You guys have to check this out. This boat looks like it was under the SanFrancisco's Golden Gate bridge. Talking about a bad day sailing!
http://sfsurvey.com/photos/sail/imagepages/image1.htm
Surfing Sailboat
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macxintosh
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Bad, bad day! Was anyone hurt?
Anyone sailed in that area (SF Bridge?). Looks like the sailor went too close to a lee shore.
I wonder if there is anything the sailor could have done to save the situation.
Probably a 50hp outboard may have helped the unlucky sailor avoid the problem.
I once saw a similar accident at a Mexican resort. A laser was anchored just beyond the breaking surf. The local hand tried to sail the boat in and a wave rolled him and the Laser several times.
He came out with a few scratches and bruises (he was lucky, it was a large wave). The boat's rig was wrapped around the boat. The boat was essentially cracked in two along the length.
Anyone sailed in that area (SF Bridge?). Looks like the sailor went too close to a lee shore.
I wonder if there is anything the sailor could have done to save the situation.
Probably a 50hp outboard may have helped the unlucky sailor avoid the problem.
I once saw a similar accident at a Mexican resort. A laser was anchored just beyond the breaking surf. The local hand tried to sail the boat in and a wave rolled him and the Laser several times.
He came out with a few scratches and bruises (he was lucky, it was a large wave). The boat's rig was wrapped around the boat. The boat was essentially cracked in two along the length.
Was Super Dave sailing that boat?
Are waves like that common in the area or was it some kind of rogue wave? I feel bad for the occupant(s)- hope they were OK.
Greg
[On edit] It takes a while to get pictures on my slow download speed, so I just saw the surfboarders- apparently the Capt. picked the wrong span?
That's a text book example of what breaking waves can do to a boat!
Are waves like that common in the area or was it some kind of rogue wave? I feel bad for the occupant(s)- hope they were OK.
Greg
[On edit] It takes a while to get pictures on my slow download speed, so I just saw the surfboarders- apparently the Capt. picked the wrong span?
That's a text book example of what breaking waves can do to a boat!
Last edited by Greg on Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Mark Prouty
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Tahoe Jack
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Surfing Sailboat
OK Frank C.....whats the real story here? I have kayaked out thru the north span ...and experienced ebb tide vs. westerlies...and some wild haystacks just near the bridge...but never seen a wave like this. This is Frank's turf so I'm sure he'll give us some perspective. Jack
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Frank C
There are a dozen Macs who regularly sail on SF Bay. Only one of them who sails through the Golden Gate - not me, for exactly the reasons pictured. It looks to me like that was a pretty typically day, probably 18-22 knots, gusting to 30. We'd rarely see a 5 footer like that within the Bay, but I don't think it's so rare within the Gate.
In the first pic he was clearly running. Not sure that I'd call it a lee shore, since the prevailing westerly shoots straight in under the bridge. All I could think of while viewing the first series was, "Thank goodness for big outboards!" Those conditions are another reason I chose larger than a 50.
In fact, as mentioned already he was awfully close to shore. Just guessing that wave was partially due to the shallows. However, I've been out there (in salmon boats) just past the GG bridge when the predominant conditions were 10-12 foot swells. Once at 6 am (calmest of each day) we followed another fishing boat by about 150 yards, where most of the time we could only see her antennae.
Fortunately, it looked like this single-hander got to shore on the back of a surfboard. But these pix serve as great thought provokers . . .
- for those who don't think a bridgedeck is important
- for those who changed companionway boards to 1/4" plexiglass
- for those who feel flotation is better converted to stowage
- for any who believed "sunshine" means the hatches can remain wide open
- for any who feel they're wimping-out by donning a PFD
- for any who feel our light little boats will just bob like a cork on big seas
Is a crossing to Hawaii trivial? ... watch the NOAA reports, where it's common to see open ocean swells of 15'. Also, much of Hawaii's onshore is just as bad as the Golden Gate. You might make it 99% there, and end up swimming onto Waikiki
In the first pic he was clearly running. Not sure that I'd call it a lee shore, since the prevailing westerly shoots straight in under the bridge. All I could think of while viewing the first series was, "Thank goodness for big outboards!" Those conditions are another reason I chose larger than a 50.
In fact, as mentioned already he was awfully close to shore. Just guessing that wave was partially due to the shallows. However, I've been out there (in salmon boats) just past the GG bridge when the predominant conditions were 10-12 foot swells. Once at 6 am (calmest of each day) we followed another fishing boat by about 150 yards, where most of the time we could only see her antennae.
Fortunately, it looked like this single-hander got to shore on the back of a surfboard. But these pix serve as great thought provokers . . .
