San Francisco Boardsailing Association

Windsurfing Safety Guide

Please find Kitesurfing Safety Guide here.

Windsurfing in the San Francisco Bay can be extremely fun and exciting. Certain Safety precautions should be followed to ensure a good experience. The San Francisco Boardsailing Association is dedicated to promoting safe windsurfing. This safety guide is meant to help boardsailors learn common safety rules and become familiar with some of the popular sailing sites.

USE A BUDDY SYSTEM

Never Sail Alone! Several deaths can be attributed to either a failure of the buddy system or a single boardsailor sailing alone. In 1993, two boardsailors were swept out into the Pacific Ocean several miles beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. You don't want this to happen to you!! Even if you have a buddy, keep an eye out for others who may need help & lend assistance if you can. BE PROACTIVE!!

WEAR A WET SUIT (4mil) or Dry Suit

The average temperature in the Bay is 55° F. It doesn't take long before life-threatening hypothermia can set in.

CARRY SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Minimum: Safety Flares, a Plastic Whistle, 30' cord for towing, an uphaul, & a board/mast leash. Suggested: US Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device & Strobe Light.

CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT FOR WEAR

Periodically check your equipment for premature wear and replace critical components at the first signs. Universals & Masts are the most common components to fail and failures result in the need for a rescue.

KNOW THE LOCAL SAILING CONDITIONS

Every location has particular dangers to be aware of. (Submerged obstacles, sudden offshore wind, flood or ebb tides, rip tides or strong currents.)

RULES OF THE ROAD


Circled Vessel has Right-of-Way

  1. Starboard tack (right hand forward) has right-of-way over a port tack.
  2. Leeward boat has right-of-way over windward boat.
  3. An overtaking boat must stay clear.
  4. Motor vessels have the Right-of-Way when confined to a channel.

Due to the high speeds sailboards can achieve, the SFBA recommends boardsailors stay clear of all vessels. You are obligated by law to avoid a collision even if you have the right-of-way.

RESCUES

The SFBA does not endorse any rescue options over others. Recognizing the need for minimizing the number and frequency of Emergency Rescues, the Association is offering tips on the various rescue options. A judgment call needs to be made early in the situation whether to:

  1. Call the emergency response agencies immediately, or
  2. Initiate an Assisted Rescue.

The disabled windsurfer (w/ no injuries) should make the decision which rescue he/she wants. If there is any doubt regarding the safety of the disabled boardsailor, all for an Emergency Rescue.

In An Emergency:

  • Stay With Your Board (Floatation & Visibility) Don't Panic
  • Signal for Help Quickly(Crossed Arms Over your head)
  • Cooperate Fully with Rescuers

SELF-RESCUE

self rescue pic

De-rig your sail. Roll the sail onto the mast and lash booms to the sail & board with your outhaul & downhaul. Then attempt to paddle the board to safety. Never paddle a board with a fully rigged sail in the water.

EMERGENCY RESCUE

    Emergency Dial: 911 or
    US Coast Guard: (415) 556-2103

  1. Identify who you are & the number you are calling from. Stay by the phone and keep the rescuers informed as the situation progresses.
  2. Describe the person requiring rescue & provide a name of someone knowing the person.
  3. Maintain visual contact & report changes in location or success in the rescue effort.

Special Note: The Coast Guard initiates a full search whenever they determine a rescue is needed. This results in very expensive resources being dedicated until the missing/distressed person is found. Too often the Coast Guard has searched through the night for a windsurfer who has made it safely to shore and was at safe home. It is important to followup with the Coast Guard if you have been the cause of an emergency call.

ASSISTED RESCUE

An Assisted Rescue is a rescue where another boardsailor is attempting to lend assistance in an effort to avoid a Self Rescue or an Emergency Rescue Call. If there is an injury involved, always call 911 immediately. Equipment failures (Broken fins, universals, masts, etc.) can often escalate from a major inconvenience to a life threatening situation. Too much time spent swimming in the cold bay waters brings on exhaustion and hypothermia.

TOWING A DISABLED SAILOR

Before you attempt to tow a disabled sailor (including board & rig). Make sure you are using a board with most floatation available, trade or barrow one for the rescue. The sail should be smaller than normal and very controllable.

  1. The Disabled sailor should first Self Rescue (Tie-up equipment on the board).
  2. Tie the tow line off the rear foot strap of the towing board or to your harness hook.
  3. Towing the disabled board from a fitting in the nose of the board is the best option. The universal is the next best towing point. The rear foot strap of the disabled board can used if the two previous options are out of the question and the fin is gone.
  4. Try to sail a little without hooking in. When you are comfortable hook-in and hold on, the resistance is formidable. You will probably get launched a few times.
  5. Keeping your forward-speed up is important. Don't pinch upwind too much or you'll simply slide sideways.

Variations: You can tow a fully rigged board & sail short distances by having the disabled sailor hold the sail in a waterstart position with the booms on the tail of the board. This minimizes the drag by the sail. The sailor can then either be dragged in a pseudo waterstart position or can climb on top of the nose of the board if it is light winds.

PONY EXPRESS

The broken equipment can be "pony expressed" out to the disabled sailor. Visibility of the disabled sailor is a key problem. One person should always stay with, or near, the disabled sailor while a third party gets what is necessary. If a third party is not available, the disabled sailor can periodically raise the sail to help the other sailor locate his position.

CAUTION:

Reassembling equipment in the middle of the bay can be very difficult and treacherous. The wind and swells can cause boards and sails to flip on top of you unpredictably, possibly causing injury. Be sure you are very confident and comfortable with the situation before you attempt any on-the-water repairs.

Comments, Suggestions? SFBA Webmaster (modified )