Bay Sailing 101
Bay Sailing 101
It's easy to get a bit jaded in the sailing charter business. We are out on the San Francisco Bay all the time. Enjoying the beautiful scenery like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and so much more! We get to sail on a historic tall ship, Gas Light, we also get enough rides on other cool boats! We are humbled by this life and want to share the awe we all feel each time we go out on the water. It is truly a gift.
We like to think we're still in it for the love of the game. We get just as big a kick out of talking to someone who's just discovered tall ship sailing as in talking to the big shots. In fact, in the 20 years, Gas Light has been around, there's still nothing that tickles our fancy more than watching and listening to someone who's just discovered Bay Lights Charters and decided to go sailing with us!
Many of our guests are avid sailors and often ask us about our favorite routes to take. This blog post is designed to be informative and give San Francisco Bay sailors our take on the sights and ports we love to visit both on Gas Light and aboard our own boats for overnights.
So if you're one of those brand new to sailing on Gas Light, or new to the Bay, or have returned to sail after a long hiatus — welcome to the greatest sport and the greatest arena for practicing it in the world!
That said, our great arena the Bay is not always easy or benign. And just because you've learned how to sail doesn't mean you've learned how to sail the Bay. Fortunately, once you understand the basic concepts, the 'by- laws' are easy to remember.
Your study materials are on the next two pages. We call this blog post a hands-on part of I our course The Perfect Daysail. . . Told to you by our very own Captain Steve:
My sailing "world" is a beautiful stretch of water called San Francisco Bay. As a sailing instructor, charter boat captain and overall connoisseur of anything on-the-water, I never take for granted the world-class arena we have here for enjoyment while afloat.
My first sail on the Bay was in 1978. Since then my experiences have led me to appreciate the sometimes not-so-subtle micro-climates, wind patterns, and current effects that we sailors plan on every time we cast off our dock lines. As you gain experience on your own and develop personal strategies for a successful daysail on the Bay, consider these suggestions.
Here are some ideas to create the 'perfect day-sail':
The seasonal variations of winds, fog, and precipitation will of course determine your individual course plan for the day, but let's start anywhere east of Alcatraz at about 1100 - at which time the fog is beginning to burn off and a 'light breeze' is filling in from the west.
From Alcatraz, you're going to be sailing counterclockwise around the Bay. Begin your 'Grand Tour' along the backside of Alcatraz. (If there is a strong flood current in the central Bay, you may need to motor through this part).
Once around Peninsula Point, you do have a chart or app for that aboard, right? — you can reach off toward Richardson Bay and the Sausalito waterfront. If you bear away to hug the west shore of Belvedere, be careful not to stray past Cone Rock or you'll run aground! Also, be aware of the many anchored vessels here and leave plenty of room for their anchor rodes!
The best way to enter Richardson Bay is to find "Red #2" daymark at the mouth of the Bay and keep it on your right as you head into the Bay. Soon, "Red #'s 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12" will appear marking the eastern edge of the Sausalito Channel.
The Sausalito side of Richardson Bay is dotted with everything from sea lions to mega yachts as you pass by. Stay in the marked channel and use your navigational - aid skills to not stray outside of it as there are muddy shoals and sunken boats!
Sailing back out the Sausalito Channel, keep a close lookout for "commuters"...... people in small dinghies rowing or motoring back and forth across the channel to and from their anchored vessels in the roadstead. Sometimes hard to spot and equally as hazardous are the SUP's and rental kayaks also using the channel with everyone else! Motoring at a maximum speed of 5 knots through here is generally a good idea since the winds tend to be gusty and fluky until you reach the Spinnaker Restaurant extending out at the south end of the channel.
Sailing out of the channel, you will see a small Bay.....locals call it Hurricane Gulch. Summertime winds can gust and howl into the 30's here in the afternoon. After crossing the "Gulch" you will be sailing south to Yellow Bluff. To starboard will be little Horseshoe Cove and the magnificent Golden Gate in full view ahead. If the conditions are right (slack water to a moderate flood), you might want to slip under the most famous bridge in the world and enjoy the unspoiled scenery of the Marin headlands. If you're on a small or slow boat, however, make sure you're not rocketing out on the start of an ebb current or it will take you forever to get back inside San Francisco Bay as the currents here can reach 6 knots or more!
Now comes the best part - turn around. If everything has gone as planned, you've gone as far to weather as you're going to. With the breeze approaching its maximum strength of about 1400 to 1500 hrs, there's no better time to ease the sheets and start reaching and running.
