Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

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HamdiD
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Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I know the title sounds a little like a joke but I tried to make it a little more appropriate for the forum ‘who is going today’ as I didn’t know where else to post my real question:

What do you guys know or can give guidance/direction about sailing in the SF Bay Area?

I will be there for a long weekend family trip and don’t know if I’ll have a chance to sail but thought I might consider if conditions are right. Or we might as a family do the ‘bike across the golden gate bridge’ thing to Tiburon and take the Ferry back, which we have done many years ago and have enjoyed a lot. Much more family oriented for sure but sailing in the Bay sounds like a unique - though individualist- experience too. Hmm…?

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webguy
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

May have to Facebook this question. Maybe find one of the local groups. May be a bit early in the season there, though. Mind that the water is chilly all year round.

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HamdiD
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moredownhaul
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I sailed there at Coyote Point years ago. They have rental gear but bring your own wetsuit, you’ll need it, water is chilly year round. Don’t bother renting gear in the morning because the wind doesn’t get good until the afternoon there from what I remember. Water is pretty choppy there too btw. Plus I remember everyone telling me before my trip “There’s Great Whites in the bay”.

Alan

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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
webguy wrote:

May have to Facebook this question. Maybe find one of the local groups. May be a bit early in the season there, though. Mind that the water is chilly all year round.

Yeah earlier today I joined the SF bay windsurf group but didn’t post a question there yet - thought I would try here first, thinking if people here have sailed there, they could give more relevant guidance knowing conditions we are used to and such. Thought maybe Chris V. used to sail there?
Water temp today is reported at 59.5 and air temp next weekend a little over that with 10-20 wind in the FX. Not Bob Aire or Maui but workable. I don’t know about boat traffic but if people swim it, can’t be too horrible maybe?

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Randy
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I went to SF once with great hopes of sailing there. found something called the Cal Sailing Club at Berkley Marina. They do have windsurfing gear, but at the time it was bit complicated to get to use it w/o being a member.I didn't have a lot of time so I gave up. Not sure what the situation is now, but you might look into it. 3 month membership is $120 3 months. Gear is free for members.

https://www.cal-sailing.org/

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
moredownhaul wrote:

I sailed there at Coyote Point years ago. They have rental gear but bring your own wetsuit, you’ll need it, water is chilly year round. Don’t bother renting gear in the morning because the wind doesn’t get good until the afternoon there from what I remember. Water is pretty choppy there too btw. Plus I remember everyone telling me before my trip “There’s Great Whites in the bay”

Thanks Alan. I have seen reference to Coyote point on the SF Bay Area windsurf group FB page. Great whites - I wonder how swimmers get around them?
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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
moredownhaul wrote:

I sailed there at Coyote Point years ago. They have rental gear but bring your own wetsuit, you’ll need it, water is chilly year round. Don’t bother renting gear in the morning because the wind doesn’t get good until the afternoon there from what I remember. Water is pretty choppy there too btw. Plus I remember everyone telling me before my trip “There’s Great Whites in the bay”

Thanks Alan. I have seen reference to Coyote point on the SF Bay Area windsurf group FB page. Great whites - I wonder how swimmers get around them?
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

Another possible option, but not in the water. This group rides on the beach with wings and WS gear and All Terrain Boards. They seem pretty active. Might message them and see what up. In addition to having to get the wind right, there are also tides to deal with. If you do end up doing I will be so jealous.......

https://www.facebook.com/streetsailing

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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HamdiD
HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
Randy wrote:

I went to SF once with great hopes of sailing there. found something called the Cal Sailing Club at Berkley Marina. They do have windsurfing gear, but at the time it was bit complicated to get to use it w/o being a member.I didn't have a lot of time so I gave up. Not sure what the situation is now, but you might look into it. 3 month membership is $120 3 months. Gear is free for members.

https://www.cal-sailing.org/

Thanks Randy! Funny, I browsed through SF Bay Area windsurf club FB page for maybe 10min max and I saw a reference to both the Cal club you mentioned and the Coyote point that Alan mentioned. I will check them out more if solo sailing seems to win over family biking.
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I don’t remember of ever hearing of any shark attacks in the bay.

