From: dud (dud@Alliant.COM)
Subject: Re: Sailing and San Francisco
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1991-09-10 00:30:00 PST
In article <1991Sep9.031806.6432@midway.uchicago.edu> nick@thyme.uchicago.edu (Nick Burke) writes that some have said:
>
> South Bay is relatively shallow and windless.
>
> ... [and] ...
>
>There's not
>much in the South Bay, where the water is shallow. Most sailing
>takes place between the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate.
>
As someone who has sailed the South Bay for 20 years I can tell you that
the above is not true. Sure, there are some shallow parts in the South
Bay, especially at low tide, but for anyone who can read a chart and
tide table, and who's boat is equipped with a depth sounder, the sailing
and cruising possibilities are endless.
No wind! You should see how it howls down here when the area around
San Francisco is fogged in. The winds are very predictable and strong
every afternoon during the normal April-October time frame.
You forgot to mention Sequioa Yacht Club, Peninsula Yacht Club, Palo
Alto Yacht Club, OFYC and Spinnaker Sailing Club. All are active in
Redwood City. Check out the races Friday nights, Saturdays and
Sundays. You forgot to mention Peninsula Marina, Pete's Harbor,
Redwood City Marina, each with guest docks.
You want to go cruising? Try Westpoint Slough. Unless you draw more
than 6ft. you will never have a problem spending the night and it's
a lot calmer than Angel Island or Treasure Island.
You think you're a good sailor? Take the Corkscrew Slough Challenge!
They don't call it Corkscrew for nothing and it makes a great place to
practice your tacking and sail trimming. Caveat: You'd better know
what you're doing before attempting this.
You want some exercise? Row your dinghy through the smaller sloughs.
Take a walk along the PG&E walkways under the power lines (at your own
risk, of course) which are only accessible by boat
Hungry? Try Clarks-by-the-Bay, Charlie Brown's, Pete's Harbor House, The
Waterfront Cafe, or the General Store. Need a part? Try Al's Boaters
Supply. Need gas? Sorry, you'll have to stop at Coyote Point.
Like wildlife? The are lots of groups of sea lions along the shores
of the sloughs and much of the tidelands are designated bird sanct-
uaries. You want to fish? Yeah, you can do that too! Stripers and
sharks.
Check it out, just be sure to always know the conditions (especially depth
and tides). NEVER SAIL OUT OF THE CHANNEL AT LOW TIDE!
Dudley
Treefort
Redwood City
From: Francis Muir (francis@hanauma.stanford.edu)
Subject: Re: Sailing and San Francisco
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1991-09-10 01:02:12 PST
dud (Dudley of Treefort, Redwood City) writes:
You forgot to mention Sequioa Yacht Club, Peninsula Yacht Club,
Palo Alto Yacht Club, OFYC and Spinnaker Sailing Club. All are
active in Redwood City. Check out the races Friday nights,
Saturdays and Sundays. You forgot to mention Peninsula Marina,
Pete's Harbor, Redwood City Marina, each with guest docks.
And you, in turn, forgot to mention Alviso, home of the South Bay Yacht
Club (maybe the least expensive in the Bay), Voyager Marine (great chandler
and Honda outboard dealer), the Mexico Lindo and Fiesta en America eateries,
and a couple of grander places. Voyager Marine has a nice boatyard where
I am overhauling my newly acquired cat-boat while waiting on a side tie up
at the Port of Redwood City. My 10" draught, c-board up, will make my craft
a great gunkholer around most of the South Bay, where they invented Touch
& Go.
Philomath
From: Dudley (dudley@treefort.Corp.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: Who's planning a cruise? Where and When?
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-01-06 08:28:13 PST
In article @rpi.edu, floydb@rpi.edu () writes:
> Other than the "Bermuda" trip I haven't read any other
> postings about future cruises.
>
> Is anyone planning a cruise/trip for this spring or summer?
>
> Where are you going? What are you doing to get ready? Who is
> going along with you?
