SF Coastal Sailing

[RHC]

Just got my 26X, finally!!!
Anyone familiar w/ sailing conditions in the coastal areas of San Francisco? I don't see too many sailboats out there, in contrast w/ the huge density inside the bay.

Since I live in the coast, that's where I plan to learn, not too far from shore.
What's a good link to more stuff on SF coastal sailing conditions?

Thanks, great site for Mac sailors.

[Daves_knot_here]

Congrads on getting your 26X. What year and options did you end up with? I just got mine about three weeks ago. I drove down to SFO and hauled it back home. Have fun!

[Catigale]

Hello RHC - you probably should have a PM with FrankC about local conditions..please do this as SF is an area where there is great sailing but lousy places to learn....that surfing sailboat comes to mind...

Franks close to my safety heart too.....

[Moe]

RHC, congratulations on your 26X !

The following, and other forecasts, are found on this page

Graphical Forecasts - San Francisco/Monterey, CA

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST, POINT ARENA TO POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS AND OUT 60 NM INCLUDING THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND MONTEREY BAY

The following, and other stations, are found on this page.

Station FTPC1 - 9414290 - San Francisco, CA

Station 46026 - SAN FRANCISCO - 18NM West of San Francisco, CA.

The following is found on this page.

Tide Station 9414290 San Francisco, CA

Hope this helps,
--
Moe

[philbrook]

RHC,

Coastal cruising the northern CA coast is not to be taken lightly. I recomend getting your sea legs in more protected waters, or barring that, be very careful with the weather and waves. I sail the SF Bay and find it most challenging. Be carefull out there.
Congrats on your new to you X.
This board will help you immensly, just keep asking those questions.
Good luck and fair winds.

Phil (the good Doctor is in)

[RHC]

really nice to be in touch w/ great company!

Dave: I got a 97 w/ roller furler, boarding ladder, am/fm, 2-sails, 50hp Nissan (2stroke). If I'm guessing right, you picked yours up from Angles Camp. If so, your boat would've been mine if my schedule had not been what it was. But this is Karma. I'm happy.

Catigale: not sure what "PM" means. sorry, not yet fully acronymn literate.

Moe: Great links. Looks like 7ft swells is the norm.

DrPhil: I agree w/ your advise. I will look for a nearby protected water.

thanks to all

[Daves_knot_here]

RHC,

I actually found this one in Albany, CA. We got to sail the boat out in the San Fran bay twice before I left. Very nice area to sail.

BTW, (by the way) PM means Personal Message.

Be sure you don't do this when you sail into the bay from Half Moon:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... ht=surfing

[Frank C]

Just got my 26X, finally!!!
Anyone familiar w/ sailing conditions in the coastal areas of San Francisco? I don't see too many sailboats out there, in contrast w/ the huge density inside the bay.

Since I live in the coast, that's where I plan to learn, not too far from shore.

Congrats on the new boat! If I lived at Half Moon Bay, I'd just put-in at Pillar Point Harbor and have some fun! I flew over there just this week on a commercial flight from San Diego into SFO, and it looks simply spectacular! Though Pillar Point is exposed to the Pacific current and winds, your little south-facing cove is well protected, and fully enclosed by breakwaters. Outside the breakwaters should be fine too if you just pick your days 'n times. Afternoon winds build, of course, and just stay in the Harbor on the days when NOAA shows more than a 6' swell.

You really should buy the "Cruising Guide to SF Bay" by Carolyn & Bob Mehaffy. It gives all the skinny on every marina and anchorage, both inside and coastal. Here's what they say about cruising to your marina from the Golden Gate ....

After the [southbound] turn, the run to the G1 buoy off Pillar Point is a 19-mile broad reach. .... Do not attempt to go directly from G1 to the harbor entrance, however, for shallow water and rocks abound in the area. Rather, go 1.5 miles on a course of 090 mag to the G3 buoy before turning toward the entrance, which is slightly less than 1.0 mi north from the G3 buoy. [memo: one problem w/ dead reckoning is ... exactly when have I gone that 1.5 miles ??? (your toy GPS will tell you the mileage, AND show you the buoys!)