So go ahead and cross over to the San Francisco side of the Bay. If you have ASA 104 and the conditions are right, seized the day and sailed seaward as far as Point Bonita, aim for Mile Rock, then cruise for the Baker Beach shore and the red South Tower buoy. Don't take your eye off that buoy, because for a stationary object, it sure seems to get involved in a lot of 'collisions' with boats.
You might notice the winds are actually lower west of the bridge, verifying the "funnel" effect of the Golden Gate.
It's possible to sail between the South Tower and shore - if you know where the rocks are. If you don't, we WANT (maybe say Avoid sailing between the south tower and shore) suggest you sail through the main span of the bridge. And remember to give the South Tower Demon his due: a wide berth as you pass the South Tower. If you don't, he'll steal your wind and throw it back at you, in which case you may find yourself momentarily heading straight for the tower's cement cofferdam. Again, plan ahead and sail well clear to the north of the South Tower.
Once back inside the Golden Gate, the Wind Machine will probably be in high gear and whitecaps will ruffle the Bay. But you won't care because you're sailing downwind, a broad reach at what should be close to hull speed. The proper etiquette is to wave and smile at the cold, wet sailors pounding upwind past you! The kiteboarders could be whizzing by you like a swarm of angry killer bees. Don't worry, they won't hit you. At least not too often. There have been reports of tangled kite cords in sailboat rigging......just maintain your course through them as much as possible and it's up to them to stay clear.
This part of the Perfect Daysail will give you one of the memorable views of San Francisco. Arguably the most beautiful coastal city in the world. About now, any greenhorn land-lubbers aboard who felt queasy earlier should be on deck to enjoy the view and re-boot their inner ears!
Want an interesting detour? Jibe out toward Alcatraz. The likes of Al Capone and Richard "The Birdman' Stroud once gazed out those forbidding walls. The prison closed in 1963. Use care when approaching the south side of this island as the Hornblower tour vessels can take you by surprise on their way to and from their dedicated dock on the east side of Alcatraz.
Once you've checked out Alcatraz - no landings allowed for recreational boats - jibe back and jog over to Pier 39. If the wind machine is still in full effect, a "chicken jibe" is preferred! Follow the curve of the shoreline around toward the Bay Bridge. The wind usually drops quickly, giving you an easy and relatively warm sail while you enjoy the Manhattan-like skyline along the Embarcadero.
From here on, you have a number of options. You can power reach up the Bay to either the lee of Angel Island or the Tiburon Peninsula to drop your hook for the afternoon or the whole evening. Or you could slip around the backside of Yerba Buena Island and into Clipper Cove. If you're looking for a warm and gentle downwind run, keep right on going down the Oakland Estuary — an especially good destination if you happen to keep your boat there.
One caution here is the noticeable increase in vessel traffic. The main shipping lane to and from Oakland's inner and outer harbors are here as well as the entrance to the commercial vessel anchorage #8 and #9 south of the Bay Bridge. Ferry traffic is significant as well.....so a vigilant lookout is a must. Monitor VHF channel 14 to listen for traffic.
As you might have surmised by now, the secret to the Perfect Daysail is to get as far to weather as you're going to go before the thermal sea breeze really starts in earnest. (Most days, that's about 1300, with max. breeze around 1530.) Remember to reef early and reef enough and make sure your guests are dressed warmly. Terrifying chilly friends by sailing rail down for extended periods is the fastest way to become a single-handed sailor!
If you (or they) didn't bring warm enough clothes, definitely head for the warmest place on the Bay - the northeast (lee side) of Angel Island. If you're not quite up to the Perfect Daysail yet, practice upon the lighter-air, flatter-water Richmond Riviera or behind Treasure Island/Yerba Buena. Most of all...Enjoy!
Now, a breakdown of options from each destination.
From the East Bay:
1) The Basic Loop - This is the basic counter-clockwise tour of the Bay. Once you have this figured out you can build all kinds of variations around it. Keep Angel Island in the middle of the circle as you go around. If you start early you can sail up to the Golden Gate Bridge before the wind really starts to kick into high gear at about 1300. Pay attention to your tides. It helps to have an ebb as you go through Raccoon Strait. The perfect day for this is one where you get to the Golden Gate with low slack at noon.