The Southbay Slimy Slough Sailors just completed their New Year's
cruise. We had a turnout of 4 boats. Had a wonderful New Year's
Eve in Westpoint Slough in Redwood City. We cooked up a super
feast, downed some grog, and sang in the New Year accompanied by
a guitar and keyboard. About midnight the rain began. We fell
asleep to the pitter-patter of raindrops on our boom tents. We
were late to rise the next morning, but by that time the clouds
had cleared to leave a beautiul blue sky.
SSSS plans a monthly cruise. We limit them to 3-day weekends in
the winter, but are already planning our spring Angel Island-to-
Half Moon Bay-to-Farallon Island trip which we'll probably stretch
out to 4 or 5 days.
I've learned to avoid simultaneous repair/upgrade projects. I keep
my boat ready to go. This minimizes preparation time - load up the
perishables and go...
We usually take our wives, kids, and stray friends. It's always fun
to take newcomers along.
Dudley
SSSS (The Muddies)
Invictus, C-27 #4942
Redwood City, CA
.
From: Dudley (dudley@treefort.Corp.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 10:39:43 PST
In article 6oo@netcom.com, fishmeal@netcom.com (Paul Kamen) writes:
>
> >South bay
>
> I have to say, I share the same ambivalence towards the south bay. It's the
> airports on both sides, and the reservists practicing pattern work out of the
> Alameda Naval Air Station, that makes it unatractive to me. Maybe I'm not
> going far enough south.
Paul,
Go south, young man. We're talking South Bay, not mid-bay. Here in the
South Bay we have it all... Well protected marinas, Redwood Creek for
teaching beginners, the Bay for your afternoon yaa-hoos, Corkscrew Slough
for precision sailing (let's see how long it takes you to get your Merit
around Bair Island), Westpoint Slough for peaceful overnighters. We have
sail-in restaurants, a sail-in general store, we have an historical shipping
port still in operation.
We have the beauty of the tidelands, green from the rains, teeming with
wildlife and birds. We have a panoramic view of San Francisco, the East
Bay hills, San Jose, and the Peninsula under blue skies with fluffy clouds.
But best of all, we have the Muddies!
Dudley
Invictus, C-27 #4249
Pete's Harbor
Redwood City, Ca
.
From: Francis Muir (francis@oas.Stanford.EDU)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-01 08:37:05 PST
William Courington writes:
I don't know whether sailing/racing is elitist or not. But,
San Francisco Bay seems plenty crowded on any summer weekend.
Who has the luxury of sailing where there are not enough boats,
where sitting at anchor one half hopes another boat will
come into the cove? (I did once, in Southeast Alaska, twenty
years ago.)
There must be two San francisco Bays. My wife and I were out in the
South Bay (between the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges) for four hours
yesterday, Memorial Day, morning and in all that time came across only
one other boat sailing. Perhaps a dozen sailboats were making passage
during that time, but they were all under diesel or gasoline power,
although several were giving an extravagant imitation of sailing with
their sails sheeted in and the crews up on the weather rail. I suppose
it takes all kinds. Weather was very variable, but, all in all, a great
day out and FELIX even managed to crank herself up to 5.8 knots on a
broad reach which I take to be surfing. Next week we're having the
Pacific seacraft hauled and her blisters, if any, inspected by a SDurveyor,
on whose word (somewhat) will depend whether we buy or not.
Cap'n Fido
FELIX the CAT
Redwood City
From: Linda Hill (linda@wendy.net.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-01 16:02:00 PST
In article <1ufpcc$isp@morrow.stanford.edu> francis@oas.Stanford.EDU (Francis Muir) writes:
>William Courington writes:
>
> I don't know whether sailing/racing is elitist or not. But,
> San Francisco Bay seems plenty crowded on any summer weekend.
> Who has the luxury of sailing where there are not enough boats,
> where sitting at anchor one half hopes another boat will
> come into the cove? (I did once, in Southeast Alaska, twenty
> years ago.)