I highly recommend renting a convertible and driving down the PCH to the Hurst Castle and back, some of the most beautiful scenery you could imagine.
We were going to try to visit Alcatraz but you need to make reservations in advance to visit on the weekends.
Fisherman’s Warf was cool to visit too.

Photos dont do the scenery justice, I took these with a 2MP digital camera.

Alan

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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
moredownhaul wrote:

I don’t remember of ever hearing of any shark attacks in the bay.

I highly recommend renting a convertible and driving down the PCH to the Hurst Castle and back, some of the most beautiful scenery you could imagine. We were going to try to visit Alcatraz but you need to make reservations in advance to visit on the weekends. Fisherman’s Warf was cool to visit too.

All good ideas. I have been to SF quite a few times actually - work and play, solo and with the family- but all before i started sailing 3.5 years ago. I guess Covid led to avoiding flights and we focused on driving trips.
I had a Mustang convertible in one of those trips where we drive the PCH - great drive and fun stops too. For a few of the work trips I stated at a Marriott a couple blocks from Fisherman’s wharf and used to like watching the seals there. Most fun was biking across golden gate, getting lunch at an outside cafe in Salsalito, continue to Tiburon and catch the Ferry back from there for a Ghirardelli’s ice cream sundae to finish it off (earned it, right?). The closest I came to Alcatraz was during That Ferry ride - same deal as you, never planned ahead for the reservation.

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moredownhaul
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

Alcataz was a really interesting place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Not sure about a convertible though - the place can get really cold. We drove down to Monterey once for the 4th of July. I recall feeling like I was freezing watching the fireworks display over the Bay.

BTW - you might also look into Kayak rentals. Looks like those are available and might be more family friendly than windsport.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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HamdiD
HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
Randy wrote:

Alcataz was a really interesting place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Not sure about a convertible though - the place can get really cold. We drove down to Monterey once for the 4th of July. I recall feeling like I was freezing watching the fireworks display over the Bay.

BTW - you might also look into Kayak rentals. Looks like those are available and might be more family friendly than windsport.

Yeah, especially evenings can be darn cold. One work trip we were at a conference that had a dinner cruise activity. We all were ushered to the deck while the boat went under the golden gate - beautiful setting for sure and I am glad we went on the deck to experience up close but I also remember more the cold than the scenery.

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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
moredownhaul wrote:

I don’t remember of ever hearing of any shark attacks in the bay.

I highly recommend renting a convertible and driving down the PCH to the Hurst Castle and back, some of the most beautiful scenery you could imagine. We were going to try to visit Alcatraz but you need to make reservations in advance to visit on the weekends. Fisherman’s Warf was cool to visit too.

Photos dont do the scenery justice, I took these with a 2MP digital camera.

2MB brings back memories, doesn’t it? Great pics still. I think you had a little more hair and less gray.

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moredownhaul
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Barrett
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I recommend BoardSports at Coyote Point Park. (1603 Coyote Point Drive, Coyote Point Park, San Mateo CA). You can rent equipment on the water and the Park is also a nice place for short hikes and sightseeing. The shop sells foiling gear, so I'm guessing they now rent wind-foiling gear as well. I've windsurfed there many times. When the wind picks up, as it regularly does on summer afternoons, ridable swell forms in the Bay. Call me for details.

For real excitement, go to the "Delta", but be prepared for challenging conditions with no on-the-water rental.

Photos:
Mark & Barrett windsurfing at Coyote Point with BoardSports rental in background.
Windsurfing, fog over San Francisco Bay with SFO Airport in the background.

Barrett

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webguy
HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
Barrett wrote:

I recommend BoardSports at Coyote Point Park. (1603 Coyote Point Drive, Coyote Point Park, San Mateo CA). You can rent equipment on the water and the Park is also a nice place for short hikes and sightseeing. I've windsurfed there many times. When the wind picks up, as it regularly does on summer afternoons, ridable swell forms in the Bay. Call me for details.

