March 6, 2012, San Francisco - In the first of three scheduled public meetings, held last night in the Presidio, the United States Coast Guard presented the proposed race-course regulations for the upcoming America's Cup events to be held on San Francisco bay in 2012 and 2013.
The proposed rules include temporary rerouting of vessel traffic between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island during the events, which are scheduled to be held over 12 days in 2012 and 45 days in 2013.
The regulated areas in 2012 will extend from Crissy Field to Aquatic Park for the smaller AC45 America's Cup World Series boat races. The area for the 2013 America's Cup final events, held in the much larger and faster AC72 boats, will be approximately twice as large, extending further east to Pier 23.
Area on-the-water access restrictions will only apply between Noon and 5:00 p.m. on designated race days and will be available via the Broadcast Notice to Mariners on VHF channel 22A. Commercial shipping traffic will continue operations using the existing Deep Water Traffic Lane north of the proposed regulated areas. The proposed regulations include provisions for local vessels requiring access to piers and facilities along the City waterfront.
According to Capt. Matthew Bliven, the USCG's principal coordinator for the 34th Defense of the America's Cup, "The temporary regulation will help America's Cup conduct races that are safe and accessible to the public, while still allowing both recreational and commercial mariners access to the Bay and shipping lanes. We want to ensure that ferries, fishing vessels and other commerce continue to flow and meet their schedules on race days. This regulation also reserves an area near Crissy Field where swimmers, rowers and kayakers can safely enjoy thre race and the Bay."
A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for AC34 can be seen at www.regulations.gov, docket number USCG-2011-0551. Comments may also be submitted at that website. The 90-day public comment period ends April 30, 2012.
The next two public meetings concerning the proposed regulations will be held by the USCG at the following times and locations:
March 7, 2012 - Inn Marin, 250 Entrada Dr., Novato, CA 94949 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
March 8, 2012 - Waterfront Hotel, 10 Washington St., Oakland, CA 94607 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
To view the charts showing the proposed regulated areas, click on the Slideshow on the left.
Additional information, plus detailed versions of the charts can be seen at:
<http://www.d11.uscgnews.com/go/doc/823/1278075>
<http://www.d11.uscgnews.com/go/doc/823/1307943/Proposed-regulated-area-for-2012-America-s-Cup-races>
<http://www.d11.uscgnews.com/go/doc/823/1309647/Proposed-regulated-area-for-2013-America-s-Cup-races>
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