, we used to
have to thumb a ride back," said Weir, whose first Classic was in 1989.
"Frequently 10 people and their equipment would cram into one van. Now,
we extend the punishment."