>
>There must be two San francisco Bays. My wife and I were out in the
>South Bay (between the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges) for four hours
>yesterday, Memorial Day, morning and in all that time came across only
>one other boat sailing. Perhaps a dozen sailboats were making passage
>during that time, but they were all under diesel or gasoline power,
>although several were giving an extravagant imitation of sailing with
>their sails sheeted in and the crews up on the weather rail. I suppose
>it takes all kinds. Weather was very variable, but, all in all, a great
>day out and FELIX even managed to crank herself up to 5.8 knots on a
>broad reach which I take to be surfing.
Francis, you've often waxed eloquent about sailing in the South Bay and
this time I just can't let it pass without comment. What exactly is it,
besides the fact that you are the only boat out there sailing, that you
like about it? I agree, it takes all kinds, but I think it is one of
the ugliest, most boring places to sail in our area. I wish I liked it
as much as you do because it sure would cut down on our work commute. I
think the scenery (except for the wetland areas) is extremely industrial,
there usually isn't much wind or it's incredibly flukey, and much of the
area is too shallow for us to even sail in (we draw 5 1/2").
On the other hand the Central Bay is a breathtaking sight no matter where
you look, and you practically have your choice of wind depending on
where you go. Plus you get to see a lot of other really gorgeous boats.
I take it you like your solitude, but I'm curious to know what else you
like about the area.
--
Linda V. Hill "Nakia", Hans Christian 33
Network Equipment Technologies Email: linda@net.com
800 Saginaw Drive, 23.2.3 Phone: (415) 780-5785
Redwood City, CA 94063 Fax: (415) 780-5001
From: Paul Kamen (fishmeal@netcom.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-01 20:32:48 PST
>South bay
I have to say, I share the same ambivalence towards the south bay. It's the
airports on both sides, and the reservists practicing pattern work out of the
Alameda Naval Air Station, that makes it unatractive to me. Maybe I'm not
going far enough south.
_ "Call me fishmeal" _
:w
From: Dudley (dudley@treefort.Corp.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 10:39:43 PST
In article 6oo@netcom.com, fishmeal@netcom.com (Paul Kamen) writes:
>
> >South bay
>
> I have to say, I share the same ambivalence towards the south bay. It's the
> airports on both sides, and the reservists practicing pattern work out of the
> Alameda Naval Air Station, that makes it unatractive to me. Maybe I'm not
> going far enough south.
Paul,
Go south, young man. We're talking South Bay, not mid-bay. Here in the
South Bay we have it all... Well protected marinas, Redwood Creek for
teaching beginners, the Bay for your afternoon yaa-hoos, Corkscrew Slough
for precision sailing (let's see how long it takes you to get your Merit
around Bair Island), Westpoint Slough for peaceful overnighters. We have
sail-in restaurants, a sail-in general store, we have an historical shipping
port still in operation.
We have the beauty of the tidelands, green from the rains, teeming with
wildlife and birds. We have a panoramic view of San Francisco, the East
Bay hills, San Jose, and the Peninsula under blue skies with fluffy clouds.
But best of all, we have the Muddies!
Dudley
Invictus, C-27 #4249
Pete's Harbor
Redwood City, Ca
.
From: Linda Hill (linda@wendy.net.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 10:14:43 PST
In article <1993Jun1.212916.8342@unet.net.com> linda@wendy.net.com (Linda Hill) writes:
>
>think the scenery (except for the wetland areas) is extremely industrial,
>there usually isn't much wind or it's incredibly flukey, and much of the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>area is too shallow for us to even sail in (we draw 5 1/2").
Whoops! My fingers must have been possessed by the memory of a race I
did last year off of Oyster Point. We had a good position at the start
but the wind was _very_ light and when we tried to tack to take the line,
the boat just could not make the tack. The skipper tried it about three
times, and I think we finally had to jibe. It was the first time I had
ever seen a boat unable to tack and I will forever associate it with
sailing in the South Bay.
