Farallon Island Sail

[delevi]

I have been inspired by Aya's thread to organize a sailing trip to the Farallon Islands out of San Francisco. Of course, with the sailing season over, this will probably have to wait until next Spring. I'm not sure how many Northern California people we have here. Of course, whoever wants to make the trek is welcome. Anyone interested? Frank, I know you probably want to get in on this.

[richandlori]

Delevi,

That sounds like a great idea and you may get some So Cal Macs jumping in also. My wife and I will be in San Fran next week Tuesday and Wednesday nights...can you give me something interesting to do relating to boats while my wife is in a speach class? Last time I was there, I just walked around the hardors eyeing the boats. Any good stores to visit?


PS: don't panic, but this thread will be moved to the "upcomming Events" category by a moderator....just to keep things clean.

[Frank C]

Leon,
Hate to douse your enthusiasm with a bucket o'Bay, but I wouldn't choose the Islands for my first NorCal coastal. Yeah that's right, I've never been through the Golden Gate on my 26X. (Years ago I went out on Salmon boats numerous times. The NorCal coast is definitely not a picnic area.)

• - you definitely need to choose a non-fog timeframe,
  - a fairly calm weather window
  - (above two are frequently mutually exclusive)
  - and you need to time departure & returns to the tides

No cruise-killers there, but it's a cruise that demands some very careful planning. More significantly, the Farallons are ~30 miles out, there are no anchorages available. Unless you're willing to sail through the night, you're gonna spend this whole day motoring. You also need to time your departure, motor out, circle the islands, and still motor back on the same day, timing your return through the Gate.

Kraig writes: Although these rocky islands are light in color naturally, they receive a continual white washing from various species of wildlife. The resulting smell is almost overpowering, and coupled with a long boat ride makes it difficult to consume even the best of brown bag lunches.

The opportunity to see blue whales is an added bonus during the trip to the Farallon Islands. Watching these largest animals on the earth surface for air was an incredible experience. Their backs seem to go on forever as they rise to the surface.

Marilyn writes: This is a once in a lifetime trip -- meaning that you do not need to make it more than once. I was excited to go and am not normally seasick from boating, but the trip was nauseating to say the least with a 30 mile boat ride one way in high waves. Our boat was very large, but several people on our boat were seasick including myself who gagged a couple hundred of times. The highlight was definitely the opportunity to see blue whales in abundance. You muust truly love lighthouses to make this trip. Even the Coast Guard people told us that they helicopter out there if they can.

When we cruised the 13 miles to Anacapa, and then 5 more to Santa Cruz Island, I was ready to drop anchor (around 14:30) and relax for awhile. Can't do that at the Farallons. By contrast, you'll spend a good half-day getting to the Farallons and then need to head back home (or head off for a late arrival at some other destination). A big benefit though . . . should a blue whale surface under a Mac, you needn't worry about getting cold and wet . . . the Farallons are the world's premier Great White shark feeding zone!

Your NorCal coastal cruise is simply not in the same league as a jaunt to Catalina or Santa Cruz Island. This post is already too long, and it's too negative.
New post below . . .

[Frank C]

Leon,

Farallons aside, I think it would be great to plan a NorCal cruise, and it's definitely an area befitting the numeric safety of a flotilla. But normal sea conditions, coupled with greater distances, simply make it much more difficult than SoCal. Practically speaking, we need to limit destinations to about 30 miles. This permits targeting afternoon arrivals, leaving a safety margin to avoid approaching anchorage or landings at dark.

As in SoCal (but even more pronounced due to sea conditions) a southerly-bound cruise is easier & maybe somewhat safer. Here's one idea, somewhat less ambitious than yours, a cruise to Half Moon Bay ... overnight there ... then cruise to Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz City, followed by Monterey's marina). Benefits:

• - Civilized destinations
  - Avoids cruising NW into the prevailing weather
  - Safety-margin for afternoon landings
  - Real showers, Real meals, even Shopping!

The disadvantages include no anchoring-out (one of my goals), no wilderness environs and you'd really need to shuttle the trailers down to Monterey . . . return cruise is by Interstate.

An alternate idea is a northwest cruise to Drake's Bay, round-trip by sea. This is feasible in good weather (prolly May or October?), but it's LOTS more risky than the former. You can get a preliminary idea about cruising NorCal from Mehaffy's book, Cruising Guide to San Francisco Bay. It's well-worth the $20 investment, highly recommended.