- for those who don't think a bridgedeck is important
- for those who changed companionway boards to 1/4" plexiglass
- for those who feel flotation is better converted to stowage
- for any who believed "sunshine" means the hatches can remain wide open
- for any who feel they're wimping-out by donning a PFD
- for any who feel our light little boats will just bob like a cork on big seas
Is a crossing to Hawaii trivial? ... watch the NOAA reports, where it's common to see open ocean swells of 15'. Also, much of Hawaii's onshore is just as bad as the Golden Gate. You might make it 99% there, and end up swimming onto Waikiki
where this boat was is at a well known surf spot call Fort Point. Its between the south tower of the golden gate bridge and the city of SF. The pacific enters the bay under the bridge and certain north westerly swells will make this spot break. Its pretty much one of the only spots that breaks inside the bay and it is definitely unwise for a sailboat to be anywhere near there. This spot doesnt break very often but when it does, it can be overhead and breaking close to some big rocks. Looks like there were 2 onboard and no one got seriously hurt. They made some huge mistakes by trying to pass through this space in low tide, stiff breeze and big waves.
here is another photographer's perspective
http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/4205ftpta&page=all
Certainly a boat with longer overhangs on both ends would have a better chance of surviving this. If it would have been a boat with a double ended design the wave may have just broke over and passed the boat. I wonder how the Mac would do with its high freeboard and positive floatation in the bow.
here is another photographer's perspective
http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/4205ftpta&page=all
Certainly a boat with longer overhangs on both ends would have a better chance of surviving this. If it would have been a boat with a double ended design the wave may have just broke over and passed the boat. I wonder how the Mac would do with its high freeboard and positive floatation in the bow.
Last edited by udannlin on Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:17 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Catigale
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Ive sailed the Bay for a few times while out on business - last time I took a Cat 36 out to the bridge (staying well clear of this area) and still felt some pretty heavy swells
A Cat 36 weighs 14000 pounds, give or take
Nice points of thought Frank...I really liked
A Cat 36 weighs 14000 pounds, give or take
Nice points of thought Frank...I really liked
for those who feel flotation is better converted to stowage
- for any who believed "sunshine" means the hatches can remain wide open
- for any who feel they're wimping-out by donning a PFD
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Sloop John B
- Captain
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Catigale,
As a surfer, that is a sore point for many of us. Not so much sailboats thank god, but jetskis and now kayakers. Its okay to share, but these craft have an unfair advantage and will dominate a surfspot with complete disregard for our safety. The people you see bobbing around in the pics are surfers, look close and u can see their boards.
Rolf
As a surfer, that is a sore point for many of us. Not so much sailboats thank god, but jetskis and now kayakers. Its okay to share, but these craft have an unfair advantage and will dominate a surfspot with complete disregard for our safety. The people you see bobbing around in the pics are surfers, look close and u can see their boards.
Rolf
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waternwaves
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surfzone ettiquete
Rolf....
As an avid surf zone kayaker.......
I havent hit anyone...
I back off from nutcases that want to fight about it
and despite that, drug one back in after he got clobbered....
but truthfully, teenage ( and teenage acting) testosterone crazed jocks are going to push it, and more than a few of them are going to suffer their bravado... I see it in all extreme sports...lol
I think the real issue on any sport is the new folks who are less skilled.., surfers, kites, sailboard, yaks..all want to play in the same waves...and all have limitiations on their mobility in the zone... if you know about where they are going to go....its not a problem.
same thing happened on the slopes. when snoboarders became common.
(skiers had to watch behind them more....and more peope are choosing to wear helmets....) not my first choice....but.....c'est la vie
On the mountains.....
on the trails
more thrill, closer to the edge...
we have to make room for them..and that sometimes means standing down on all parties I guess..
just my 1 cent worth.........
btw.... my mac is the one with the blue yak on port side clipped to the stanchions.......
As an avid surf zone kayaker.......
I havent hit anyone...
I back off from nutcases that want to fight about it
and despite that, drug one back in after he got clobbered....
but truthfully, teenage ( and teenage acting) testosterone crazed jocks are going to push it, and more than a few of them are going to suffer their bravado... I see it in all extreme sports...lol
I think the real issue on any sport is the new folks who are less skilled.., surfers, kites, sailboard, yaks..all want to play in the same waves...and all have limitiations on their mobility in the zone... if you know about where they are going to go....its not a problem.
same thing happened on the slopes. when snoboarders became common.
(skiers had to watch behind them more....and more peope are choosing to wear helmets....) not my first choice....but.....c'est la vie
On the mountains.....
on the trails
more thrill, closer to the edge...
we have to make room for them..and that sometimes means standing down on all parties I guess..
just my 1 cent worth.........
btw.... my mac is the one with the blue yak on port side clipped to the stanchions.......
Lesson Learned
I think the lesson is: If you find yourself sailing amongst surfers, you are in the wrong spot!!
I've never sailed in SF bay, but have been in and out under that bridge a few times in Navy ships. The currents under and around that bridge are fierce - serious enough to give a 50,000 ton ship reason to be very cautious. No doubt the currents contribute to these large breaking waves and I would not be surprised to find that current played a big part in that sailboat being in the wrong spot.
To add to Frank's list of cautions above:
- Just because you have "shoal draft" does not mean you can shrug off tide/current.
- AndyS
I've never sailed in SF bay, but have been in and out under that bridge a few times in Navy ships. The currents under and around that bridge are fierce - serious enough to give a 50,000 ton ship reason to be very cautious. No doubt the currents contribute to these large breaking waves and I would not be surprised to find that current played a big part in that sailboat being in the wrong spot.
To add to Frank's list of cautions above:
- Just because you have "shoal draft" does not mean you can shrug off tide/current.
- AndyS