Of course normally it blows like stink down there. :-)
--
Linda V. Hill "Nakia", Hans Christian 33
Network Equipment Technologies Email: linda@net.com
800 Saginaw Drive, 23.2.3 Phone: (415) 780-5785
Redwood City, CA 94063 Fax: (415) 780-5001
From: Dudley (dudley@treefort.Corp.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 10:39:46 PST
In article 8342@unet.net.com, linda@wendy.net.com (Linda Hill) writes:
> Francis, you've often waxed eloquent about sailing in the South Bay and
> this time I just can't let it pass without comment. What exactly is it,
> besides the fact that you are the only boat out there sailing, that you
> like about it? I agree, it takes all kinds, but I think it is one of
> the ugliest, most boring places to sail in our area. I wish I liked it
> as much as you do because it sure would cut down on our work commute. I
> think the scenery (except for the wetland areas) is extremely industrial,
> there usually isn't much wind or it's incredibly flukey, and much of the
> area is too shallow for us to even sail in (we draw 5 1/2").
Linda,
You obviously haven't sailed much in the South Bay. The summer winds in
the area are incredibly constant and strong. That "industrial" look at
the Redwood City docks is a working port. There is plenty of deep water.
But the best part of sailing the South Bay is the challenge: the challenge
to learn the charts, to know the tides, to identify the local landmarks, to
understand the conditions. The South Bay has wildlife that hasn't been seen
in the upper Bay for years. The South Bay has the best place this side of
delta for weekending.
Now, if you want to talk ugly, I suggest you cruise down the Oakland Estuary
some time. You'll see that industrial look, you'll see flukey wind, you'll
get buffeted by powerboat wakes, you'll have to dodge sailboats, you'll hear
the roar from Alameda. And you'll miss the relaxation and excitement that
comes from a South Bay sail.
Dudley
Invictus, C-27 #4249
Pete's Harbor
Redwood City, CA
.
From: William CouringtonOB (billc@netcom.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-01 18:26:25 PST
In article <1ufpcc$isp@morrow.stanford.edu> francis@oas.Stanford.EDU (Francis Muir) writes:
> There must be two San Francisco Bays...
Indeed. Take Felix north past the Bay Bridge, turn left at
the nearest opportunity, and you will see
what I mean. Not just a few thousand pleasure boats
going in all directions at greatly different rates, but sometimes
rather intense commercial and military traffic as well.
(Do great bunches of freighters arrive at every port on Sunday
afternoon?) Deeper greener water, a lot more current, frequent fog,
spectacular views. The West Bay, which is where about every
other cover on Sailing World seems to be photographed,
is another world, not in all respects better.
BILL
From: Francis Muir (francis@oas.Stanford.EDU)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 10:23:41 PST
Linda Hill writes:
Linda Hill writes (of the South bay):
there usually isn't much wind or it's incredibly flukey...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whoops! My fingers must have been possessed by the memory of a
race I did last year off of Oyster Point. We had a good position
at the start but the wind was _very_ light and when we tried to
tack to take the line, the boat just could not make the tack.
The skipper tried it about three times, and I think we finally
had to jibe.
This brings up an interesting point. In very light airs, and with a
(ahem) medium, medium-heavy displacement boat like the Hans Christian 33,
would it not be a good idea to tack the old-fashioned way? Head up and
back-wind the foresails? With some practise this might be quite quick
and if done right up against the line, might be quite disconcerting to
fellow racers.
Of course normally it blows like stink down there. :-)
The afternoon breezes zip down the Bay and out into the San Joaquin
Valley, and I don't see the San Mateo bridge as a major obstruction.
Cap'n Fido
FELIX the CAT
From: Linda Hill (linda@wendy.net.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 12:26:05 PST
In article <1uik1s$46d@morrow.stanford.edu> francis@oas.Stanford.EDU (Francis Muir) writes:
>Linda Hill writes:
>
> Linda Hill writes (of the South bay):
>
> there usually isn't much wind or it's incredibly flukey...