[Frank C]

. . .My wife and I will be in San Fran next week Tuesday and Wednesday nights...can you give me something interesting to do relating to boats while my wife is in a speach class?

Rich,
You'll actually be in the City(?) or just in the Bay Area? (BTW, when in this area, it's never called Frisco or SanFran ... never, ever!) Cannot suggest much in a "boating" vein since I'd rarely be there for boating. However, assuming daylight timing, you'll see some amazing boats along the marina district, near SF Yacht Club. Transit thru the City can be an effort, so it's dependent on where, & what times you have available.

If you're in Oakland I'd path you to my favorite WM. It's as large as any I've seen except for the one in Annapolis. Also, the Oakland store has a separate little hovel called the "bargain store," where open-box & return items are gathered (from the entire western states) and sold at ~half-retail. If you're a flea-mkt fan you'd enjoy it, but they close at 5pm.

[Captain Steve]

What about a sacto - frisco (or the other way)cruise. I have heard there is a lot of history to see along the waterway. I guess its mostly a motoring jaunt though. It would be easy to catch a ride back to the vehicles and a short empty trailer trip back to the boats. Are there bugs in the summer? When I went to CSUN I had a professor that towed his Potter up to Pt Reyes - Drakes Bay area for the summer. Used to show us pics of the area. I wonder if the remoteness of the 70's is now gone?

[Frank C]

What about a sacto - frisco (or the other way)cruise. I have heard there is a lot of history to see along the waterway.

Are there bugs in the summer? ... professor that towed his Potter up to Pt Reyes - Drakes Bay area for the summer . . . I wonder if the remoteness of the 70's is now gone?

Pt. Reyes & Drake's Bay areas are fully protected wilderness beaches - very remote, zero development. I suppose one could just trail to the vicinity, but I'm unsure how close you'd find a ramp.

Sacramento isn't bug-free, but it's nothin' like Florida either. Very hot in summer (90F+, not such a problem with the river so handy). Old Sac is quite a historical restoration area, and the old river towns along the way are true, unrestored history. A bunch of Macs did a Delta cruise in summer 2004 but not all the way to Sacto. They wrote up some notes - here, in the "Events" forum.

[delevi]

Thanks for raining on my parade Frank. I suppose my zeal for a coastal adventure has overshadowed common sense and planning. I was under the impression that the Farallones had a cove or two where one could anchor overnight. Perhaps not. I also didn't know that the strong smells were such a factor. The other coastal cruise ideas seem interesting. I'm in Chicago right now with the Admiral, visiting the in-laws. I'll post when I return next week.

Rich, there are plenty of great sights in SF. I'll post more when I get back. I will have to look at my schedule for next week. If possible, perhaps I can sneak out of work for a day and take you out sailing on the Bay, if you're interested. I'm not sure if we'll get any wind though. This time of year (Nov-Feb,) there is rarely any wind, in contrast to the rest of the year when there is usually too much.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[delevi]

San Francisco to Monterey with stops at Half Moon Bay & Santa Cruz would be an awesome cruise. I'm all for that. I'm not sure how many people would be willing and able to drive their trailers to Monterey, leave them there w/ towing vehicle and drive back to SF via 2nd car. The other side of the coin... sailing back does add another 3 days, which would make the trip less feasible. I'm willing to do it and take two with me for the ride back for those from So Cal or other non local destinations. My one reservation is that when I tow my trailer empty from the launch ramp to the parking area, it rattles around like crazy. The part near the ladder just shakes wildly like it wants to dislodge itself from the hitch. I don't have this problem when the boat is on the trailer. I'm concerned how it would behave on the highway. Never transported trailer w/o boat for any distance outside of a marina. Different story with boat on trailer... went as far as Lake Tahoe (4 hour drive/tow) Anyone have a similar experience w/ empty trailer?