2) Bridge Opener - Yes, Alameda really IS an island! This is a counter-clockwise circumnavigation of Alameda. It's great to do on a sailboat. Start by picking a date with a good high tide. Plan to arrive at the Bay Farm Island bridge before high water; that way if you do go aground the tide will float you off. Call the bridge operators on VHF 9, 13, or by cell phone to arrange bridge openings as you go. If you get an early start, once you get to the Estuary you can stop at Jack London Square for lunch. Cool Spot with lots of restaurants, shops, and even a farmers market on the weekends! Should we edit this part to take out the bay farm bridge? Lisa Comment: should we leave out the Bay Farm Island Part? Yikes, it is very skinny water there
3) Ramp and Romp - This is a great combo for a brunch & sail on Sunday or any other day of the week. Start with a morning motor/motor-sail to the Ramp Restaurant located just south of McCovey Cove. It will take you about an hour and a half to get there from the East Bay. Take a side-tie while you have brunch at the restaurant. After your meal, head up to the city front for some good scenery, then Romp across the Slot and back before you head home. It will be a full day that you and your guests will remember for a long time.
4) Delancey Street Swing - This is a more upscale outing and is good for impressing that special someone. Start with the Basic Loop, eating lunch underway. On your way back to the East Bay take a guest berth at Pier 40 or Pier 1 1/2 and walk to Delancey Street for dinner. After dinner, you can enjoy a romantic night sail home. Note: You will need to make berth reservations in advance at Pier 40. Sweet desserts and a feel-good option too..... Delancey Street Restaurant is considered the country's leading residential self-help organization for substance abusers, ex-convicts, the homeless, and others who have hit bottom. The food and service are impeccable.
5) Great Scott! - Head for the Gate early, then sail downwind along the City Front. Just keep going downwind through the Oakland Estuary until you get to Scott's waterfront restaurant. Tie up to their long guest dock and enjoy some nice seafood before you tack up the Estuary home.
From Sausalito or East Bay:
1) Cheeseburger in Paradise - Food just tastes better on a boat! Start this cruise by choosing a boat with a grill and bringing some hamburger patties. Plan your day so that you are anchored for lunch at Paradise Cove, Tiburon, where you can fire up the grill and start the burgers. Voila! Cheeseburgers in Paradise! No grill? No worries 'mon.... any boat cuisine will do here, especially with a little Jimmy Buffett on the speakers!
2) Angel of the Morning - Get an early morning start from any central or east Bay location. Watch the breeze slowly fill in as you make a course for the east side of Angel Island. There are two excellent small coves and beaches to drop anchor and enjoy the warmth while the central Bay winds heat up and temperature mid-Bay drops! The two beaches are located just north and south of Quarry Point. Avoid the small cove between Point Simpton and Point Campbell..... underwater debris will snag your anchor. After lunch, weigh anchor, unfurl the sails and sail home in the building sea breeze.
3) Play it Again Sam - An early start and a counter-clockwise sail around Angel Island (see the Basic Loop above) will put you near Tiburon at lunchtime. Pull into Sam's Anchor Cafe behind the landmark Corinthian Yacht Club. The guest dock space is sometimes tight, but your master mariner skills by now will show everyone watching from the outside deck that you are confident in your docking abilities. Check the tides to make sure that you have at least a + 2' during the entire time that you plan to be there. If you can visit Sam's on a weekday you will be way ahead. The word gets around the boating community that this is the place to see and be seen! Caution: the seagulls are quite adept at stealing food... be on alert.
4) One Particular Harbor - If there is such a destination in our little sailing world of San Francisco Bay, then Ayala Cove, Angel Island for a day or overnight stay is hands-down the best! Do some sailing in The Slot during the mid-morning to about 1400 hrs and then head for a slip at Ayala Cove. Climb to the top of the Island for some spectacular views of the Bay, possibly eating your picnic lunch while you're there. If you haven't seen the bay from atop Angel Island you need to put this on your Must-Do list. There also is a tram available which gives you a concise history lesson. Rent bikes and ride the paved island loop. There is a snack bar that plays live music on the weekends. The list goes on...... Speaking of Must-Do's...... spend $30 and pick up a mooring here for the night after an afternoon on the Island, the gentle nighttime winds and stars will not be forgotten.
The song might have been written for the island of Moorea, but Ayala Cove, Angel Island is a close second for us.
If you have been paying attention you will have noticed some common themes above:
1) Get an early start; 2) Pay attention to the tides and currents; 3) Plan for a counter-clockwise loop 4) Enjoy your time underway with good food, tasty beverages, and scenery like nowhere else 5) Follow these guidelines and make sure that your crew is properly dressed for the changing conditions, then you're guaranteed to have a good time.