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Whoops! My fingers must have been possessed by the memory of a
> race I did last year off of Oyster Point. We had a good position
> at the start but the wind was _very_ light and when we tried to
> tack to take the line, the boat just could not make the tack.
> The skipper tried it about three times, and I think we finally
> had to jibe.
>
>This brings up an interesting point. In very light airs, and with a
>(ahem) medium, medium-heavy displacement boat like the Hans Christian 33,
>would it not be a good idea to tack the old-fashioned way? Head up and
>back-wind the foresails? With some practise this might be quite quick
>and if done right up against the line, might be quite disconcerting to
>fellow racers.
Well, I recall we were definitely trying to backwind the jib, but I
don't think we had enough boat speed up for even this to turn the bow
(I was on a friend's HC 38). It was not a pretty sight... Guess they
don't call them crab crushers for nothing. :-)
--
Linda V. Hill "Nakia", Hans Christian 33
Network Equipment Technologies Email: linda@net.com
800 Saginaw Drive, 23.2.3 Phone: (415) 780-5785
Redwood City, CA 94063 Fax: (415) 780-5001
From: Henry_Burdett_Messenger@cup.portal.com
(Henry_Burdett_Messenger@cup.portal.com)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 19:14:03 PST
Francis Muir writes:
>> Of course normally it blows like stink down there. :-)
>
> The afternoon breezes zip down the Bay and out into the San Joaquin
> Valley, and I don't see the San Mateo bridge as a major obstruction.
Heck, the *Coast Range* isn't a major obstruction to that wind; it
blows like stink in Monterey Bay, too! :-)
- hbm
From: Francis Muir (francis@oas.Stanford.EDU)
Subject: Re: Elitism (Was: rules of the road)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-02 15:56:11 PST
Linda Hill writes:
Francis Muir writes:
In very light airs, and with a (ahem) medium, medium-heavy
displacement boat like the Hans Christian 33, would it not
be a good idea to tack the old-fashioned way? Head up and
back-wind the foresails? With some practise this might be
quite quick...
Well, I recall we were definitely trying to backwind the jib,
but I don't think we had enough boat speed up for even this
to turn the bow (I was on a friend's HC 38). It was not a
pretty sight... Guess they don't call them crab crushers for
nothing. :-)
But I meant REALLY old-fashioned. Going backwards. Sailing by the stern.
Lots of opposite rudder is indicated.
Gybe Ho!
Cap'n Fido
FELIX le CHAT
From: Maddi Hausmann (madhaus@netcom.com)
Subject: South Bay Has Terrible Sailing!
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-08 15:27:03 PST
I just want to follow up on Dudley's ridiculous claim
that the South (San Francisco) Bay is a good place to
sail. It most certainly is not! Dudley must have
had his head wrapped up in one of those spinnaker
wedding dresses he keeps fantasizing about.
First of all, the weather is ghod-awful! We're talking
rain on Memorial Day Weekend, rain in JUNE, even! What's
the point of living in California if you're dealing with
major precipitation in the same month as the bloody
summer solstace, huh? I tell you, Gaia does not love
the South Bay because of the horrible mess the chipheads
have made of her underground water supply, and she has
punished its denizens accordingly.
Nextly, there are NO facilities here for you anyway, so
don't bother showing up! Where else would a city-owned
marina decide to CLOSE for six months of "renovation,"
leaving hundreds of boaters to fend for themselves? There
isn't an available slip to be found down here, and there
won't be for months. There also isn't a working fuel dock,
so you stinkpotters REALLY don't want to visit. And good
luck wrassling that pump-out at Peninsula, because it
only works on alternate Thursdays during months without
a vowel in them.
Sure, we got sloughs, but anything that drafts more than
a canoe will run aground instantly, probably on top of
all the wrecks that weren't paying attention either.
This is an opportunity to observe a real-world application
of the term "domino theory." Ask Dudley to tell you about
the time he braved Corkscrew in his previous boat. I'll
stand over here and smirk while he does so.