For real excitement, go to the "Delta", but be prepared for challenging conditions with no on-the-water rental.

Photos: Mark & Barrett windsurfing at Coyote Point with BoardSports rental in background. Windsurfing, fog over San Francisco Bay with SFO Airport in the background.

Great pics and advice Barrett! Now that I know the possibility a little better, I will ‘test the waters’ with the family and if it looks like sailing won’t lead to sleeping on the couch ?, I will give you a call later in the week.

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webguy
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

+1 for Coyote Point. Real easy there and planes come right over you on landing approach to SFO! Good
We sailed from Crissy Field for the '91 Mistral Worlds. It was BIG in every way I could imagine. Tides & boats make it double black. Truly unforgettable.
The venue
The Robster and me catching up
The gear compound- 200 sailors each had 2 boards, IMCO and Energy & 4 sails

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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?
FoilDodo wrote:

+1 for Coyote Point. Real easy there and planes come right over you on landing approach to SFO! Good We sailed from Crissy Field for the '91 Mistral Worlds. It was BIG in every way I could imagine. Tides & boats make it double black. Truly unforgettable. The venue The Robster and me catching up The gear compound- 200 sailors each had 2 boards, IMCO and Energy & 4 sails

Very cool and thanks Chris. I think I have seen some of these pics in a post at some point and that’s why I thought of posting here.

All this again reminds me you guys have probably forgotten more about windsurfing than I do or maybe when will know. Nice pics, looks like great experience. I gotta talk to you about hang gliding one of these days - looks like such a cool and fun activity, I am sure quite challenging as well. You do and have done it all!

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rgenet
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

I've surfed at Fort Point, under the Golden Gate Bridge. I had a wetsuit and bought/re-sold a consignment surfboard while out there. That was a pain, but finally worked out and is a cool left wave.

Before windsurfing was cancelled(haha - why not troll a little - everyone is doing it) I rented windsurf gear at Candlestick park and then Coyote Point ( as others have mentioned).

After that I kited with kitethebay.com from the Golden Gate Bridge, past Alcatraz, and to Treasure Island. Gear and boat provided by Captain John. He foils everything now too: everything except windfoiling...

Oh Calif, I could go on abt Hirst Castle, Fisherman's Warf, sheesh - I'm getting old I guess.

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Barrett
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

Seeing the really cool photos posted by Chris from 1991 at Crissy Field, I can't help but post one of me taken in 2004 at the same location. This was the one time I successfully launched from Crissy Field and sailed out into the Pacific under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a memorable session with great wind and the current flowing in my favor.

As has been mentioned, this is a spectacular site, but also very risky as the wind can change, the strong tidal current reverses, with the potential to carry you out into the cold open Pacific, and there are numerous, large cargo ships to avoid.

Barrett

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webguy
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HamdiD
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Re: Who is up for sailing in the San Francisco Bay next weekend?

Seeing the really cool photo posted by Barrett at Crissy Field, I can't help but post one of me taken at the same location. Good

Stop me if I've told this story already...
We were racing the Mistral Energy boards on a strong ebb tide, making it easy-ish to get upwind. As I recall there was a weather mark mid-channel we left to port then maybe 3 downwind jibe marks and back upwind to finish mid-leg. Very long downwind legs meant crossing the bay each time. I crossed behind the Navy ship in the background of this photo. (Crossing in front of her seemed like a bad option). Her wake was about head high and despite slowing down to make the jump less scary, I found my self looking down into the trough from about 15 feet 100 feet (so it seemed). Landing it successfully seemed unlikely so I just threw it away knowing I'd be taking my chances with the Great White Sharks that were certainly lurking below. Waterstarts are an essential skill.
Lots of boats in the bay mean you have to really pay attention and know the pecking order. Commercial boats, while working, have the right of way over sailing vessels and there are lots of tour boats on sunny days. They are 50-ish foot boats that move surprising fast and will not cut a windsporter any slack.

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HamdiD

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