Cup's draft route skirts shoreline

Organizers of the America's Cup sailing race said that if the race were held in San Francisco, the bay would act as a natural arena, giving millions of people the chance to see the multimillion-dollar yachts race past Alcatraz and the Transamerica Pyramid.

And the first-draft version of the race route shows just how central the race will be.

The 45-minute course will send the swift 72-foot catamarans from Crissy Field along the Embarcadero before they loop around and pass Treasure and Angel islands. The Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, San Francisco and the East Bay hills will be a constant backdrop to the race, televised throughout the world.

Organizers also hope that having the entire race near shore (in the past, all races have been held miles from the shore) will attract thousands more to the sport of sailing.

Because, let's face it, watching sailing on TV is pretentious. Watching it from the shore of Angel Island - or from your high-rise office in downtown San Francisco - is awesome.

"People can actually watch it from so many places around the bay," said Stephanie Martin, spokeswoman for the race. "You know live sports - you want to watch it live."

Race organizers are also considering sending the ships out for a lap outside of the Golden Gate before they return to the bay.

The course will be finalized by Jan. 31, Martin said.

- Will Kane

This week's news

Tuesday: The Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. and should appoint an interim mayor.

Thursday: The Planning Commission will discuss Parkmerced at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

By the numbers

$28.4 million Funding dedicated to making Cesar Chavez Street more inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians.

$21 million Muni's current budget deficit.

$2 million Muni payout to a tourist injured by a cable car in 2008.

3 Swans now living at the Palace of Fine Arts lagoon.

Quote of the week

"We are about to witness the biggest fumble in the history of progressive politics in San Francisco, and the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of David Chiu. I will haunt you. I will politically haunt you. ...It's on, like Donkey Kong."

Outgoing Supervisor Chris Daly on picking an interim mayor.

E-mail cityinsider@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle