Check out the preview for the CBS sports broadcast. About :23-:24 in, you can see AG swimmers pointed towards shore but swimming sideways.
Interesting to see at :21-:23, the pros are heading straight for the exit, while AGers swim off to the left (toward the city)
And Andy takes the sand stair 2 at a time.
So, when will it be on TV?
sunday 6.22
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Thank you
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Looks horrible. I dont know how you people swim against a current like that. Last time I did it (last June) it broke me. Like, I have not raced since. Nasty!
The currents in the bay are quite notorious. I grew up sailing there and later in life windsurfing in area near Chrissy Field and even out the gate. One of the strongest spots (other than the Golden Gate) is Raccoon Straight between Angel Island and Tiburon. I have even seen strange whirlpool like currents that swirl around in circles.
They always told beginning sailors that if you could sail in the SF bay, you could handle just about anything. I recall doing the Bob Roper Golden Gate Bridge swim a few years ago and they take you out beyond the bridge just off the rocks on SF side. Then jump off the ferry and swim north and under the bridge. They do it on flood tide for obvious reasons but tell you to point for just under north tower knowing you will end up near the Coast Guard station at Ft Baker near Sausalito. If you ever get a chance to swim under the bridge go for it. Pretty cool experience to look up and see that huge bridge overhead…just watch out for freighters!
Looks horrible. I dont know how you people swim against a current like that. Last time I did it (last June) it broke me. Like, I have not raced since. Nasty!
Did you do it in March you mean, as last year was in March not June? Looks way worse than it is, when you are swimming you (well, I) don’t really notice it, as you are swimming cross-current not against it. Current’s not the problem there, mid channel chop is. And sometimes temps but we had a good year temp wise.
There was a SF to Sausalito bridge swim two years ago (?) for the bridge’s anniversary that I wanted to do, but didn’t work out.
I meant last time I had to swim against a strong current…it was not Alcatraz
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Ah, got it. One can’t swim into the Alcatraz current for very long. But letting it carry you (even sideways) actually turns in some pretty fast 1.5 mile times
The beach run (1:39 in video) is what really destroyed my legs. I had a hard time finding hard pack to run on so it just shredded my calf muscles. Then you go to the stairs…and then up the hill after the stairs…ugh.
The bike really get’s a backseat in this race, but it is a beautiful bike course as well.
LOL, beach runs always destroy me, and most al my races have them
As far as the bike, well I went slow enough to really enjoy the view, I thought even though it was crowded one of the most beautiful and interesting bike courses I’ve done.
The swim was the most unpleasant part of a race I’ve ever participated in, the chop meant I just couldn’t find any sort of rhythm.
However, after getting out of the water in a frankly embarrassing and pathetic 1446th place (I’m normally mid-pack at best, but this was dismal even by my standards!) I was happy to make up 944 places on the bike and run 
Cheers, Rich