Let's see, so what else would you want of a sailing area?
We certainly have challenges, if you enjoy returning to
port through a channel that needs to be dredged once a
week, but don't worry, there are no slips available for
love or money, and the Sheriff cleaned out all the folks
parked in Poop Lagoon. I suppose you could help yourself
to some nice vessels parked in West Point Slough, if you
ignore the fact that it's patrolled by vicious guard dogs.
I don't think they can swim, but I haven't fully tested
them on this issue. They do seem awfully alert.
Oh, did I forget to mention the racing committee from an
alternate reality? They told us to meet at Green Marker
29, which any South Bay sailor can tell you doesn't exist.
We found them anyway, and the wind was really tearing through
the channel, so we put in a double-reef, just to be sure.
Must have been going at least, oh, three or four knots,
easy. Good thing we had those harnasses.
So, in conclusion, I'd just like to advise all Bay sailors
to avoid this area, because it's just going to frustrate
the heck out of you, and you'll probably die of loneliness
because when we were out on Sunday I didn't see more than
3 other boats foolish enough to do the same. It sure would
be awful if you fell overboard and there was no one around
to rescue you, huh? Why not stay in the estuary where
there's always another boat coming along every ten seconds?
Maddi Hausmann & Cliff Sojourner
Catalina 25 "Integrity" #2411
Peninsula Marina, Redwood City, CA
--
Maddi Hausmann madhaus@netcom.com
Centigram Communications Corp San Jose California 408/428-3553
Kids, please don't try this at home. Remember, I post professionally.
From: dudley (dudley@treefort.Corp.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: South Bay Has Terrible Sailing!
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-10 11:31:25 PST
I think that Maddi has been thinking about this wedding so long
that her brain has shriveled up and cob webs have grown in its
place.
First of all, why do you think they make foulies? You should be
glad that you sail in the South Bay, because West Marine is always
having their summer sale just when you need foulies the most. And
besides, with the lousy water pressure at Peninsula Marina, you need
the rain to wash off your boat.
And aren't you being a bit hard on Redwood Municipal? I mean if some
bozos hadn't cut off all the streams that used to feed into the South
Bay, causing the sloughs to silt in, there would be no need to dredge.
And who needs a fuel dock? I love carrying jerry cans from my car to
fill my boat. I especially love the colorful designs it leaves on the
water when I spill a bit. You don't get these sorts of pleasures at
a fuel dock. And the stink-potters? We're doing them a favor by not
having a fuel dock. Can you imagine your disapointment upon spending
your kid's college fund on a motorboat, only to find that the South Bay
chop is always too rough to go out in? And pump-outs? Sheesh, don't
you know anything? Why do you think they have a Y-valve on your head?
And to top it all off, your silly little Ivy League mind can't see the
beauty of the sloughs. Those aren't wrecks, those are monuments to
bygone sailing days. Great men sailed those boats. Yes, I said men!
In the good old days, sailors left women on shore where they belong.
Sure, the sloughs are silting in. Sure, you can't trust any chart of
the South Bay to tell you where danger lurks. Sure, you see weekend
charterers stranded on the mud for hours waiting for the tide to turn.
This is why experience is so important. In the upper Bay sailors
always want to be first. Here, we know that you should never be better
than second because you always want to follow another boat so that you
can see when she runs aground.
I think you owe the Sheriff a big thankyou for throwing all the live-
aboards out of Poop Logoon. Gawd, you want the South Bay to start
looking like Sausalito? Some of those people didn't even have jobs!
There are enough boat bums in the Redwood City marinas without having
them in the sloughs too.
Racing committee? We don't need any racing committee. The next thing
you know we'll have a bunch of wine sippers in their racing shorts with
padded butts who expect us to know the rules of the road. Jeez, I've
got enough to worry about, what with the mud, the wrecks, and the chop,
without having to worry about whether I'm burdened or not. Hell, everyone
in the South Bay is burdened.
