HALF MOON TO SAN FRANCISCO
08 September 2009
08-02-2009 HALF MOON BAY TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY
UP AT 6:00AM, LEFT THE DOCK AT 6:30AM (SHERRY AND I ARE WORKING BETTER AS A TEAM). THE ENTRANCE INTO HALF MOON BAY IS EITHER FROM THE SOUTH INSIDE THE REEF, OR THROUGH A CHANNEL TO THE WEST. AGAIN, USING A CRUISING GUIDE LKE CHARLIE'S CHARTS IS INVALUABLE IN CHOOSING A SAFE ROUTE. WE HAD COME INTO THE HARBOR THROUGH THE SOUTH ENTRANCE, WE LEFT THROUGH THE WEST CHANNEL.
ONCE WE WERE FOUR MILES OFF THE COAST, CLEAR OF PILLAR POINT AND SOME ROCKS, WE TURNED NW TOWARD SAN FRANCISCO. ONCE ON OUR COURSE, THE FOG LIFTED AND WE COULD SEE THE SHORELINE VERY WELL. I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE TOWERS OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 17 MILES OFF.
WE CHOSE TO STAY LAST NIGHT IN HALF MOON BAY TO BE ABLE TO APPROACH THE GOLDEN GATE IN THE MORNING JUST AT THE END OF A FLOOD TIDE. IT IS WISE TO TIME YOUR ENTRANCE INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TO AVOID PROBLEMS WITH THE STRONG TIDAL CURRENTS AND THE WAVES THEY CREATE. SLACK TIDE (BETWEEN EBB AND FLOOD) OR AT THE END OF A FLOOD ARE THE BEST TIMES TO ENTER.
WITH THE EXTRA 3+ KNOTS PUSH FROM THE INFLOWING TIDE WE WERE DOING 10+ KNOTS IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE GOLDEN GATE.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST COMMERCIAL HARBORS IN THE WORLD AND YOU MUST KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT FOR THE VERY LARGE SHIPS DOING 20+ KNOTS IN AND OUT OF THE HARBOR. ALSO, IT IS BEST TO HEAD FOR THE RED #6 BUOY AT THE MAIN SEA LANE BEFORE HEADING INTO THE BAY. THERE IS A SHOAL AREA AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE CALLED THE 'POTATO PATCH' THAT MUST BE AVOIDED. ONCE AT THE #6 BUOY WE HEADED RIGHT FOR THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
WE WERE VERY BLESSED AS WE MOTORED UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE--THE FOG LIFTED AND WE SAW THE ENTIRE BRIDGE, ALCATRAZ ISLAND, THE SF SKYLINE, AND ANGEL ISLAND. SHIPPING TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND THE WIND AND CURRENTS WERE CALM. I CANNOT EXPRESS THE EXCITEMENT WE BOTH FELT COMING INTO SAN FRANCISCO BAY UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR LIVES AND MADE THE WHOLE TRIP WORTHWHILE!!