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SFBA August 97 NewsletterParty | Volunteers Wanted | Events | Crissy Field Update | Candlestick Update | Peninsula Update | Secret Site of the Month You Can't Stop the Waves, But You Can Learn How to Surf! Launch at any site in the Bay Area and it seems that most windsurfers learn to respect and enjoy the wind and the waves season after season. Less obvious are the countless hours your SFBA Board of Directors and others spend to ensure that the needs of all Bay Area windsurfers (e.g., water access, safety awareness, rescue coordination and effective community relations) receive the constant attention and support they demand. While not everyone has the time, the aptitude or the attitude to volunteer their time as active stewards of the sport, everyone can play a role in meeting SFBA's objectives. If you'd like to take an active role in guiding the direction of windsurfing (and SFBA) in the Bay Area, you're encouraged to volunteer your time and become engaged in SFBA's efforts. If you're more inclined to provide moral and fiscal support, please ensure that you've at least paid your dues for this year and helped to build the ranks of SFBA dues-paying members by getting your nonmember friend(s) to join as well. Your annual dues keep SFBA afloat, so if you haven't sent them in yet, do it now! In this newsletter as in the last, you'll notice enhancements in the support SFBA provides. In addition to the regular access updates, the Events Schedule and other articles of interest, we continue to make it easier for you to join SFBA or to renew your annual membership... just fill out the membership information on the tear-off portion at the top of the enclosed pre-addressed envelope, insert it into the envelope with your check, stick a stamp on the front, and drop it in the mail. If you've already renewed, please pass the membership envelope on to a non-member friend.... they don't have to live in the Bay Area to be a member! The SFBA newsletter now also provides a map and location of Bay Area windsurfing shops and clinics/schools, and in each issue we are highlighting at least one of the many known and/or unknown launch sites around the Bay. In this issue you'll also note that our next SFBA sponsored party is scheduled for Saturday, September 6th at Peter's Cafe in Millbrae (arrive by 7:30 PM for the membership meeting and free beer and munchies). While you won't find an update on the Crissy Field facilities design in this issue, we hope to have preliminary architectural drawings of the restrooms, safety tower, etc. at least by the next issue or the season- ending party at the St. Francis Yacht Club in October. So stay tuned in and turned on to your SFBA... and if you'd like to become engaged in SFBA activities or contribute to future newsletters, please contact Ms. Karina OConnor, our new newsletter coordinator, at (415) 661-9584. Bill Robberson for all SFBA volunteers Party at Peter's Cafe!! With all the great shreddin going on down on the Bay in the Peninsula, it seems high
time for us to have a party down south. So, on Saturday, September 6, SFBA will host our
first party of the season (sorry so late) at Peterıs Cafe in Milbrae. Live music, beer,
and food will be served starting at 9:00pm! Weıll also be holding an open meeting of the
SFBA directors starting at 8:00 at the cafe for those of you whoıd like to have a voice
in future SFBA efforts or just find out more about what we do. There will be free beer and
munchies available at the open meeting, so head right over after youıre done sailing at
Coyote or 3rd Ave and join us. Peterıs full menu will be available for those of you with
larger appetites. Just head north or south on 101 (or take Caltrain) down to Milbrae and
take the Milbrae exit. If youıre driving, go west until you get to El Camino. Peterıs
Cafe is on the northeast side of intersection with El Camino. You canıt miss the bright
turquoise sign. Parking will be available in Peterıs parking lot with overflow parking at
the Caltrans station. Weıll see you there! Volunteers Wanted The SFBA is still looking for a few good men and women volunteers to fill a few
positions. The Social Activities Director will be involved in planning and coordinating SFBA social events including the Season Opening and Closing Parities, beachbarbecues and local windsurfaris! The Advertising Coordinator will be involved in the procurement and coordination of advertising for publishing in the SFBA Newsletter and on the Website. If interested in either of the above positions, please call Bill at 415-885-4357 or Karina at 415-661-9584. Kudos go out to Karina O'Connor, who volunteered to tackle the monthly coordination of the SFBA Newsletter and Jay Valentine (see the article about Jay in the August issue of Wind Tracks magazine) who will be our Windsurfing Safety Evangelist. As newsletter coordinator, Karina would love to hear your ideas or consider your articles for inclusion in future issues of the Newsletter. Are members interested in finding our where the cool sites are, what Internet resources are available, where can I take classes, who's the cool new chick/dude shredding at Larkspur (may not be able to help you with that one)?? Feel free to call her at (415) 661-9584 or email (preferred!) to karinaoc@earthlink.net. (esp. if you have information on upcoming events that the windsurfing community should know about, cool local windsurfing pictures, or would like to write about your favorite secret site!) Events Remember to check the Events Calendar. One of the frequent events is ABK Monday night demonstrations and lectures at Windsports in San Rafael, covering rigging, jibbing, tacking, safety, rules of the road, and a variety of other subjects. Andy Brandt leads classes through short board tacks. A few of the remaining clinic topics include: Freestyle and Board repair. If enough interest is shown, they may even do a jumping/looping clinic. Call ABK 415-927-8835 if you're interested in seeing the looping clinic. Call Windsports for times & dates (415)-459-1171. Test-Pits at Crissy Field Beach GGNPA's chief planner has announced that beginning Wednesday, August 20th, they will
