San Francisco Boardsailing Association

SFBA Local Sailing Guide

SFBA SITE RATING SYSTEM

  • Beginner: Uphauling, No Harness
  • Intermediate: Water Starting Most Of The Time, Learning to Jibe & To Use A Harness.
  • Advanced: Always Water Start, Jibing Consistently, Using Harness All The Time, Rarely Fall, & Can Uphaul If Needed In Light Winds.
  • Expert: Strong Swimmer, Experienced Wave Sailor, & Extremely Competent.


BERKELEY MARINA - Berkeley/Emeryville

Rated: Beg/Int/Adv

    Dock etiquette is important due to high congestion:

  • Persons leaving the dock have the right-of-way.
  • Never land or tie your board to the dock w/in at least 15 feet from the end. This area is for launching only.
  • Do not rig your sail on the dock. Rig on land & carry it down very last.
  • Bring your board to the dock first, then your sail last. Never leave an unattended sail on the dock.
  • Do not leave your equipment on or tied to the dock for any extended period of time.
  • Never land on the windward (upwind) side of the dock. If this cannot be helped hold onto the dock and work your way around to the leeward (downwind) side, then ring your equipment up onto the dock.

    Launching from the levee:

  • There are numerous submerged rocks & pilings. If it is high tide, ask someone familiar with the area before launching.
  • Park completely off of the highway and watch for oncoming traffic when loading & unloading.

CANDLESTICK POINT - San Francisco

Rated: Int/Adv
  • Sudden, offshore winds can result in several sail changes, down in size, in 30 minutes.
  • Stay clear of the fishing piers & invisible fishing lines.
  • Parking in No Parking Zones on game days may get you a ticket.
  • Move your car out of the State Park before it closes or your car may get locked in overnight.

Directions:
From US101 both directions take the southern most exit to 3Com (Candlestick) Park.

COYOTE POINT - San Mateo

Rated: Int/Adv
  • This location is probably the most popular, therefore the most crowded. LOOK before you jibe. Avoid collisions & know your right-of-way.
  • The normal wind pattern is slightly offshore.
  • Launch far enough upwind, or upshore, to ensure you don't drift into the swim area.
  • Be aware of the wind shadow near shore. Try to rig for the wind strength outside so you don't get hammered when you get there.

Directions:
From US101 North take the Dore Ave. exit in San Mateo. Make an immediate left turn onto North Bayshore Blvd. Turn right after passing the golf course and enter Coyote Point County Park. Note: day use fee may be charged. From US101 South take the Poplar Ave exit in San Mateo. Continue on Poplar, then turn right onto N. Humbolt. At Peninsula Ave turn right and go over the freeway. Once over the freeway turn left onto North Bayshore. Take the first left and enter Coyote Point County Park.

CRISSY FIELD - San Francisco

Rated: Int/Adv

    Crissy Field can be one of the most dangerous sailing spot listed. More rescues are recorded here than all other sites combined.

  • Be aware of the powerful tides & currents. You should check the tide tables before sailing this spot.
  • The water is very cold 55 F. Hypothermia can set in if you're struggling in the water too long.
  • Strong & variable winds can leave you stranded. The wind dies near the shore much sooner than out in the middle.
  • Avoid collisions. Heavy shipping & boating traffic are constrained to shipping channels. Stay clear of all vessels and do not insist on your right-of way. Large vessels leave a giant wind shadow (zero wind) hole and can take up to 2 miles to stop.
  • Fog pushing through the Golden Gate can reduce visibility to near zero and make it difficult to locate your launching spot or any land in general. This fog pattern usually causes the wind to die suddenly.
  • Make sure are sailing equipment (board & sail) you can uphaul in an emergency if the wind dies.
  • Sail conservatively, head for shore sooner, rather than later. Often this decision will help you avoid a lengthy swim and a possible search & rescue.

CROWN BEACH - Alameda

Rated: Beg/Int
  • Watch out for pedestrians on the walkway when crossing with equipment.
  • Wind is usually side, onshore. The water is fairly shallow especially at low tide.
  • Be courteous to other beach users. Dripping equipment can be a chilling experience to a sun bather.

FLYING TIGERS - So. San Francisco

Rated: Int/Adv
  • Strong offshore winds. This area records some of the highest winds in the area.
  • Submerged obstacles & a rocky launch make booties a must. If you launch from Oyster Point, you're risking a very long swim, & a possible Coast Guard rescue, if the wind drops. There is a very large wind shadow between Oyster Point & Flying Tigers.
  • Questionable water quality from anecdotal evidence only.

LARKSPUR LANDING - Larkspur/San Rafael

Rated: Int/Adv
  • Mornings are excellent for beginners.
  • Launch are is restricted due to submerged obstacles (Large rocks).
  • Watch for Golden Gate Transit ferries entering and leaving the ferry terminal. Clear the area (wait on the sides) when a Golden Gate Transit Ferry needs to pass. Do not try to sail in front of or behind a ferry.
  • Stay clear of the harbor seals.
  • If you land on prison property, you will be escorted out by armed guards.
  • Use caution. Make no left turns West bound on Sir Francis Drake. Be careful pulling off, & back on.

ROD & GUN CLUB - San Rafael

Rated: Int/Adv
  • Waterstart is essential, wind is side shore.
  • NW Winds are the best conditions for sailing.
  • Low tide means a long muddy walk to the water.
  • Launch site has submerged obstacles.

THIRD AVENUE - Foster City

Rated: Int/Adv, Cove Area/Light Winds - Beg
  • Don't get caught way out when the wind drops off. Flood currents will easily take you beyond the San Mateo bridge.
  • The launching access ramps can be very slippery. Yield right-of-way to boardsailors exiting the water.
  • Near the launching areas there are submerged obstacles. Booties are a must.
  • At low tide there are several shallow sandbars. Learn their locations because they will always manage to stop you in the middle of a high-speed, power reach.
  • Don't sail beyond the channel marker unless you are an advanced sailor. Both the current & swell increase significantly in the channel.
  • Kitesailers, please read the guidelines for sailing at 3rd

Directions:
From US101 exit East on 3rd Avenue, San Mateo towards the Bay. Because there is no place to turn left into the parking lot go past the Foster City Blvd intersection and make a U-turn. Now heading West on 3rd Avenue turn right at the fist driveway. Caution: do not make a U-turn at Marsh Road. Foster City Police are known to cite windsurfers for an illegal U-turn.

From State Route 92 exit on take the Foster City Blvd exit. Head North on Foster City Blvd. Trun left onto 3rd Avenue. Turn right at the first driveway.

WADDELL - Santa Cruz

Rated: Expert
  • Dangerous surf conditions & rip tides. You should hone your wavesailing skills before attempting this location.
  • The water is very cold 54° F
  • At low tides there are submerged rocks near the shore.
  • Watch out for the Warden. (Sharks!)

    Wavesailing Ediquette:

  • Sailor going out always has right of way. Try to avoid the sailor riding the wave when possible. Let him/her enjoy the wave.
  • Sailor that catches the wave first owns the wave, even if it was only a swell when he caught it. It is improper to jibe on a wave face that already has someone riding it.
  • If several sailors catch a wave at the exact same time, the sailor closest to the peak has right of way. If it's hard to tell where the peak is, then the sailor furthest upwind owns the wave.
  • Note: These ediquette rules may conflict with legal right of way rules. In the event of a collision, and possible litigation, California Boating Regulations would probably govern.

last updated 4/12/97