Fleet Week 2009

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Waynepj4

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30904
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Ok. Me and a few of my buddies plan on boating out to fleet week on Oct. 10th and then going to Sams in Sausalito for lunch.

Have any of you boated to fleet week before? Do boats anchor out in the bay or just drift and watch the show? When adrift, do you idle your engines or shut them down completely? Can you offer any advice for boating that weekend?

What Im going to do is get a guest slip at Jack London square for the weekend. My friends will meet me in Oakland and we will cruise to fleet week from there. I'm not sure if we should tie up somewhere or just drift and watch the show. I wonder how difficult it will be to get a slip or tie up at a guest dock at or near Peir 39.

From there then we will cruise to Sam's anchor cafe in Tiburon for lunch and then back to Jack London.
 
I go out all four days the Blue Angels are flying. I prefer not to anchor as there are a lot of boats out there and many of them will not realize you are at anchor and may be expecting you to move as they drift by. I usually have the engines running during the show so it is easy to move around if I need to. I usually end up with 20 to 30 people going out each day so motoring also allows me to keep the boat pointed in the direction that provides the best view. Last year on Sunday there was a guy with his family in about an 18' bowrider anchored just off the no fly zone where most of the boats were moving back and forth. I have not had any close calls with other boats but there will be alot of them on the weekend. They generally do the same show on Friday as the weekend and there are less boats. Thursday isn't the same show but it is still really good and not many boats. The bay is huge so there is plenty of room for everyone as long as you are paying attention. This is my favorite weekend of the year and I don't mind all the boats. There are always some great boats to look at and some good entertainment watching people that aren't as focused on what they are doing.

As for Sam's I would plan to pack a really nice lunch when you leave in the morning as you will need to be really lucky to find a spot to park on their dock which would result in hungry guests without a backup plan.

PIER 39 does have guest slips but I would call right away if you are interested in one for that weekend. The PIER is right in the middle of the action. The only down side is the guest slips are on the West side of the PIER and there are alot of Sea Lions there.

Kris
 
Great post and thanks for the advice. So if you are idle with the engines running do you keep the blower running? I suppose you have deisel so that wouldnt make a difference. Idling uses little gas so I doubt that will be a problem. If I cant get a slip at Peir 39 we will probably float around Alcatraz or something like that and watch the show.

I will be sure to have food on board in case we cant get a guest slip at Sams. If not Sams, Horizons has a guest slip in Sausalito.
 
Where is a good place to anchor?
Is Angel Island too far to watch the show?
 
We have attended Fleet Week many times by boat. The available areas for anchoring have gotten more and more restricted. The only area that I feel gives good viewing and good holding is in front of Alcatraz. If you look at a chart of the area, you'll see a shallow shelf that extends out which provides good holding. Try not to get too close to the island or the kelp flies will swarm you (that happened to us one year and it was pretty disgusting, everything was covered in flies and even moving didn't get rid of them. I tend to stay close to the "wash" rock at the NW side of the island. This rock is visible at lower tide levels but can disappear at high tide.

The main thing I would recommend is to get there early (10-11 am) and get your anchor well set as it will get crowded later. If there is a tide change the ebb current can really rip through there.

There will be many boats cruising around during the show, but it makes it very difficult for the skipper to enjoy the show, because he has to be so alert watching for other boats, anchor lines, etc. It is a great show and I always enjoy it. I don't think we'll have the big boat down in the Bay this year, but we may take the fishing boat out for the day.
 
quote:
Originally posted by AbsoLoot

We have attended Fleet Week many times by boat. The available areas for anchoring have gotten more and more restricted. The only area that I feel gives good viewing and good holding is in front of Alcatraz. If you look at a chart of the area, you'll see a shallow shelf that extends out which provides good holding. Try not to get too close to the island or the kelp flies will swarm you (that happened to us one year and it was pretty disgusting, everything was covered in flies and even moving didn't get rid of them. I tend to stay close to the "wash" rock at the NW side of the island. This rock is visible at lower tide levels but can disappear at high tide.

The main thing I would recommend is to get there early (10-11 am) and get your anchor well set as it will get crowded later. If there is a tide change the ebb current can really rip through there.

There will be many boats cruising around during the show, but it makes it very difficult for the skipper to enjoy the show, because he has to be so alert watching for other boats, anchor lines, etc. It is a great show and I always enjoy it. I don't think we'll have the big boat down in the Bay this year, but we may take the fishing boat out for the day.

Click to expand...

I see it. The shelf starts at 39ft deep, then 21 feet then 16. I typically anchor in about 20 feet of water so this maybe ideal. If not I will have to keep the engines idle and just drift and keep an eye out for boats.

A boating friend of mine told me to stay away from alcatraz due to submerged rocks. If you dont see them you can really mess up your boat.
 
There are rocks and flys around Alcatraz and that really is your only option for anchoring with a decent view. There will also be alot of boats by 1:00 trying to anchor there and it can get fairly tight as more people come to anchor. The currents for next Saturday off Alcatraz look pretty promising. No current at noon with a max current of 1.15 kts at 3:45pm, it doesn't get much better than that so hopefully that will make it easier for everyone to enjoy the show. On Sunday the current will change mid show but again won't be above 1 kts for the most part. Last year the currents where over 2 kts both days so it made navigating with a lot of boats much more interesting.

PIER 39 is good to watch the show but not nearly as good as being on the water.

You will have a great time regardless.