Rich,
Looks like the weather is not cooperating for your visit to SF. Poaring rain here, and likely to continue through much of the week. I'm going to be booked solid this week as well so a Mac sail isn't in the cards... there is also no wind now. Went out on the bay yesterday for a few hours and motored the whole time. As for boating stores: There is a West Marine at Townsend & 2nd Street which is in close proximity to South Beach Marina. Basically, this is the only place I have shopped for boat stuff. South Beach Marina as well as the Fort Mason/Golden Gate Yacht Club on Marina Bouleveard have some amazing boats. Sounds like you've already done that last time around, though. If you're into shopping, I would check out Union Square. If you just want to spend the day hanging out at a nice cafe or get a good lunch, North Beach is tops. Virtually anywhere in the neighborhood is great. If you want to be by the water, Reds Java House at Embarcadero & Bryant is great. The place is very casual, sits right on a pier, serves a decent burger, great fish n'chips & has a full bar+Indoor & Outdoor seating and you have an awesome view of the Bay, watching sailboats go by. I frequently have lunch there since I work just down the street. Hope this helps. Email me if you have other questions, etc.

[mgg4]

What about a sacto - frisco (or the other way)cruise. I have heard there is a lot of history to see along the waterway. I guess its mostly a motoring jaunt though.

Actually, SF to Sac would be mostly downwind (assuming the prevailing westerly plus coastal sea breeze). A few areas of reaching, but there would probably be some areas where you would want to motor. For those that wanted to cruise back, you would probably be on the motor most of the time, unless you like tacking or get lucky enough to catch a off-shore breeze.

It would be easy to catch a ride back to the vehicles and a short empty trailer trip back to the boats.

The road trip from Sac to SF will take about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Are there bugs in the summer?

Some, but not too bad. You'll want to have screens for your hatchways, and bring the bug repellent, but it's not too bad.

When I went to CSUN I had a professor that towed his Potter up to Pt Reyes - Drakes Bay area for the summer. Used to show us pics of the area. I wonder if the remoteness of the 70's is now gone?

Very nice area, but I've not boated there. I did some hiking in the state park area, and it's is a very nice place. Getting there by boat is very difficult. The bar at the entrance is very dangerous. You would need to find a boat ramp in Tomales Bay (That's the name of the bay behind Point Reyes). It would be an interesting trip.

I will tell you that my wife and I were planning a trip to Sacramento this coming season, so something along these lines would be a good fit for us. I would be happy either way, but cruising the Delta is fun. My home cruising grounds. I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have about this area.

[Captain Steve]

Mark

thanks for the info....what time of year were you planning for? early june or july?

[Frank C]

When I went to CSUN I had a professor that towed his Potter up to Pt Reyes - Drakes Bay area for the summer. Used to show us pics of the area. I wonder if the remoteness of the 70's is now gone?

Very nice area, but I've not boated there. I did some hiking in the state park area, and it's is a very nice place. Getting there by boat is very difficult. The bar at the entrance is very dangerous. You would need to find a boat ramp in Tomales Bay (That's the name of the bay behind Point Reyes). It would be an interesting trip.

Hey Steve ... CSUN, eh? Me too, '71.




Hey Mark ... not sure I understood everything in your post. Tomales Bay is the very elongated, skinny Bay that requires passage west of Pt. Reyes, around the Point and then much farther north. Tomales is reputed to be the occasional inland home to great white sharks. But as you wrote, the price of entrance is that extremely treacherous bar.

Drakes Bay, open and 8 miles wide, is formed south of the Pt. Reyes peninsula. There's an old fishing pier just inside the southern-most finger of Pt Reyes, and an anchorage in that segment is well protected from the prevailing NW weather. The inlet that extends north into the Reyes peninsula is called Drakes Estero. Too shallow for most, our Macs might do fine there. Inside the Estero is Drakes Cove ... where historians guess that Sir Francis threaded the Golden Hind along a very narrow channel and then into a cove for careening & repairs in 1579.

After posting of the difficult waters I've endured on fishing boats just outside Golden Gate (the Potato Patch, but never in my Mac), I later discovered this following account of an October 2003 wooden boats flotilla, through the Gate and north to Drakes Bay. It sounds great! Master Mariners Drake's Bay Cruise & Oyster BBQ

Saturday morning, boats get out of the gate at a good hour and make their way to Drakes Bay, about 25 miles up the coast. This is an easy sail or motor -sail and boats start arriving as early as noon. The regular summer northwesterlies have softened by October so it is usually an easy beat. Some years the wind backs around a little in the late afternoon so that boats can start their sheets. Last year there was so little wind that we motored most of the way.

Anchoring is easy. The Pt. Reyes peninsula gives good shelter and there is good holding in a sand bottom. Everyone gets ashore with their own small boats. The beach we use has no (or at least very difficult) shore access, but is has good shelter and a little reef that makes landing smoother.

