GGB North Tower: Old Coast Guard Station Launch?

bob1 · Joined: 27 Apr 1998 Posts: 109 Location: San Carlos, CA

Looking to get some North Tower/GGB swells w/o risking the shutdown & the schlog back to Crissy . . .

Is there a still a w/s launch in Old Coast Guard Station area? Where is it? How is it? Any tips?

Thanks.

dupont · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

The launch from the North Tower area is south east, across the Marina from the Coast Guard Station. It is a very steep rocky launch, the best place is marked by a pole sticking out ofthe rocks. It is incredibly precarious as on either tide push you can miss the return very easily and wind up having to schlog back to crissy and hitch a ride across the bridge back to your car. To make the return even more precarious is the wind can be completetly sheltered by the mountain near the north tower. There are no showers, cement rigging area. I would not recommend this launch to anyone really except the most advanced sailors and even then only if you live in marin and don't have $5 for the toll. I live in Marin and still prefer to drive to crissy although I have launch from that spot about 30 times.
If you do decide to give it a try know that you will most likely have to a swim 50 yards on good days to get back to your car. Make sure you aim below or above the return target depending on which way the tide is pushing. Last, there is a eddy of water between the North tower andthe Marina that on a out-going tide will give an extra 20 minute swim but at least you won't get sucked out the gate.

pshaw · Joined: 24 Apr 1996 Posts: 75 Location: Mill Valley

I also recommend keeping an old board and sail combination for use here because you are likely to drop your board and/or sail on the rocks getting in or out. Mostly, getting out is the problem. I have seen sailors take off their sail and lift the board onto some safe perch on the rocks and then retrieve the sail. That technique has worked for me. It is difficult to get out with the sail and board attached, due to the surge and wind gusts.

If you are really lucky, you can sail all the way in to close to the breakwater when getting out, so you don't have to slog. The trick is not to wait until you are the last one leaving, since by that time the wind is usually dying.

boggsman1 · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 9120 Location: at a computer

Im officially ending this forum.

aaron1234 · Joined: 22 Jun 1998 Posts: 58 Location: Marin

my friends and I call this area "secrets". It is a tough launch and as stated above only advanced sailors should attempt to sail here as there is a strong chance of getting sucked out the gate. I've had to schlog into the beaches outside the gate and swim my gear around the points to make it under the north tower. Then you've got to contend with the razor wire at the fence that cordons off the area under the bridge. With that in mind it is probably one of the best places to get out where the action is and is an amazing place to sail.

spanker_jeep · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:09 am Post subject:

If your talking about the SF side CG station. Its still there its now called the Gorby institute for Peace. Dont park there. There is some old geezer at the GFMS that will call the cops.
Rig in the grass next to the warehouse, where you park. Carry your gear to the water and its the good old days again.