TRIP TO SF BAY???

[paz]

I am thinking about making a trip to SF for a couple days and was wondering about places to spend the night around pier 39, also thinking about 1 night at angel island. I live in stockton and figure on leaving on a friday morning, my boat cruises pretty nicely at 25mph and figure 4 hours should get me there?
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT.

 

[Flutterby]

Spring is a touchy time to travel to SF. You'll have more favorable conditions if you wait until August or later.

 

[AbsoLoot]

I would try to time my trip so that I could either cross San Pablo Bay in the morning or with an incoming tide that should align with the prevailing westerly winds. Pier 39 is a fun place to stay, but it has a lot of surge and I believe that all of the guest docks are on the west side with the sea lions and the ferries. I would opt for South Beach Harbor and then take the Muni to travel down to Pier 39 if you want to visit. There is also a lot more eateries down by South Beach.

If you want to stay at Angel Island overnight, you need to use the mooring buoys. Everyone ties bow and stern there. The easiest way is to bring two long lines (~100 ft. each). Run the line thru the rear buoy and back to your boat, then pull forward to the front buoy and do the same. This will allow you to adjust your position between the buoys and when it's time to go, you can just pull the lines back in without having to re-approach the buoys. A "Happy Hooker" (check Boatfix or that other big retailer) makes it easy to get your lines thru the buoy eyes.

Have a great trip and let us know how it went.

 

[abdiver]

If conditions are good you might make it in 4 hours. I would plan on taking 6. If conditions get rough it could take longer.

 

[Waynepj4]

I took a trip to Angel Island and Sausalito back in February. What a great trip. We left Martinez at 10am and pulled up to Ayala Cove, Angel Island at 10:50am. Didnt take much time at all cruising at 28mph. We left during slack tide and there was virtually no wind. Water conditions were smooth.

The following morning was a different story. On our way back SP Bay was choppy but tolerable.

Question to fellow boaters. Has anyone been across SP Bay in the late afternoon??? How was it?

 

[Flutterby]

I know of a 34 ft sailboat which was trying to return to the South Bay after vacationing in the Delta. San Pablo Bay was so bad, they turned around and went to Martinez to hide out. Two days later they were able to proceed safely. These sailors had years of ocean and bay sailing experience and had had this boat for 4 years.

That gives you an idea of how it can be. Don't mess with the wind Gods!

 

[sailorick]

I have a 34 ft sailboat and I've crossed SP bay 5 or 6 times. Every couple of years we bring our boat to the Delta for the summer (or longer) and we’re getting ready to bring her back to Richmond in a few weeks, but I digress.

SP Bay can be very rough and although I’ve never turned back, there have been times where I wish I did! Going toward SF is better than returning. (At least for sailboats). I’ve rounded-up and laid her over a few times on the return trip, the waves just outrun me and the stern just wants to go around the bow.

Everyone here is correct, morning crossings are smoother. We’ll be spending the night in Benicia this year so we can cross early. Keep an eye on the tides and currents. Ebbs are usually bad.

Back to Paz’s original question about where to spend the night, you might also try Aquatic Park. The mooring balls are free for the first 24 hours and it’s absolutely beautiful there at night. South Beach Harbor is also real nice, go when you can catch a game or a concert at PacBell Park (or whatever they’re calling it now).

Go and have a great adventure, but just watch the weather and tides!

 

[Waynepj4]

So I take it that it wouldnt be a good idea to take a round trip day trip from Martinez to Angel Island and back?

Leaving in the morning is fine but I were forced to come back in the afternoon it sounds like I have a good chance of running into rough water and scaring my out of town, Texas guests..

 

[kgd]

I believe they only allow sail boats to moor in aquatic park. For a night or two the guest docks at PIER 39 should be fine. There is some surge and you will definitely hear the sea lions on the West side of the marina. The guest docks are new and very nice. Lots of stuff to do.

Wayne you should not have the same issues with the following seas in your power boat that the sail boats have. I much prefer going with the seas than against them, much smoother. Just make sure they aren't too much for your size of boat.