Now, the good part. In the late afternoon, we start a big driftwood fire and dig a barbecue pit. We bring a bunch of big, juicy oysters from the Johnson Oyster Co., over in Drakes Estero. This forms the basis for an informal dinner, supplemented by bread, wine, sausages, or anything else brought by individual boats. There are sea chanteys, good talk, seeing old friends, and old friends we've never met before. Eventually, the party tapers off and we all make our way back to our boats ...

What I really haven't gotten across in the above description is what an absolutely magic place Drakes Bay is. If you’ve just looked at it from land (or from the air), you haven'tt seen anything. Try it anchored, late on a clear night. A few riding lights. The dark mass of land in the distance. No lights on shore! Or wake early on a foggy morning, the bay just like it was 473 years ago. Imagine a carrick from one of Drake's galleons, rowing through the fog, searching for the bay they would never find. Magic!

This year (2003) on Saturday there will be an early morning flood at the Golden Gate (3.2 kts. max at 0707, slack at 1020). ... you can start as soon as it's light if you don't mind going a little slower in the Gate. A more serious hazard could be fog. All the usual precautions should be practiced. ...

[Frank C]

• Interesting Synopsis of Sir Francis Drake's Voyage.

I think it's particularly interesting that Drake bypassed the Golden Gate into San Francisco Bay, choosing instead the outer bay to seek protection for repairs to his ship.

Late in 1577, Francis Drake left England with five ships, ostensibly on a trading expedition to the Nile. On reaching Africa, the true destination was revealed to be the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Magellan, to the dismay of some of the accompanying gentlemen and sailors. Still in the eastern Atlantic, a Portuguese merchant ship and its pilot - who was to stay with Drake for 15 months - was captured, and the fleet crossed the Atlantic, via the Cape Verde Islands, to a Brazilian landfall.

Running down the Atlantic South American coast, storms, separations, dissension, and a fatal skirmish with natives marred the journey. Before leaving the Atlantic, Drake lightened the expedition by disposing of two unfit ships and one English gentleman, who was tried and executed for mutiny. After rallying his men and unifying his command with a remarkable speech, Drake renamed his flagship, previously the Pelican, the Golden Hind.

In September of 1578, the fleet, now three ships, sailed through the deadly Strait of Magellan with speed and ease, only to emerge into terrific Pacific storms. For two months the ships were in mortal danger, unable to sail clear of the weather or to stay clear of the coast. The ships were scattered, and the smallest, the Marigold, went down with all hands. The Elizabeth found herself back in the strait and turned tail for England, where she arrived safely but in disgrace. Meanwhile, the Golden Hind had been blown far to the south, where Drake discovered - perhaps - that there was open water below the South American continent. ....

Sailing first westerly and then northerly, well off the shore of North America, the leaking Golden Hind reached a northernmost position variously reported as between 48 degrees and 42 degrees north latitude, a range which includes most of Washington, all of Oregon, and a sliver of California. There, somewhere in the region he named Nova Albion, in the strangely cold and windy June of 1579, Drake found a harbor - reportedly at 48, 44, 38 1/2, or 38 degrees (= latitude at SF). He stayed in this now lost harbor for over five weeks, repairing the Golden Hind and enjoying extensive and peaceful contact with the Indians. Before he left he set up a monument, in the form of an engraved metal plate, which has never been found.

[Captain Steve]

Frank,

I started at CSUN (it was then SFVSC) in 1970, freshly graduated from Granada Hills High School, just up the street. I do remember my Geog professer talking about tomales bay and sightings of sharks. He must have launched somewhere there as he towed his Potter up from Northridge. Maybe I will try this Goggle Earth that has been talked about on theis board to find a place.

Would be fun to go there and look for Drake's plate!

[mgg4]

Hey Mark ... not sure I understood everything in your post. Tomales Bay is the very elongated, skinny Bay that requires passage west of Pt. Reyes, around the Point and then much farther north. Tomales is reputed to be the occasional inland home to great white sharks. But as you wrote, the price of entrance is that extremely treacherous bar.

Sorry, I missed the part where Drakes Bay was mentioned. I always associate Pt Reyes with Tomales Bay, so that's what I was thinking you meant.

Sorry for the confusion.