Experimental Racing Marks
on the Berkeley Olympic Circle

The new experimental Mark C, on station since August 17

This is one of the new marks that you might be rounding during the 1999-2000 Metropolitan Midwinters. The new design is "semi-disposable" and experimental. It has the advantages of low cost and easy deployment from a small sailboat. The visual profile is about the same as the heavier solid plastic cylindrical mark that it replaces.

At a total cost of well under $100 per mark, if they last a year it will be a much cheaper way to maintain all eight marks of the Olympic Circle.

Parts List and Cost:

"Bigens" 34" diameter "big bouncing ball," $19.99 (Toys R Us) Sport Fun Inc., Los Angeles, CA, 90039, "No: 1383"

15 lb plastic coated mushroom anchor, $19.99 (West Marine 116538) ("river anchor" style of same weight is acceptable alternate)

One ft 3/8" BBB anchor chain, $3.19 (West Marine 158774)

30 ft 3/8" gold nylon anchor braid, $11.40 (West Marine 121475)

30 ft 5/32" prestretch dacron braid, $7.80 (West Marine 151954)

2 ft SOLAS reflective tape, $3.98 at (West Marine 101709)

7 stick-on letters, $2.10 at (West Marine 124875)

Total cost: $68.45 + 7.25% tax = $73.41

Construction and ground tackle
of the experimenal replacement
for Olympic Mark C

Virtually any small boat can
set, retrieve, or re-position
these marks

If you find one of these marks missing or significantly off station, please report the sighting to pk@well.com. Thanx!

Update - one year later:

The first "semi-disposable" mark lasted about six months, disappearing just before the last weekend of the 1999-2000 Midwinters. Marks X, A, and B fared somewhat better. B and X are still in service after about a year, but A deflated and had to be replaced.

For marks A and C, the Race Committee is experimenting with a new design based on inner tubes and a sewn plastic cover. Here's what they look like:

The YRA Buoy Committee promises to have the real YRA Olympic Circle marks back on station soon.

See the latest reports on buoy positions elsewhere on this website.