The Northern California Power Cruiser Association was founded in 1935 by John Hallenback and friends to test their navigation skills in a friendly competition among power cruisers.

The popularity of this sport has grown from a few friends getting together to test and increase their navigation skills in the unique confines of the San Francisco Bay and Delta, to hundreds of boaters over the years.

The Northern California Power Cruiser Association (NCPCA) is made up of yacht clubs who are members of the Pacific Inter Club Yacht Association (PICYA) in which ten of these clubs sponsor a particular contest. Individuals who wish to become a contestant must either belong to a member yacht club, or be members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, or any approved boating oriented association.

There are 10 contests per year, with 5 "down bay" and five in the delta. The contest season starts in early May and ends in October, with the overall awards dinner in November. There are two yearly delegate meetings. Each member yacht club is allowed two delegates. It is the delegates who elect the officers of the association and determine contest rules.

The objective of an "Over-the-Bottom" contest is to navigate your boat over a given course, at a pre-determined speed. These navigation contests were dubbed "Over-the-Bottom Contests" because the speed of the boat through the water does not reflect the boat's true speed over the ground. Conditions of the water (currents, winds, tides, etc.) affect the boat's ability to "stay on course" or maintain a pre-determined speed.

The Northern California Power Cruiser Association prides itself on the fact that its members are well aware of the importance of safety in boating and the adherence to the "rules of the road". This is important, as other boating activities have a tendency to "conflict" with our contest courses. Since safe boating is a primary concern of the NCPCA, a racer must often deviate from his/her course and speed. If that should occur, the time and course must be adjusted by the racer to return to the proper course and time.

Because the speed of your boat "over-the-bottom" is so important, taffrail logs, speedometers or other mechanical devices of measuring speed through the water are of no direct value. Although the use of Loran or GPS is accepted, your most accurate means of checking your "over-the-bottom" speed is by landmarks or anchored aids to navigation.

This works both ways, as there are strategically placed spotters, or "checkers" along the course to make sure the boats are on course, and time!