SF Bay adventure Sailing

[mnisam]

i have a couple of questions. first of all, where is harding rock bouy and where are the bulhead flats (i assume this is a fish farm). Also, how do you make it all the way to angel island? it always seems like the wind is blocked once you get past the shipping lane? is there a certain kind of condition where this is possible? how risky is it? and i dont understand what you mean by head towards the city NOT sausalito. would it be possible to go towards sausalito? isnt that straight upwind? and how do you jibe half way to alcatraz? wouldnt you just go straight al the way to crissy (perhaps tack a coulple of times to make it upwind)?

thanks for the help!

[kitewindsurf]

Weve been thinking of something along these lines with a picnic on Angel and sailor support from TI, Crissy, &/or Berkeley.

Do you think there would be enough interest to warrant an event like this?

cheers!
~e. at Kite Wind Surf

[polarbear]

Totally! You go Jeff!

[jse]

Bullhead Flats: Go north on 101, take central San Rafael exit and go east on 2nd street. Past Loch Lomond, Past Glenview, past Peacock Gap, past China Camp. Start looking, just as the road descends to sea level, on the right is a small park with room for about 5 cars, an outdoor shower and some permanent outhouses. Thats Bullhead flats. Dont know why its called that. It will be blowing on days where the wind is from the NW, specifically in Novato, Gnoss Field area. Probably would be good any day that Rod and Gun works.

On a low tide, its a giant mud flat. so forget that. And since it usually comes up late (3 or later), you dont want to break down or get sucked around the point on an ebb. But if its just right I bet you could make it to Petaluma (where you should have a car parked.) in about 1/2 hour or less.

I think it would be fun to do with a group of people. Its pretty lonely out there.

Steve

[windfind]

Assuming you are an experienced Bay sailor getting to Angel Island formula board is easy but on a wave board here is my approach. Pick a ebb day with the wind filled in near the Crissy beach and all the way to the north tower. Leave Crissy and make several broad reaches down wind. On each port tack guage the point when the wind starts to fade. If it weakens too much in the Harding Rock area (see a chart) then you might have problems getting to the beach at Angel Is. Assuming you make the beach...on your departure head towards the Alcatraz side of the Bay not the Sausalito side. You want to head towards Alcatraz until you find very solid wind, then do a series of tacks upwind keeping mid bay away from the City front and the lighter winds towards Harding Rock. Good idea to let someone know your plan and to pack a wireless or VHF. Leave Crissy on your tirp as early in the afternoon as the wind permits. Have Fun!

Getting from Larkspur is doable if you pick the right day without a strong flood. You need Larkspur to have solid wind and Davis Pt. (north east side of San Pablo Bay) to be solid. Or first drive to PSQ and see if there are good white caps mid span of the bridge. Then launch and sail along the ferry channel until you can see Red Rock (the island you refer to) Blast on a broad reach to the Rock. Test the wind several times to make sure you are not just coasting and that you can make a close hauled course on the way back. Leaving the island point very hard making several tacks as though Paradise was your goal. Once you can see towards the Ferry terminal head on a beam reach keeping well up wind of the ferry channel. This is a nasty area to get stranded so the advice above applies.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com

[timwnitram]

Yea, thats a great idea!

-Tim