Approaching PPH from the south, you must navigate around the reef 2.0 miles south of the entrance. A G1 buoy marks the southern edge of the reef, and an R2 buoy marks its northern edge. You can pass safely on either side of the reef once you’ve identified it, but be certain to pass to the east of the G3 buoy after you’ve passed the reef.

If you’re approaching Pillar Point Harbor in thick fog, be especially careful to identify each of the buoys. If you cannot find the buoys, do not attempt to enter the harbor.

The reef is about a mile long, one mile offshore at south end, and 2 miles offshore at north. It has minimum of 10' of water depth and more commonly 25 feet, but a few rocks are awash, and of course waves will sometimes break across the reef. This brings several things to mind.

• 1. Get the cruising guide for it's specific advisories. It is easily worth the $25.
  2. Get the area charts. Mine is the "Yachtsman Chart Book, 5th Edition." It's a bargain at about 50 bucks, since it shows all buoys, depths, landmarks, etc. for the entire bay and coastal regions.
  3. Get a GPS. I prefer the Lowrance models. They are leaders in depth sounders, maps are basically free (the sounder is also free, essentially, considering the cost of competitive GPS plotters plus maps) and I like having a real-time digital depth reading right on my chart display. I recommend a color chartplotter/sounder with at least a 5" screen, so you'll be spending between $500 and $800. ANY MARINE GPS UNIT IS MUCH, MUCH BETTER than having charts alone!!!

True enough, the charts add reams of valuable information, but an analogy might be useful. When I'm driving, I'd rather call cellular 411 than look a number up in the phone book. Likewise, I'd prefer to see my track on a digital display, rather than stop and plot my position in my handy-dandy California road atlas. (Buy a handheld, battery-operated GPS too, for about 100 bucks, and carry it in car AND as a backup in the boat).

IMO, GPS is not a toy, and I'm not at all embarrassed to rely upon it and announce that I do so. When the fog settles over Half Moon Bay, you'll sooner call that $1,000 electronic widget a lifesaver than a toy. You'll have virtually no time, nor the mental or emotional bandwidth to be dead-reckoning if a blanket drops, and you know well (since you live there) how quickly that fog can settle.

At worst case, Uncle Sam induced a GPS error factor of 10 meters. There's no way in hull that I'd plot myself within 100 meters of a charted obstacle, so that error factor (long since eliminated) never caused me a minute of pause or stress.

Enjoy

[zuma hans]

I would very much like to recommend you sail south of Candlestick Point in the bay until you are very, very comfortable with your boat and familiar with the Gate.

Tidal flow thru the GG can be a substantial matter. Merchant ships and expert sailors with damn big yachts are zipping by. The coastline south of the Cliff House is treacherous, dozens of saiboats have met their end in shoals there.

I am an experienced Mac sailor in the Santa Barbara Channel, and I learn something new almost every time I go out.

Someday I'll sail thru the Gate, but you damn well be sure I'll be checking the tides, weather and my boat very closely first

[Frank C]

Sorry if the quote from the Cruising Guide was confusing. RHC lives in Half Moon Bay. He can easily launch into Pillar Point Harbor and just sail there and beyond the breakwater on mild days.

He has no need for sailing thru the GG. The purpose of quoting from the Guide was to identify the inshore challenges near Half Moon Bay.

[RHC]

Thanks a bunch for all the input. My game plan at this time is to get really familiar w/ the boat at Pillar Point harbor (in town).

When I'm ready for more space, will launch inside the Bay. I checked out the launch ramp at redwood city & discovered an active sailing community w/ 21, & 25 footers.

I think the harbor so of Candlestick is Oyster Pt, I might check it out this wk-end.