And I notice that you failed to mention one of the South Bay's best
features: the wind direction indicator. All you have to do is sail
out the channel (make sure you stay between the markers or you'll
run aground) until you smell the sewage treatment plant, plot your
position on a chart, draw a line to the sewer plant, and bingo, you
have the wind charted. And then there is the audio homing device.
Whenever it gets fogged in, you can always find your way home by
listening for the sound of scrap metal being dumped into some rust
bucket at the Redwood City Dock. It's not as romantic as a fog horn,
but I works just as well.
So, in conclusion, I'd just like to say that the South Bay really isn't
as bad as Maddi makes it seem. Sure it's shallow, sure the chop kicks
up every summer afternoon, sure it stinks, sure it's noisy, sure there
are lots of uncharted hazards, sure there are no facilities, sure there
are lots of bums, sure ....
You know, Maddi, maybe you are right!
Capt'n Mudley
.
From: Darwin C Boblet (boblet@hpcc01.corp.hp.com)
Subject: Re: South Bay Has Terrible Sailing!
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Date: 1993-06-15 01:51:01 PST
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 93 8:42:49 PDT
From: Darwin Boblet - Genius
Full-Name: Darwin Boblet - Genius
Member: San Bruno Shoal Bouncing Society.
I think both Dudley and Maddi are nuts. I LOVE sailing the south bay.
Why it was only a couple months ago, before the winds picked up, that
I was subbing for Maddi as crew on 'Inebriety' when the winds whipped
up a bit and pulled the clew rite out of the sail...er..wait, let me
think of a better example.
O.K., I've got one. Just think of the great anchoring opportunities!!
Why the south bay has some fantastic sloughs, some of which you can
even sail into on a high tide, if you remember where the wrecks are
located, and look out for the boats that moved in after the sheriff
cleared out 'Poop-Lagoon'. Why once, after anchoring, we only dragged
100 yards before we found that one of the anchors had caught a tire
dead center. Wait. That was a bad choice, I'll think of another
example.
What about the time I was sleeping and woke up from the wake of the
early morning jet-ski'ers...er, well, how about the time coming back
down the Redwood creek channel and the burdened vessel coming up
my bow didn't change course, sending me out of the channel to avoid
collision...er...Well what about the wonderfully fresh air you can get
on days when the sewage treatment plant isn't running... er..
I know there's got to be some great reasons here somewhere, else why
would I still be down there. Perhaps it's the time when it all works
right, and the wind is blowing 25, with short chop that gets everything
wet and salty. Yeah, that's it. I just plain love the south bay
sailing, that even explains why I just bought new foulies to keep dry,
and, unlike the north bay, almost no one actually sails down here so
you've got the whole place practically to yourself.. I wonder if there's
a reason for that ???
Capt'n Darnwind.
--
My opinions are delusions and not necessarily necessary.
Sailors make the best...... (Well, everything actually).
From: dudley (dudley@Eng.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: San Francisco Charter
Newsgroups: rec.boats.cruising
Date: 1996/11/01
In article 0111960902280001@128.18.80.49, max_crittenden@qm.sri.com (Max Crittenden) writes:
>
>Or down to Redwood City,
>get a guest berth or anchor out in Westpoint Slough like I did recently
>and spent Sunday morning firmly aground.
If you know what you're doing, you can easily spend a weekend in Westpoint
Slough without ever hitting the bottom, even at extreme low tides. However
if you're not careful, you may find the sunken hulks that used to be the
Brighton Straights, the Tana Mara, the "RR", the nameless Chris Craft, the
"Milk Truck", or the "Green Monster". Most of them are well covered at high
tide.
>A warning though: San Pablo
>Bay and southern San Francisco Bay (south of Candlestick Point) are
>shallow and not very scenic.
Again, if you know where not to go, there is plenty of water deep enough for
sailing and anchoring in the South Bay. Check the charts and watch your depth
sounder.
