Thinking about Angel Island...

M

Michael Meyer

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Jul 30, 2007
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27857
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I am thinking about going to Angel Island in our Regal 242. We're usually more of lake crusiers and am wondering a few things..

-I don't think we want to cruise down the Delta to get there (we're in Sacramento) so where is the best place to launch?

-I don't have a GPS. Is navigation going to be a problem? Should I buy a Chart?

-Are there moring balls I can tie to for overnighting in Ayala Cove?

-How deep is Ayala Cove?

-Are there rules for leaving your boat tied up at the Dock so we can do some hiking?

Any helpful advise would be great.

MM

Update: I did find the Angel Island web site which has great info but I'm looking for more personal experiences....
 
I would suggest Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito.If you launch there, it only takes little time to go to Ayala Cove at Angel Island. During the week the docks are always empty while during the week-ends you might have problems finding available space after 12:00.
 
You might look into Berkeley for launching also. I haven't launched there but the ramp and facilities look good. We typically guest dock at Berkeley when we trailer up to the bay. We will launch at Redwood City and cruise up to Berkeley.
We have stopped over at Angel Island on a couple of trips. We have just docked there and never stayed over night. They charged 5 bucks to dock. You could stay for the day and go exploring on the island. It's a cool place for a day trip. As for going to the Bay or anywhere in the Delta. Get a chart and know where you are going. It will tell you where all the shallow areas are and the main channels. Also, remember you have to deal with tides and there effect when docking or running in narrow channels. It's all do'able and fun. Have a good trip.
 
General info on mooring in Ayala Cove, including rates and time limits, is available here:

http://www.angelisland.org/faq2.htm#Boating

Specific instructions on how to tie to the mooring balls is here:

http://www.angelisland.org/mooring.htm

Depth there is certainly adequate for your powerboat; deep-keel sailboats routinely moor there.

Recent reports have indicated that paying first at the kiosk or "iron ranger" (deposit box) on shore is a very good idea. Rangers used to dingy out to the moored boats and collect fees, but recent management decisions on the Island have curtailed that "service" and instead rangers have issued citations (much more expensive) to boats tied to moorings that haven't paid. If you have a dingy, you might moor first and then immediately dingy in and pay, but I wouldn't wait for the "service" this year.

From Ayala Cove, you have easy access to Tiburon, either by the Angel Island Ferry or by taking your own boat over and docking at Sam's Anchor Cafe. Sam's is very busy on weekends but space is usually easy to get during the week. (Sam's is behind the Corinthian Yacht Club breakwater. CYC docks are limited to members of CYC or reciprocal clubs.) Tie up, have a drink, maybe even walk a couple of blocks to Tiburon's two grocery stores. More information about these mainland options is at:

http://www.samscafe.com/

http://www.ci.tiburon.ca.us/visitors/index.asp

A final note on mooring at Angel Island: The instructions to have your bow pointing northeast are important, as is securing loose items aboard. Large ships transit past the east end of Racoon Strait, often sending significant wakes into Ayala Cove. Don't be surprised if this happens at 3 am.

BTG
 
A good place to launch would be at the public ramp at the end of Grand Street in Alameda. Great ramp, easy access. Motor out the estuary, turn right, under the bay bridge, Angle Island is ahead to the left, can't miss it!

It has been about 10 years since I have been there, but if I recall the docks were available for day use but not overnight. Use the docks while you explore the island then move to a mooring at night. It is also very popular in the summer so unless you arrive very early you may not get a spot.

If you intend to use a mooring you should take some time to consider exactly how you are going to approach the mooring ball and attach to it, it is harder than it looks. Reaching down from the bow will probably be a bit far. Trying to come alongside can bang the ball into your hull. There is a gizmo called "The happy hooker" that you attach to the end of your boat hook that is made to assist in passing a line through the hoop on top of hte mooring ball, you might want to investigate that.

Above all, check the weather and don't hesitate to call it off if the conditions are not right. I have been there in a dead calm and I have also been out there when conditions were so bad that sleeping would have been out of the question.

Rod
 
Look into a GPS plotter. They are really a good safety feature and a handy tool.
 
Thanks all - Great information!

I do have a VHF radio and will get a Chart. I've looked into the GPS plotter and am not sure if I'm ready to go that route seeing that we mostly cruise lakes.

As far as mooring - I usually don't have a problem. I have a colapsable pole with a nice hook on it. :)

Not sure if this trip is going to happen soon. We thought about going this weekend but decided to go to Bullards Bar instead.

Thanks again.
 
You might want to consider a different time to go.....

The fall would be a great time to visit Angle Island. It is usually cold on the bay, even during the summer and it really isn't any colder in the late fall. The crowds diminish greatly, however. The island is open year around but the concessions and other activities are seasonal, April through October. I would recommend going in Mid October.

