Bayfront Park
Date: (Sun.) Aug. 1, 2010
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Event Director: 
- 650.281.5280
Course Setter: Steve Haas
Type: C; White, Yellow, Orange, and Sprint courses
Note: There will be a bring-a-friend-to-try-out-orienteering free offer at this event. BAOC members can introduce a friend (or two) to orienteering, and the friend(s) can run/walk for free. At registration, the friend will fill out the normal form and just say they are a friend of _________. (The member is not required to accompany the friend on their course.)
Registration opens at 9:00 and closes at 12:00. A short, repeating, beginners clinic will be available from approximately 9:30 until 11:30, depending on demand. You can start your course(s) anytime between 10:00 and 12:30. All courses close at 2:00 PM and controls will be picked up at that time. Please honor the course closure time, come to the Finish, and check in, even if you have not completed your course by 2:00 PM. (Please do not leave the event without checking in.)
Course Statistics
There will be four courses:
Course Length Controls
White 1.7 km 9 Yellow 2.6 km 14 Sprint 2.6 km 11 Orange 4.2 km 15 (no trails on the map)
Note that the course length is computed as the straight-line distances between the controls. Your actual distance will be longer.
Event Director's Notes
We have 4 courses available, as described above. If you are uncertain as to which course to try, especially if you've never tried orienteering before, we recommend you do the White course, as the Yellow course has a significantly higher level of navigation than the White course. On all the courses, the idea is to visit the controls in order, with the route between any two control points up to you, trying to complete the course in as short a time as possible. But, of course, the main objective is to have fun.
The Orange course will have the trails removed from the map to spice it up a bit.
The Sprint course is part of the BAOC Sprint Series. These courses require rapid decision making on navigational routes and attention to fine navigational detail.
If you have never tried a Sprint before, consider giving it a try. The name can be a little intimidating, like somehow you have to go fast, but that's not the case. Anyone can do a Sprint. It is shorter than an Orange course, and the navigation is not technical. Use the Sprint course as a training exercise — try to keep moving at your pace (walking or jogging is fine). Practice reading the map while you are moving. Know in advance which direction you will head once you punch a control. You might be surprised how much little things like this add up over an entire course.
You're welcome to sign up for a second course afterward if you wish.
All participants in all Courses must check in at the Finish by 2:00 PM. Please check in at the Finish even if you cannot successfully complete your course, so that we know that you are not still out on the course.
Course Setter's Notes
Much of the park has been mowed in the last few weeks, but long pants and/or gaiters are still recommended, especially for the Sprint and Orange courses.
It’s likely to be sunny, hot, and dry. There is not much shade at this park. Sunscreen and hats are recommended.
There will be water at the registration/start/finish area, but not on the courses. You may want to bring your own water bottle.
There are three out-of-bounds areas clearly marked on the maps. Please stay out them. The courses have been designed to minimize or eliminate any temptation to cross them.
Traffic and Safety
There will be lots of walkers, and probably dogs, kites, etc. Please be careful and courteous.
Driving Directions
From the Peninsula, North, and South, take Highway 101 to the Marsh Road East exit. Stay to the left so you can drive straight ahead into the park at the traffic signal where Marsh turns right into Bayfront Expressway.
From the East Bay, cross the Dumbarton Bridge. Go to the fifth traffic light after the bridge, and turn right into the park.
There's a map here that shows the location of the event.