Those things only come from the local knowledge Stu is talking about
Again, good points, which, unfortunately, are simply not applicable to SF Bay in most cases. The Bay wind is usually at 242 M during the summer, and could be considered to be constant, although, as Kimball notes in his book, there is a persistent lift around Pt. Blount, the SE corner of Angel Island. Starting in Berkeley going upwind from TI north end, we always used it.
Outside The Gate, and through it, consider it a funnel. Look at the charts. The north shore bends away, the south to Baker Beach even more so. When it blows, there are no lifts or headers, just a wall of wind. There may be a few tips & tricks that ocean racers use to get out of the Gate to Point Bonita (NOT Bonita point), but here we'd be talking serious hardcore racers, not us weekend warriors.
It's the current. Everybody is on the same playing field. You have to learn to use the little current book and then go out and see it for yourself. That book is amazing. I used to print out the hour-by-hour chartlets and then compare 'em to what was happening in real life. A 6 knot spring current builds different stuff than a neap. The Cityfront has its own backwaters and peculiarities. On a heavy wind day, you choose to go IN or OUT tacking up the Cityfront because of the currents, 'cuz the wind IS there. Read Kimball's book. That's why they write books. Good stuff at the Bay Model in Sausalito, too. And while there are now computer models and underwater videos of what's down there, that little (and free!!!) book is a great start.
Then, like John says, go out and practice before the race, during the week with little traffic.
That's what'll "learn ya." My friend and I sailed EVERY SINGLE FRIDAY for almost 6 years, come hell or high water, all seasons, sailed The Bay, anchored out, did it again on Saturdays if there wasn't a race, and learned The Bay. We raced once a month, all 12 months. Like John said.
Everything all the others have said are absolutely true, but in my 18 years of racing The Bay, heavy wind days DURING THE SUMMER are more prevalent, and all the lifts and header stuff is for light air days like what we'd call Winter Race Days.
I know they are well intentioned and helpful, but so many don't apply to sailing SF Bay in the type of races the OP is asking about. Even in winter, the topography of The Bay just doesn't induce shore affected Bay wind patterns. Read Kimball. And even if he wants to get to the "next level" he's gotta go through this learning process first. All the best, it's all fun.