Official Certification: All of these outings have been personally tested for over 40 years and are certified to be fun!
The Three Bridge, Central Bay Circumnavigation Daysail:
A great day trip that is ideal to introduce your non-sailor friends to your passion.
Arrive early so you can cast off before the breezes build. Motor / Sail to the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge, giving your passengers a chance to take the helm and learn how to steer, so they won't be overwhelmed when you make sail.
Enjoy an easy reach south across the Golden Gate in the lighter morning breeze, then bear away and run along the City Front. You should have taken at least a dozen photos of your guests with some of the most famous San Francisco sights in the background by the time you get to the Bay Bridge. Then, head up to take Alcatraz to windward and reach to the lee of Angel Island where you have three options for a late lunch break on board: 1) drop the hook near Quarry Point. 2) pull into Ayala Cove to moor or dock, or 3) simply douse sail and slowly drift around in the lee. This latter option avoids your crew/passengers having to learn anchoring or mooring..... be aware of the shipping traffic since you are still technically underway.
After lunch, make sail again, and head up towards Red Rock and the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Then cross over to the Paradise Cove/Tiburon side for an exhilarating reach to Raccoon Strait. Don't be ashamed to motor-sail "up" the straight with reefed main alone if it's too much work tacking. Let your passengers call the shots and enjoy the scenery.
Once you are to the mouth of Richardson Bay you will have a choice to head for Sausalito, or turn around and ease sheets for a broad reach home.
Easy Weekender trips:
A no-fuss weekend to Benicia
Pick a weekend where the tides and currents are favorable, and then select your favorite crew.
Depending on how late the sun sets, you may leave either harbor after provisioning and getting your boat ready and head to Paradise Cove to anchor for the night.
Have a nice, hot meal aboard and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a pleasant yacht in a beautiful location reminiscent of a Mediterranean anchorage.
Rise and shine on Saturday morning to pack lunches for eating underway, and begin the usually downwind cruise past the scenic Brothers Islands, East Brother Light Station, and through San Pablo Bay. You'll pass under the Carquinez Bridge and within minutes, be pulling into lovely Benicia Marina. I hope you already booked a guest slip, because it's a popular destination, and has been known to fill.
After a short walk into downtown, you'll find any of a number of nice restaurants for dinner. Did you know that Benicia was California's first state capitol? The abundance of 19th-century buildings will give you a hint of the historical significance of this friendly town.
Have a leisurely Sunday morning onboard. If you've timed it so the ebb current helps bring you home, you'll be able to leave late in the morning for the typically upwind sail with building midday winds back to your harbor. This is a great weekender that will take you through a number of different sceneries and "micro-climates," and though there are no especially hazardous regions on-route, it will reward you with a feeling of genuine accomplishment.
Do'in the Delta:
We not only have some of the best Bay and ocean sailing and scenery to match, but we also can claim some of the most unique freshwater cruising grounds in the country. The Sacramento / San Joaquin Rivers form a "Delta" topography with 1200 miles of freshwater rivers, sloughs, bays, and creeks only one day sail away! If you haven't yet cruised to the Delta, it should be experienced.
With an eye on the tides, catch an early low slack and begin your trek east from either an anchorage at China Camp, Paradise Cove, or from Benicia Marina. As the sea breeze builds behind you, ride the winds across San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Straights, and Suisun Bay to the city of Pittsburg.....gateway to the Delta. Pittsburg Marina is modern and very close to the city center with very nice dining options. an overnight slip will prepare you for the next day's journey east into the green tree-lined waterways.
There are more options to cruise the Delta than one can imagine. For a three, four, or five-day cruise, you can choose the Sacramento River system with its quaint sleepy towns, bars, and waterfront restaurants, or the San Joaquin River winding through tule grass islands and hundreds of anchorages with good holding and freshwater swimming. You cannot go wrong in the Delta. Just realize that your keel finding the soft muddy bottom is a part of life here and everyone tries it and likes it from time to time!
Returning to the Bay area usually takes a full 24 hours from the Pittsburg area and in the summer months a hearty upwind slog through the windswept waters of the Eastern Bays. If you can get underway early in the morning to motor through Suisun Bay and at least halfway through San Pablo Bay by noon, you will have a beautiful afternoon sail, close reaching back to the central Bay.
All this adventure, amazing sailing, and confidence-building in salt and fresh water.....and you haven't even ventured past the Golden Gate!