begin two weeks of geotechnical work at Crissy Field.... translation - there will be at
least one backhoe at Crissy digging exploratory test-pits.... translation translation -
they will be poking around with heavy equipment, mainly to the west of the big pipe, to
better understand the rubble beneath the surface (quantity & depth of rocks, concrete
and other fill) in the vicinity of the planned tidal basin. As one might guess, no
contractor with the intention of being profitable would bid on future excavation work
without a decent idea of the site's subsurface characteristics. SFBA is assured that any
digging to the east of the outfall will be completed (filled) no later than 1:00 or 2:00
PM each day. If this isn't the case, or something else is out-to-lunch, please give me a
call at (415) 885-4357. Update on Candlestick (3 COM Park) Thanks go out to those of you who have volunteered to help out Jeff Craft of SF School of Windsurfing. Jeff is trying to coordinate efforts to maintain and possibly improve the launch site at Candlestick by working with San Francisco on the development of the proposed stadium / shopping complex. For others interested in joining the committee, call Jeff at (415) 753-3235. PENINSULA NEWS 3rd Ave Ramp Repairs Update SFBA met with Foster City's Engineeer, Parks Director, and Recreation Director in mid-June to pin down the configuration for the repairs to be completed this year. The main ramp will be replaced with a reinforced concrete ramp with a rough surface. There will be a new ramp to the right of the main ramp, heading down to the small beach area on the point. (You will have to make a hard left at the bottom to avoid the rocks off shore). The ramp to the west will be officially "abandoned" by the city, but SFBA could fix it for continued future use. It is handy for exiting on ebb tide days, and for entering on flood tide days. The city is still moving forward with plans to solicit a windsurf concession at the site. These plans will probably result in future paying for parking, but less parking hassles. Golf Ball Issues Foster City staff reports that a "special team" of key staffers has been formed to address the golf ball issue, and that they are serious about solving the issue. SFBA reiterated windsurfers' concerns that vehicles and several people were continuing to be hit. There have been near-violent confrontations between windsurfers who have been hit or nearly hit, and golfers. SFBA continues to take a patient but insistent approach on this, but will take more aggressive action if the situation isn't resolved ( with installation of at least a fence at the end of the pitch and put course) for next season. Safety Issues Several foolhardy folks have been observed sailing far beyond the channel markers, in relatively cool conditions, with NO WETSUITS! This is stupid and inconsiderate, since if they got into any trouble, they would be in a world of hurt in no time at all. Then other people would have to deal the risky situation, or feel bad if they didn't. A shorty wetsuit is the absolute minimum coverage required for most sites in the bay. Short should only be worn on the hottest days, during the middle of the day, in the summer. If you must go au natural, at least stay well inside the channel markers. There have been several objects stolen from cars this season, so lock your car and take the key with you. That secret key hiding place that you have may not be secret enough. Manners The parking situation is better at 3rd, now that it's paved and expanded, but activity still can get out of hand when people double park and park in the turn-around. The turn-around should only be used for dropping off and picking up equipment. DON'T PARK THERE! NOT EVEN WHILE YOU RIG! Also, don't rig in the parking area. It impedes traffic and you risk getting your stuff run over. Sailors exiting the water have the right-of-way over sailors entering. If you are in a frenzy to launch, use the bypass down the rocks to the right of the ramp - just look for the orange line. Downwinder Done Led by Jay and Owain, ten hardy 3rd Ave regulars did a downwinder in June from Oyster Point to 3rd Avenue. This sail was such a success it may be repeated in August (with barbecue to follow?) so ask around if you would like to see it happen/participate. News Correspondent(s) Needed for other Peninsula sites This writer doesn't get to Coyote much anymore. If someone who does would like to
report on conditions and activities there, either regularly or a one-shot deal, they
should contact Randy at (415) 691-1200 or randy52@ix.netcom.com.