Another option you might want to consider would be to combine a trip with "Fleet Week". If the weather cooperates you could catch the parade of ships and air show on Saturday, Oct 11th then head to Angle Island, spend the night on a mooring then explore the island a bit on Sunday.

I have been to Fleet Week, it is worth the trip. I haven't tried to go to Angle Island after the Saturday events so I don't know if that is a popular thing to do or not. If you have a fast boat you might be able to watch the Blue Angels perform and then beat the rest of the crowd to get a mooring.....

Rod
 
The trick is contending with the winter and spring tides. You can get a strong current through Ayala cove. The boat needs to be tied down bow and stern. Long lines help you get this job done this easily.

I loop through the bow and stern mooring balls. When I want to leave, I just pull the line through the ball. It's tough catching a ball from the bow. Tie your bow line to the bow and run it back to the stern. Try catching the ball back at the stern and looping your bow line through it. More than once I've fallen off the bow trying to catch a mooring ball up there.

Ayala_Cove_05_08_06_120_Small.sized.jpg


Ayala_Cove_05_08_06_121.sized.jpg


Angel Island has day use docks, which allows you to get off the boat and hike the Island. I think it's about 6 miles around the Island. Take a lunch and water if you hike it. If you look at the picture closely, you'll notice the current pressing the boat into the dock. The fenders were crushed flat.

Ayala_Cove_05_08_06_003_Small.sized.jpg


DSC00312.sized.jpg


The little beach in the cove is nice. There are some rocks in the water line. Be careful bringing your dinghy ashore.

On_the_beach_3_Small.sized.jpg


Conditions are usually calm enough. IF it looks like it's going to be rough in the cove, I will usually run across Racoon straights to any one of the protected marinas on the other side. I'm not as willing to spend a night in a bucking, bouncing sloshing boat.

Ayala cove has an "angel cam" you can see the live picture of Ayala cove. You can determine how busy, or foggy it is. If it's busy, bring ear plugs so the parties don't disturb you.

Treasure Island, Clipper cove is similar to Angel Island, but doesn't have the park, tours or mooring balls. It's another option. The bottom is green clay, so, when you set your anchor, give it a steady pull for awhile to make sure you have it set.

Clipper_Cove.sized.jpg
 
Monterey10,
How far apart are the mooring balls? It looks to me that you need at least a 150' line to do what you suggested.
 
I would guess they're 60 to 80' between moorings. My boat is 30' LOA. The pictures look like I have a boat length in front and 1/2 a boat length behind. They've changed the mooring orientation since I was there. I gather you moore facing the Richmond bridge. The Ayala web site should be able to clarify this.

I have a 300 and a 150' line. This is too much really. With the bow "looped through with the 300'er" to the front mooring ball, I have the luxury of backing to the mooring ball behind me. Once the stern is attached, I then center the lines so the boat is in between the mooring balls. I end up with a pile of line on the bow and stern. If you have the luxury of long lines, you can do the loop through method, making it easier to release from the ball the next morning.

I scrounged this line at one of the Maritime swap meets up in the Bay Area. You can get the longer lengths cheaper there. I needed these long rodes for anchoring in the deeper waters off the coast.

One evening, I watched a fisherman tie off with a single 150'er. He tied one end of the line to the back mooring ball. He moved forward to the front mooring ball and tied off the other end of the line. (The line tied the two moorings together) Then, he centered his boat between the moorings, lifted the line out of the water and wrapped the single line on his bow and stern cleats. The boat was tied between the balls with a single line. It seemed to work OK....

On another trip, I saw a 20'er use a 1/4" poly fender line off the stern cleat. Yikes!. His boat was still there in the morning.!

It is a pain when the current is running. You can see a number of skipper struggling throughout the afternoon. Like most things in the Bay Area, the tide or lack of should be considered.
 
Monterey10----nice pictures demonstrating your instructions! Good job.
 
I enjoy writing. I still learn quite a bit for some of the people here. I hang onto every word "Bob Austin" writes.
 
Me too. He has more knowledge in his little toe then I will every have.

oppps
 
One thing, if you pull in and see everyone else is only tied to the bow, and you tie up bow and stern, you may have company. I have not seen the new configuration yet.

Also, if you decide to moor up on the outer edge, you will get to enjoy a great view of the lights in Tiburon and the wakes from the Ferry Boats. Been there, done both. My wife now has a new knee thanks to one of those wakes a few years ago.

And they have a dog beach if you take a dog with you. If I remember correctly, it is just east of the Ferry Terminal there. Maybe a couple hundred yards... I don't remember the distance too well.
 
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