Day sail out of Berkeley... advice?

[smith8273]

A vote for waterman46's route. Sail to Angel Island's dock. Then, depending on time, head west around Angel Island, to the City front, then head home. Maybe out under the GG Bridge, maybe a stop in Aquatic Park.

[markpierce]

.Play the currents. Examine the current charts and make a plan accordingly. My sailboat-racing days in the Bay taught that boats that best studied the currents had better chances of winning.

[scotty c-m]

You've gotten good advice. If the kids and/or other passangers would like a shorter sail, go to Angel Island first. You can also sail around the area, eithor before or after the island, and see really beautyful scenery. If you want a more robust sail the currents come into play. On Saturday, March 31, 2018, High Tide is at noon. At this time (Sunday night) the weather and wind predictions look good for this weekend. Work with the current, especially along the City shore - especially near the GG Bridge. I would have a tendency to go around Treasure Island, up the City shore, across the Golden Gate, then back to Berkeley. If conditions are good, you can go around the circle after spending time at the Island. Lots of choices. A few ideas to consider:

Be careful of all the comercial traffic. Big ships going in and out move really fast!!!
Stay a good distance away from all the bridge footings. They set up a lot of currents.
As previously stated, be careful not to cut corners at the Berkeley Marina. Lots of shallows.
If it looks sloppy out by the GG Bridge, it can be! Respect that area. Reefing is your friend.

You are going on one of my favorite daysails. Be safe (as your posts indicate that you will) and have fun!!

[aquadreams]

I second the Lat38 tour. This is what I always do for visitors since it give them the highlights of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city front.

Loop is Berkeley, Raccoon Straights, Golden Gate Bridge, broad reach down the city front, then back to Berkeley below Alcatraz.

Main thing is to figure out how long you want to be out and where you want to stop.

Leaving Berkeley, head up the east side of Angel Island, then left into Raccoon Straights. Raccoon Straights doesn't get the big winds that you'll see in the slot but it can take forever to tack your way through if the current is against you. I'll admit to using my engine sometimes.

If you're ready for a stop there are two choices here.

Stop in at Alaya Cove on Angel Island for a picnic and a possible walk. It's a state park and there are plenty of picnic tables on a grassy area, restrooms, and you can do a somewhat long walk up the hill to get a view of the city. Dock in the slips, pay at the ranger station and enjoy the sun. There is usually sun here.

Alternately just opposite you can duck into Sam's Anchor Cafe in Tiburon. Nice outside deck patio, free slips, great atmosphere.
There are some photos of their docks here on TripAdvisor.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...er=7&autoplay=


But depending on when you leave it may be too early for a stop so just continue on.

Heading out From Raccoon Straights be ready to reef if the wind is up. You'll be heading into the slot where in the summer the winds can easily be 10 knots higher. Look ahead and see how other boats are heeling, and either reef or be ready too.

I like to head out to the Golden Gate Bridge and then loop down along the city front, to below Alcatraz, the head back to Berkeley.

If you're going to the Bridge - which you should definitely do - stay high and head toward toward the north tower when leaving Raccoon straights. Otherwise you'll be tacking your way up to the bridge and that will take forever, especially if you have opposing current.

I wouldn't go much beyond the bridge. You'll start to get remnants of swell whereas inside the bay there isn't any. Also the ebb or flood can get pretty strong and the water can get squirly beyond the bridge. If you have time, ducking outside for a nice view back can give some great pictures, but no one will miss it if you don't. But definitely go under the bridge, this will be a highlight.

Then fall off and it's a broad reach down along the city front, with Alcatraz to port. I like to swing in close to Pier 39 and wave to the tourists.

Another favorite stop is Pier 1.5, where the city maintains a free dock for about 6 boats. I've never had a problem getting a spot.

Pier 1-1/2 San Francisco - La Mar Restaurant - Pier 3 parking - Yacht departure | arrival
See the photos here: https://foursquare.com/v/pier-1-12/4...01d3b0b7bb1fe5

I've got this at about N37.79901 W122.39242. Look for the white-capped pilings to find it.

this puts you in the heart of the city. Dock the boat, walk up the ramps, out through the doors to the street, hang a left and walk about 100 yards to the Ferry Building. Perfect tourist destination, lots of eateries, artisan foods, etc.

https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/merchants/

Then it's back to the boat and a beam reach back to Berkeley.

An alternate stop before the golden gate bridge is a restaurant stop in Sausalito at the Trident Restaurant - http://www.thetrident.net/. Makes a good lunch stop too, I just usually do it for dinners. Outdoor patio over the water with fantastic views back to the City. They have a side tie dock for about 3-4 boats. I'm not sure of the dock status but you can call them. I've never called for reservations but here's what the website says:
By Sea The dock is for Trident/Ondine customers only. Reservations are required. Pick ups and drop offs are not permitted
Call 415-331-3232 for dock reservations.


Stay above the Berkeley Pier!!! It extends about 2 miles into the bay and is a hazard. I can never find the end of this thing.

Other hazards - Little Alcatraz. Just north of Alcatraz is a rock that is submerged at high tide. There is a red/green buoy above it with a bell. Stay above the buoy (don't go between it and Alcatraz). I've heard that every year someone hits the rock. I've watched boats go through there. Don't :-) No other real hazards to watch for except boat traffic.