The same goes for Palo Alto, or any other site, news item, legendary feat, or other
information that may be of interest to local windsurfers. Hey, I'll even give you
credit/blame! Secret (or not so) Site of the Month - Crissy Coast
Guard Station Itıs one of those late summer spells when Central Valleyıs thermal low expands to cover the Bay Area with hot listless air. The first day you saw stagnant ools of brown haze collect over mirror-like Bay waters. The second day driving cross the Golden Gate you see smog sluggishly flowing out(!) the Golden Gate riving our typical crisp white fog far to sea. As your pager stuttered endless "CALMS" for all sites, your brain chemistry plummeted southward. On the third day of heat wave you went ballistic as a pager reading of "Crissy 20 gusting 26" arose amid a sea of "CALMS". Approaching Crissy the fingers of fog tentatively entering the Golden Gate sent adrenaline coursing through your veins. But hitting the beach you found more bikinis than white caps and a windline less real than imagined. A second glance at the pager still showed "CALMS" everywhere else so you joined the beach scene and waited. And waited. Unfortunately, during heat waves the warm air rising from the land lifts the side offshore breeze way above the surface. This leaves the wind high enough to excite the wind sensors at 45' but considerably above your 15 foot mast. Yet way out below the Bridge, boards are ripping! You assume they were desperate sailors on big slalom boards with huge sails who slogged out to the windline. Wrong! They simply launched near the old Coast Guard station east of the South Tower of the bridge. During heat waves, wind fills in early at the Coast Guard station when it is dead at Crissy. There is good parking, a nice beach and spectacular scenery. Best of all - you avoid the voodoo chop of Crissy Shoal and have a direct shot at the great swell near the Bridge. Near the launch the wind falls from the nearby hills and is extremely on and off and shifty till you get to the real windline. To get out early watch the water until you see a good puff and beach start. Do not hook in right away since the shifts, blasts and lulls near shore could throw you or drop you. Usually there is only a short slog required to get to good wind. The trick of getting back is to work your way upwind and then head for the beach on a broad reach coasting through the lulls. Follow a course which allows for the current and avoids the fishing pier. If there is a strong ebb sailing, the Coast Guard is only for more experienced sailors. The Politics of Secrecy In the past the Coast Guard site was a real ³secret site². However, this secret site needs publicizing since its status as a windsurfing launch site is unclear. Windsurfers should establish a presence at these types of sites so that we have some political clout , especially when the status of a site changes or when access is denied. We recently lost access to Josephıs Landing, a San Pablo Bay "secret site" with huge swell that dwarfs that of the Gorge and steady morning and afternoon winds. A very small group sailed the place who kept knowledge of the site to themselves. Now there is no track record of significant windsurfer use at the site so the county agency involved saw no reason to spend the money to keep access for sailors. Several years ago we almost lost access to Grassy Point at Tomales Bay when CalTrans turned most of the parking area into a passing lane. Fortunately, enough Marin and Sonoma sailors had sailed the place to mount an effective protest maintain access. If Grassy Point had been just the playground for a handful of sailors it would now be like Joesphıs Landing...just a memory. Mike Godsey & Bill Robberson Updated - 8/30/97 Comments, Suggestions? SFBA Webmaster |