Wow - GG sailboat surft and roll

[windsaloft]

Sailboat Capsizes under Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco surfers rescue, photos by sfsurvey.com wayne lambright

Hope this isn't a repeat, but thought this educational, at least for me.

I was trying to find a news story on the latest sailboat getting rolled at the Golden Gate (where the broach was witnessed, the sailors picked up, but the boat not recovered yet -- anyone have a link?)

Anyway --- new to the area, still learning about standing waves due only to current, not to shallows........this sequence is, uh, attention getting!

[ssullivan]

I think this was already debated, but what was that guy doing in the surf with that boat again?

Isn't he getting rescued by the body boarders/surfers on the beach? I'm confused.

[windsaloft]

Sounds like it has already been discussed, so no need to run with it --- and yea, he is kinda close to the beach, but at the same time, with foreshortening out to that tower, I can't really tell how far out/in he actually is. I nkow a lot of little boats seem to shoot that gap as the current there along the Marin headlands seems to always run counter to what is happening in the main channel --- so it is called "the headlands sneak" at our marina here. Not "local enough" at this point to try it --- we just use the main channel and the primary tide direction to make our passage, but even going out with the ebb with little wind, and in with the flood, I'm very impressed by how often the water stands up, curls, etc. Hoping to learn more as we go, hopefully viacariously and safely!

[Hud3]

Terri,

I haven't seen any news updates on the Pterodactyl rescue since this one in last Wednesday's 'Lectronic Latitude:

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine

Those photos in your link are something else! I can't understand why he would sail in so close to Fort Point. There's a reason why the surfers hang out at that particular spot--that's where the good surf is! That mishap happened three years ago last week.

[David M]

Some people are just destined to receive a Darwin Award.

It's not big deal to go between the South Tower and Fort Point so long as you anticipate the currents, the wind shadow of the tower and stay closer to the tower than the shore. I have done it many times. This guy obviously go too close to the beach.

[S/V Elusive]

And so all know, between the tower and the fort, is a popular place for surfers to ride the swells that come through that gap. If you sail through, you have to watch out for them - they don't seem to watch out for you - except, as reported, they helped save some off a rolled boat.

[Alan Wheeler]

Yep this has been posted about before. TWICE!! But hey, no harm done. I am sure many newbies here have nvever seen it and it certainly is a scary incident to see. I am so glad the wee girl inside was OK.

[imagine2frolic]

The south tower likes the taste of boats, it eats them. It has been known to actually suck boats right into it when sailing too close. I always gave respect to it's reputation.....