The big ships stay in the shipping channels. You can listen on channel 12 for VTS (vessel traffic service) for traffic announcements at 15 after and 15 to the hour.
(Technically, ch 12 is ship traffic outside the gate, ch 14 is inside. But ch 12 does the scheduled broadcasts. http://www.usps.org/localusps/redwoo...f_channels.htm).
Usually outbound traffic coming from the port in Oakland uses the channel that goes near Angel Island then does a dogleg turn toward the golden gate bridge. They transit the Oakland Bay Bridge on the SF City side. Also on the northeast side of Angel Island watch for ferries and shipping traffic going toward Richmond. The ships use the channel but you'll be crossing this.

Other notes - kite surfers. Don't alternate course or worry about them. They'll avoid you. I'm absolutely certain that someday one of them will get tangled up in a mast but there's not much you can do. Just enjoy them and take video.

Watch for dolphins, sea lions, and whales. Whales especially near the bridge and just outside. Last year was amazing. Don't expect it but if you see them it will be a treat.

Have a great time!!
Joe

[aquadreams]

Brother is pushing for all three bridges, I'm a little leary of taking the family crew out to the Golden Gate (commercial traffic, Racoon Straits wind against current, we'd most likely be fighting the flood out and possibly the ebb back) but maybe I'm being too conservative here?

Yes, you're being conservative :-) The bridge will be a highlight and shouldn't be missed.

But your brother is be aggressive. Three bridges is a lot of distance. There's no reason to do that third bridge (Richmond?), there is nothing pretty or interesting over there and it's a lot of extra distance for not much reward. Besides, people want the see the cool stuff, like Alcatraz, the golden Gate bridge, San Francisco. No one, and I mean no one, is going to go back to Washington and tell their friends about the Richmond Bridge. :-)

It's light winds and easy sailing from Berkeley up to Raccoon Straights. Let your kids have the wheel/tiller here early in the day. Same thing on the way back. Anything south and east of Angel is easy.

Two other hazards I forgot to mention, both are on the charts.
Shouthhampton Shoal , 2nm NE of Angel Island
http://www.ocscsailingblog.com/south...shoal-warning/

The Berkeley Reef area, 0.8 nm NW of the Berkeley marina entrance. Stay west of the green buoy and avoid this area. Jeez, this just happened last month? https://sfbay.ca/2018/02/10/ferryboa...ozens-rescued/

I wouldn't worry about ship traffic. Just keep a good eye out for the two channels I mentioned in prev email, and for the tour boats. They take tourists from the Ferry Building (SF waterfront just above the Bay Bridge) to/from Alcatraz, and from the Ferry building to/from the golden gate bridge.

And the currents are really only an issue near the bridge, and tacking up Raccoon Straights. I've been under the ggb fighting a 5 knot ebb, and it can be significant. Wind against current isn't so much an issue because it is really only chop inside the bay, you're not pounding into waves.

Oh, forgot to mention. If you do circle Treasure Island, you'll have a wind shadow on the oakland side. That's why I'd skip this. there's another wind shadow on NE side of Angel Island which you can avoid by not hugging too close the island.

If you stop into Clipper Cove on Treasure Island, be aware of the bar that extends from the south side across the entrance. 3' depth, mostly mud.

Cheers,
Joe

[alansmith]

Lots of good tips already written. Everyone always curious about Alcatraz Island. If you can dock at the piers near Fisherman's warf...man the clam chowder with sour dough bread is so yummy.

Also sailing on the estuary behind Alameda island is always flat and scenic.

Weather will be fantastic next week. They are calling for mid 70's and light winds. Winds pick up in the afternoon. Enjoy your family time.

[comesatime]

How was your sail?

[basssears]

Originally Posted by comesatime

How was your sail?

Thanks for reminder to post a follow up (been a busy few days, now in Washington getting OUR boat hauled for some work).

Sail went great, largely thanks to the advice I received here. By the time got on the water felt like I had a much better grip on where to go and when (and why?).

Left from Berkeley Marina, cut south in the semi official gap in the Berkeley pier (gulp, but boat owner said it was fine) and had very pleasant sail down under Bay Bridge, saw the lighthouse and CG station on Yuerba Buena (which the San Fran resident family members had never seen), parked it for a bit in the lee, then back under other span of Bay Bridge and onto city front.

Good views of the city but also getting to be a bit sporty for the non sailors, with winds into the mid high teens and lots of ferry traffic. So in deference to the slightly green looking ones we dropped the main and trundled along under headsail alone to view Alcatraz and then into the lee of Angel Island.

Wow, lee of Angel is like another world... everyone just chilling out, eating lunch, taking off their layers etc. Very nice, perfect break from the breeze. We actually made it a decent way up Racoon Strait (probably with a little help from starting ebb) just dawdling along under jib and enjoying the day. Then raised (although soon enough dropped again) the main and blasted back to the marina.

About 9:45 - 4:00 on the water, seemed plenty for everyone. Boat we rented was showing a little wear but performed admirably and seems the Pearson 32 is a good boat for the bay, handles lighter and heavier winds pretty well... also had what I thought was odd cockpit setup with wheel WAY forward almost at companionway (I couldn't stand that setup on my own boat), but that made it easy to stand in the back of the cockpit and keep an eye on everything while youngsters were steering.

Our track around the bay:


A very hearty thanks to everyone who chimed in with advice, I think I used about all of it and we came away with a good successful trip, not some disaster that makes no one want to sail ever again.

-- Bass

[basssears]

Originally Posted by comesatime

How was your sail?

For anyone interested, short blog posting with some pictures has been written up and posted:
San Francisco Bay day sail – Sailing Idaho, the Salish Sea and beyond

-- Bass

[scotty c-m]

Glad you had a great time!!

[gamayun]

Aw, nice write up. I just love sailing here so it's immensely pleasing that you and your family had a blast. That's realky what it's all about [emoji846]