Safety Gear for SF Bay

[nickpied]

Im new to sailing SF Bay and am wondering, given strong currents and other hazardous conditions, what kind of safety gear do folks recommend taking along ( e.g., vhf radio, signaling devices, flotation, etc.)

Thanks

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Have Cell phones been found to be reliable out in the middle of the bay or outside the gate? Who do you call if you get in trouble?

What do you use to carry your safety equipment?

[jwajack]

Although I dont sail on the SF Bay, following an experience where my headcap busted in near gale force winds and I swam/got pushed up onto the LA Harbor jetty with 15-20 foot swells/waves clearing over it, I started to carry a waterproof handheld VHF radio in high wind conditions.

I chose a VHF radio over a cell phone because VHF channel 16 is monitored by the Coast Guard, the harbor patrol, commercial traffic and many pleasure boaters. With the VHF radio you would be able to guide anyone who picks up your call towards you on the water (since you are more likely to be able to see them than they see you), a benefit that is unlikely to be replicated with a cell phone. (Also, I assume there are more waterproof VHF radios than there are waterproof cell phones.)

In terms of carrying the radio, I put it inside a baggy and had a local boat sailmaker/ canvas shop create a webbing cradle on the back of one of my harnesses. That seems to work fine, is secure (using a velcro lock down), even in the surf, and keeps the radio out of the way. I rinse the radio off after each use, and it has worked after each session.

JWAJack