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16-04-2013, 11:57
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Beneteau 461 46'
Posts: 29
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Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Hi there - I'll be sailing around the Farallon Islands with some friends this Saturday in a Beneteau 46 (50hp Yanmar) and was wondering how long the trip usually takes? We'll be leaving from fisherman's wharf. Also, if you have done the trip before and have any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
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16-04-2013, 12:39
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SF Bay
Boat: O'Day 25
Posts: 100
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
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16-04-2013, 12:55
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Boat: Cruisers Yachts 420 Express
Posts: 1,429
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Check the currents and tides... Not to mention the weather. Give the the islands pleanty of sea room when rounding them.
Before leaving SF Bay, we did the trip several times and during different currents. I found for comfort, it was always easier leaving on a Slack to Beginning Flood. We have also left on a max flood once and got some great speed, but found it a little rough in the potato patch.
It is bout 27 miles straight line distance from teh Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands... So the winds and currents will determine your speed.
San Francisco Off-Shore Vessel Traffic is on VHF Channel 12 and handle all ship traffic west of Mile Rock. At 15 and 45 minutes past the hour they anounce all IN and OUT Bound Traffic. It is a good idea to pay attention to that until you clear the Sea Bouy around 12 miles out.
Have a good trip!
__________________
Tom Jeremiason
Punta Gorda, Florida
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16-04-2013, 13:32
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,764
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
If you leave on a flood, hug the north coast for some back eddy. I've sailed up Bonita Channel and then north of the Potato Patch, rather than just N of the shipping channel. T=sXd, always has. CH12 AND CH14 should be on your VHF scanner. A good acnhorage to end the day is Drake's Bay if you don't want to return to the Bay.
Suggest you round the islands on the S side. It's smellier (bird guano) but much better light in the late afternoon to see the islands. Stay WAY far N if you're going around, rather than just returning. Use Google earth and zoom in on the chart to know the rocks surrounding the islands.
It's a great cruise, and we just may be doing it from HMB on Sunday, weather permitting. It's pretty bloody windy here now, and the seas may still be up by the weekend.
Check the government forecasts for the coastal waters very carefully. And swell height and period that are close, you don't want to go. 7 feet at 9 seconds: NO way. 7 feet at 20 seconds, not bad.
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Mill Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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16-04-2013, 13:37
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Beneteau 461 46'
Posts: 29
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Mine.
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16-04-2013, 13:55
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
It usually takes us around eight hours (assuming we're not battling strong currents). The conditions are really important on this trip. We've turned back when we got tired of bashing into the waves. We've had the wind die at Pt. Bonita and motored out and back on a mirror-smooth sea. Watch out for the Potato Patch, especially on an ebb tide.
Your route really depends on the wind. We've taken the Bonita channel up to Duxbury before tacking out to the islands, and we've sailed out the main channel and back in two straight shots. On the way out we always seem to sail between South and Middle Farallones, then turn south to go around the big island, then have a nice downwind run back to the Golden Gate.
It can get cold out there. Dress appropriately. Stay out of the shoal water near the island. There have been some bad accidents there. Bring a camera!
__________________
Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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16-04-2013, 13:59
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Beneteau 461 46'
Posts: 29
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
And thanks for all the replies. I'll most likely head out around 7am at slack tide and get back in the evening.
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16-04-2013, 14:58
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Is this water sailing">Blue Water sailing?
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19-04-2013, 08:35
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Beneteau 461 46'
Posts: 29
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
So here's the forecast for tomorrow. Definitely gonna be a little bumpy but has anyone been out to the farallons with a similar forecast?
Saturday: NW wind 16 to 20 kt. Sunny. Mixed swell...NW 6 ft at 8 seconds and SSW 1 ft at 15 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft.
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19-04-2013, 10:49
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Boat: Cruisers Yachts 420 Express
Posts: 1,429
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumberg
So here's the forecast for tomorrow. Definitely gonna be a little bumpy but has anyone been out to the farallons with a similar forecast?
Saturday: NW wind 16 to 20 kt. Sunny. Mixed swell...NW 6 ft at 8 seconds and SSW 1 ft at 15 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft.
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Sounds like a washing machine with swells from differernt directions. I wouldn't do it, but hey everyone has there own comfort levels.
__________________
Tom Jeremiason
Punta Gorda, Florida
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19-04-2013, 10:52
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Nordship 40ds
Posts: 3,865
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
See my comment on the other thread that you started.
__________________
Fair Winds,
Charlie
Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns -- and even convictions. Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
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19-04-2013, 10:53
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SF Bay
Boat: O'Day 25
Posts: 100
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumberg
Mine.
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As a guest, you just go along for the ride. As skipper, you get to determine where and when.
A friend and I go out the gate once in a while. We know the islands are out there but have never made it.
We leave late, the tides or wind or sea state isn't optimal. We still have a good time. Get past Pt. Bonita, go toward Bolinas, tack a few times and come back in.
We spend the whole day, come back at dusk or later. The wind has sapped our energy. Nothing to brag about at the office on Monday but we had a good time sailing and catching up.
For my money, it's not worth the effort to make a mad dash for the island and back.
Do you think your guests would be disappointed if you didn't make it all the way?
Suggest it as a possibility but don't get stuck trying to follow through on an uncomfortable journey.
Plan on more than 8 hours. That's a time for a full crew racer.
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22-04-2013, 09:41
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Beneteau 461 46'
Posts: 29
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Thanks everyone! Great trip on Saturday. Bumpy but not too bad.
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22-04-2013, 09:46
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: Prior boats: Transpac 49; DeFever 54
Posts: 2,874
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Re: Sailing around the Farallon Islands from San Francisco
Try shooting between the Islands from west to east and let us all know how it goes!!! Phil
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