2026 Three Bridge Fiasco Recap
Every January, hundreds of sailors converge on San Francisco Bay for one of the most unpredictable and entertaining races in west coast sailing: the Three Bridge Fiasco. Hosted by the Singlehanded Sailing Society since 1984, the event has grown from a small winter challenge into the largest annual yacht race on the West Coast, drawing hundreds of competitors eager to test their tactics and endurance against winter wind and powerful Bay currents. So what’s the draw? The Three Bridge Fiasco is a doublehanded event, a skipper and one crew member. Unlike traditional point-to-point races, competitors must round Blackaller Buoy, Red Rock, and Treasure Island in any order they choose, turning the day into a giant chess match played across the entire Bay. Strategy decisions often matter as much as boat speed, and every year the race produces a different collection of winning routes and dramatic position changes.
The January 2026 edition delivered classic Fiasco conditions. More than 300 boats entered and included 252 double-handed monohulls. The fleet enjoyed steady breeze throughout the day that allowed most crews to sail the entire course without anchoring. Tactical decisions around Angel Island, Raccoon Strait, and the timing of the ebb current proved decisive, and the competition at the top of the fleet was exceptionally tight, with the first five finishers crossing the line within roughly a minute of each other after hours of racing.
Several familiar regional boats turned in strong performances in the double-hand fleet:
- Painkiller, Sam Corso: 15th
- Under the Radar, Greg Felton: 43rd
- Dianne, Steve Katzman: 75th
- Hot Sheet, Dave Wick: 98th
- Froglips, Richard Stockdale: 143rd
For Corso and the Painkiller team, the race came down to route decisions early in the day. The crew sailed a clockwise course rounding Blackaller first, then Red Rock, and finally Treasure Island. The major tactical question was whether to pass south of Angel Island or transit Raccoon Strait on the way to Red Rock. Painkiller chose Raccoon Strait, which later proved to be the slower option, though the team made up much of the difference on a fast spinnaker reach toward Treasure Island.
Aboard Dianne, skipper Steve Katzman described the event as the most enjoyable Three Bridge Fiasco he had sailed in many years and the first time the boat had completed the course since 2018. Dianne adjusted its strategy by heading to Blackaller first to clear the western mark early, then sailed toward Red Rock via Point Blunt, a decision that paid off with an early rounding around late morning. After setting the spinnaker for the run toward Treasure Island, unfortunately, they gave up several minutes by not working farther toward the Oakland shore. In a beautiful conclusion, the powerful ebb carried them swiftly toward the finish in what Katzman described as a “boss reach” down the Bay. Most importantly, the race delivered something every Fiasco sailor hopes for: steady wind, smooth boat handling, and a clean day on the water with no anchoring drills or drifting battles. “It was painless, no anchor drills. No collisions. No toughing out drifting conditions. I’m damn proud of how Dianne showed up,” Katzman summed up the competitive spirit of the day.
The Three Bridge Fiasco continues to hold its reputation as a race where tactics and adaptability matter just as much as speed and endurance. The 2026 Three Bridge Fiasco once again demonstrated why sailors return year after year. Congratulations to all the SLTWYC participating crews for bringing home strong finishes and the satisfaction of successfully navigating one of the Bay’s most challenging winter traditions!