As for the scenery, if you can't appreciate the beauty and wildlife in the
South Bay's wetlands or the wide expanse of open water, you'd probably be
happier looking at the buildings and bridges in the North Bay. I suppose
that you'd also be happier with the much higher concentration of boats in
the North Bay.
Personally, I love the beauty and peaceful atmosphere of the South Bay much
more than the hectic urban scene up North. And I'd much rather spend the
night anchored in the tranquility of the sloughs than bouncing around at
noisy Ayala Cove or Clipper Cove.
dudley
.
From: M. Therrien (spice@sirius.com)
Subject: Re: San Francisco Charter
Newsgroups: rec.boats.cruising
Date: 1996/11/07
max_crittenden@qm.sri.com (Max Crittenden) wrote:
[snip]
>For an overnighter, you can go up to Petaluma (motoring up the river),
!!!!Whazza matta-- you donna like to tack?
The Ramp is kind of fun on weekend afternoons. It's a divey kind of
bar that has live music to dance to. Located by the shipyards
towards the southern end of the SF waterfront.
Also, I think I read in this mo's Latitude that the slips at Ayala
Cove on Angel Island are being closed for repairs. China Cove
is a nice place to anchor there.
From: Max Crittenden (max_crittenden@qm.sri.com)
Subject: Re: San Francisco Charter
Newsgroups: rec.boats.cruising
Date: 1996/11/07
In article <55ra52$9sp@sun.sirius.com>, spice@sirius.com (M. Therrien) wrote:
> max_crittenden@qm.sri.com (Max Crittenden) wrote:
>
> >For an overnighter, you can go up to Petaluma (motoring up the river),
>
> !!!!Whazza matta-- you donna like to tack?
Actually, now that you've jogged my memory, the sailing was pretty
good on the lower part of the river, but on the last straight stretch
we motorsailed and might as well have had the sails down. This was
on a Sun 27 which didn't point real well but had a nice diesel.
If I go up with my Merit, maybe I'll sail the whole way.
Someone else pointed out that I gave short shrift to the pleasures
of the south bay. Guilty as charged; even sitting in the mud in
Westpoint Slough for 5 hours watching the birds was pretty mellow.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Max Crittenden Menlo Park, California
From: dudley (dudley@Eng.Sun.COM)
Subject: Re: San Francisco Charter
Newsgroups: rec.boats.cruising
Date: 1996/11/08
In article 0711960928330001@128.18.80.49, max_crittenden@qm.sri.com (Max Crittenden) writes:
>
>Someone else pointed out that I gave short shrift to the pleasures
>of the south bay. Guilty as charged; even sitting in the mud in
>Westpoint Slough for 5 hours watching the birds was pretty mellow.
Attaboy, Max. And if you want the ultimate in short-tacking, try a trip
up Corkscrew Slough (entrance by Marker #14) some time. It should be fun
in a Merit. Just make sure you stay away from the pier under the power
lines (there is a boat on the bottom there), and do it on a rising tide.
It can be tricky finding the edge of the slough if the tide (listed at
the gate) is much over 6.5 feet. The outside of the curves are usually
the deepest, so you can stick your bow into the pickle weed before you
have to tack (It doesn't get much more exciting than that). Watch the
shallows on the inside of the turns.
There are two separate groups of sea lions living in Corkscrew. You'll
see them sunning on the North bank of on their backs, with their heads and
hind feet raised. You can also see jack rabbits, foxes, and dozens of
different kinds of birds. There are also leopard sharks and rays that
you may see in the shallow water at the edges of the slough.
At the end of Corkscrew, it is probably best to head out toward the Bay,
past the sewer plant. There are hidden pilings and shallow spots around
the San Carlos Airport.
If you ever get a chance to fly (in a plane) over at low tide, you can see
where the deepest spots are. If you ever take a flight into SFO, make
sure you get a window seat on the left (port) side of the plane. The
view of the sloughs is great.
Don't be in there on a falling tide!!!
dudley
.
