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Old 30-09-2008, 22:51   #1
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Which bay has more year round sailing opportunities, San Francisco or Chesapeake?

Just a brief survey being conducted for an essay I am writing. Please chime in.

Thanks

DP in SF
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Old 01-10-2008, 05:13   #2
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I've sailed on the Chesapeake beginning in March, and on through early January. Not every day in the shoulder months, but we did get some nice weather breaks suitable for a daysail. Never tried SF Bay.
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Old 01-10-2008, 06:46   #3
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S.F. is a wonderful place to sail, but you are limited in gunkholing. Many places that you can drop the hook are disturbed by passing freighters. Even a multi would be disturbed with these wakes. If you have a shoal draft there is the Delta, and there is limitless anchoring there. The previous owner of my first boat spent weeks at a time every summer there.........i2f
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Old 01-10-2008, 07:02   #4
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San Francisco:





Annapolis, Md:







What do you think?
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Old 01-10-2008, 07:05   #5
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SF has a longer season (all year) and Chesapeake has a larger diversity of weather and area.

March through early January on the Chesapeake is as generous as I would call it. On the southern end of the Chesapeake you could sail all year but the water gets down to 40 something degrees F. in late winter and while there may not be ice in the water it can form on the deck. The idea of it still being fun gets to be debateable. Friends sail every Wednesday night all year. They will sail when it's under 30 degrees and over 30 knots in the dark. Good sailing is April through Thanksgiving with good days beyond either end of the seasoon if you wait for them. Winds in August can be hard to find. Chesapeake would be many times larger both in area and length and width. It touches VA, MD, PA, DE, and connects to NJ and NC via the ICW. It is also dominated with shallow water. It's not unusual to be more than a mile off shore so you don't go aground.
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Old 01-10-2008, 10:46   #6
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Summer is steady 25-35 knts of wind in the afternoon. Building in the morning, and dying at sunset. Set your atomic clock by it. Winter can be gentle for weeks, and then a winter storm blows through with hurricane forces at times.

I use to love winter sailing in the rain on the better days. Sometimes the only boat on the bay except for commercial traffic. Summer is dry, foggy, and chilled to the bone.....YEP....sometimes I miss the bay
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Old 02-10-2008, 20:04   #7
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Mid-summer sailing on the bay...Plan on sailing in the morning or late afternoon.

Mid-day-----winds die off.

Spring and Fall Sailing are Great!!!!!!!! But the days are short.

No fog.....if there is it burns off by mid morning
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Old 02-10-2008, 20:16   #8
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I can only speak for the SF Bay since that is where I live. This is a fantastic place to sail overall. There is quite a bit of diversity of sailing here. What I mean is diversity of weather, wind, incredible beauty and challenges. People who have come from elsewhere who sail, say they love sailing here. There are a number of places you can anchor overnight on the SF Bay where you are not going to get slammed by large ship or tug wakes.

Tuesday after the Annapolis boat show, my wife and I have signed up to go out on a Catana 50 all day long on the Chesapeake Bay. This question is quite a coincidence!
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Old 02-10-2008, 20:21   #9
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Quote:
Tuesday after the Annapolis boat show, my wife and I have signed up to go out on a Catana 50 all day long on the Chesapeake Bay. This question is quite a coincidence!
We have a one week trip planned then. It's a good time to be out.
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Old 02-10-2008, 20:22   #10
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Thanks Paul!..good to know.
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Old 02-10-2008, 21:57   #11
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Year-round opportunities?

There is no question sailing on SF Bay is a year-round thing. I am a fulltime sailing instructor there and I teach every week of the year. In the last year I personnally had classes cancelled only 2 days because of weather. Try to beat that anywhere!

I've sailed in the Chesapeake, and it is a great place to sail, but it really does shut down for sailing in the depths of winter.
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Old 03-10-2008, 23:28   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by svHyLyte View Post

Annapolis, Md:

What do you think?
I don't buy the snowfall average. Been very minimal the last few years. And the temps are too low too. Last year was warmer than that by a tad, but 2-3 of the previous 4 winters have been quite mild, much warmer than the graph. Think year before last we had almost two weeks worth of days in the 60's in January.

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I've sailed in the Chesapeake, and it is a great place to sail, but it really does shut down for sailing in the depths of winter.
I'm always chagrined to see boats being hauled in early October. There is great sailing on the Bay through the end of fall. I am used to it getting colder into December, but after the first of the year January usually has one or two mild weeks. February can dip back down, some years but not all. Good winds during the winter months. Only real drag is the sun setting in the afternoon.
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Old 04-10-2008, 03:24   #13
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What about Biscyane Bay in Miami. A lot less snowfall!
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Old 04-10-2008, 06:12   #14
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What about Biscyane Bay in Miami. A lot less snowfall!
I have never sailed the Chesapeake, but I have spent a lot of time on Biscayne. Great sailing when the wind picks up a bit. Flat water, and lots of sunshine. Shallow enough to drop the hook anywhere with lots of place to drop it. Elliot Cay is a hoot on the weekends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miami in the distance & my Baja Haha 93 shirt on my back
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Old 04-10-2008, 08:21   #15
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I draw 2'11". My Chesapeake is bigger than Paul's, but the wind is the same, and so are all the colonial villages. I've sailed in February. and felt colder than I ever want to feel again. While our last three winters have been mild, there have been some real buggers in the last 10. I had to move a boat with three feet of snow on it, and an 1" of ice under that. Not worth the bragging rights. Now my boat comes out in Fall, so I can chip away at those never-ending projects, and go somewhere else without worrying about my 'significant other'.
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