Kris
 
quote:
Originally posted by kgd

There are rocks and flys around Alcatraz and that really is your only option for anchoring with a decent view. There will also be alot of boats by 1:00 trying to anchor there and it can get fairly tight as more people come to anchor. The currents for next Saturday off Alcatraz look pretty promising. No current at noon with a max current of 1.15 kts at 3:45pm, it doesn't get much better than that so hopefully that will make it easier for everyone to enjoy the show. On Sunday the current will change mid show but again won't be above 1 kts for the most part. Last year the currents where over 2 kts both days so it made navigating with a lot of boats much more interesting.

PIER 39 is good to watch the show but not nearly as good as being on the water.

You will have a great time regardless.

Kris

Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7rAUu8djZ4&feature=youtube_gdata

I took a look at some fleet week video and it seems like most idle their engines and drift. I think I might do the same. A bit too concerned about the rocks just under the surface near alcatraz and dont want to jeopardize my boat.
 
Wayne,

Do what makes you comfortable, but the rocks are all clearly shown on nautical charts. If you plan to idle, you can rest assured that your guests will enjoy the show, but you will see just bits and pieces of the show. Anchoring is really the way to enjoy the show. If you get there early, you can enjoy a nice lunch and socialize with your guests prior to the show. I've done both and there is really no comparison.
 
quote:
Originally posted by AbsoLoot

Wayne,

Do what makes you comfortable, but the rocks are all clearly shown on nautical charts. If you plan to idle, you can rest assured that your guests will enjoy the show, but you will see just bits and pieces of the show. Anchoring is really the way to enjoy the show. If you get there early, you can enjoy a nice lunch and socialize with your guests prior to the show. I've done both and there is really no comparison.

Click to expand...


I suppose you are right. If anchored you dont have to worry as much of drifting and other boats. This is a new to me boat. it has a windless but I havent used it yet. I will try it out this weekend. I dont want the first time anchoring to boat to be with guests during fleet week.
 
On Sunday slack water will be at 2:00 right in the middle of the show.
 
One year I anchored of the SW beach of Angel Island. The view was OK, not as close as the anchorage/drift areas close to the city, but we got the snot beat out of us by the wave action. I now recommend watching from shore.

As for Sam's (which is in Tiburon, not Sausalito), the warning about being full is spot on--their docks are almost certain to be packed, without even space for a "touch and go". The only nearby docks are locked ferry docks and private yacht club docks, and understandably the YC doesn't want Sam's boozers filling up its dockspace.

BTG
 
quote:
Originally posted by BayTrawlerGuy

One year I anchored of the SW beach of Angel Island. The view was OK, not as close as the anchorage/drift areas close to the city, but we got the snot beat out of us by the wave action. I now recommend watching from shore.

As for Sam's (which is in Tiburon, not Sausalito), the warning about being full is spot on--their docks are almost certain to be packed, without even space for a "touch and go". The only nearby docks are locked ferry docks and private yacht club docks, and understandably the YC doesn't want Sam's boozers filling up its dockspace.

BTG

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Thanks. Im going to practice anchoring the new boat this weekend.

As for Sams, clearly someone gets to their docks. What time do you recommend getting their to ensure I get a spot? If not Sams I know Horizons has guest docks or we will just have to eat on the boat.

Based on your last experience I dont think I will be anchoring off Angel Island. I will try anchoring near Alcatraz where it's 20 or so feet.

It sounds like, from previous posters that anchoring is more relaxing but what is the norm? Do most anchor or do most drift with idle engines running?
 
There are many fouls down there to snag and keep anchor gear. Every year at least two or three people end up cutting the anchor because it would not come up. Have a spare anchor setup aboard. I will be down there on the big twin and will be puttung around when not working.
 
Wayne, you do have Vessel Assist towing insurance, don't you??????
 
I have never felt I couldn't enjoy the show when idling during the show. If you stay out of the area most boats are motoring through the boats tend to drift at about the same pace. I have also anchored and that was also OK. There is alot of room out there even though there will be alot of boats.
 
quote:
Originally posted by towcapt

There are many fouls down there to snag and keep anchor gear. Every year at least two or three people end up cutting the anchor because it would not come up. Have a spare anchor setup aboard. I will be down there on the big twin and will be puttung around when not working.

Click to expand...

thanks phil
I remember you towed my boat about a year ago near susuin. Thanks again for the help. Since then I bought a new boat. A bayliner 3055. I'm leaning towards drifting. I don't want to lose my only anchor.

Flutter I have boat insurance with towing through boAtus and will be renewing my vessel assist before the trip.
 
I believe, that he is anchoring in between Aquatic Park and Fort Mason. That may be available again, but while they were conducting the AirBull races, this was a restricted anchoring area. Usually the USCG has a diagram showing what areas are restricted and it is issues as a LNTM. We too have anchored there, the view is great, but it can be a little rolly if there is a swell coming in the GG.
 
Absoloot-ly correct location, this was Fleet Week 2007, so not sure if anchoring is available there anymore, but it is the place we try to anchor every year we do go. I go pretty far in (no one behind me), notice I'm about 30ft off the pier on my stern with about 3-1 scope out, I'm also at the helm the bulk of the show just in case I need to start up and move, know my boat/anchor pretty well so we were ok all day, but playing it safe is the name of the game :D

It does get rolly out there, mix that with the smell of jet fuel and some of your buddy could be turning green. However this is center stage for the show nothing less than an awesome performance from this perspective.

Pier behind me
3988654601_53a9e9f1f9_b.jpg


No one behind us
3988676517_35b6928d83_b.jpg
 
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