On Sherman we would like to believe we are one club with one voice – many of us Windsurf and/or came up through the ranks and Kite as well.  However, there are distinct needs and differences in how we play together.  

Windsurfers, Sup’ers, swimmers in the “playpen” area are not trained in kite rescues. They may grab the wrong line or part of your kite and make things worse for everyone.

Therefore, keeping kites and kiters away from and out of the “Play Pen” area downwind of the kite launch area is important.

If you wash up into the Playpen , Roll up your lines and relaunch back at the kite launch.  It’s best NOT to ask people in the playpen to relaunch you.  

Self-rescue onto the rocks on the levee, downwind of the Play Pen, rather than into it. There is a sand bag launch just outside the County Park that can be used in emergencies.

Beach goers are extremely afraid of kites and lines crashing down onto them.  Because of past accidents and crash landings, many windsurfers feel endangered on the water and in the playpen area.  They may elect (and have the right) to cut your lines if you crash land.  Don't get angry if this happens because YOU are endangering them.

If you can't kite upwind immediately off the launch and might end up in the Play Pen, take a boat ride upwind (preferably during a flood tide).

If you find yourself in trouble and headed for the Play Pen, flag your kite so that there is zero option your kite could relaunch and hurt someone in the process. Roll up your lines quickly.

Let’s play it safe and keep the Sherman vibe going.   We certainly don’t want one bad day to ruin the scene for all of us. 


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Early season winds have been kind to the Albany site, Racetrack, and this has attracted a number of new kiters to the launch. The park is still under construction, however, and a few recent events have highlighted the need to update kiters on a few points:
 
1) Although kiters are using the sandy beach at the southern tip as the launch and landing site, this area will be the primary point of pedestrian access when the park is finished is should NOT be used to launch and land at that point. Local kiters and the SFBA worked with the EBRPD to develop a large 'Open Use' area at the south-eastern tip of the park for launching and landing. 
 
2) Due to parking shortages in the Buchanan lot, some kiters are parking by Fleming Point, breaking through the fence and launching from the small beach there. One incident resulted in a confrontation with contractors, who were upset that kiters trespassed and then traversed the work area while heavy machinery was moving through the area. We spoke with the EBRPD rep they emphasized the need to remain clear of the site while crew is working. Kiters and pedestrians can enter at Fleming Point, but please do not do so if any crew are on site.
 
Please contact Andrew Sullivan (kiteracetrack@gmail.com) if you have any questions about this site or the status of construction.

​Coast Guard urges kitesurfing safety after multiple rescuesU.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/26/2019 06:53 PM EDT
News Release U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest
Contact: 11th District Public Affairs
Office: (510) 437-3325
After Hours: (510) 772-8865
11th District online newsroom
Coast Guard urges kitesurfing safety after multiple rescues
SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard is reminding kitesurfers Friday to operate with caution after Coast Guard crews conducted multiple rescues of downed kitesurfers in the past week in the San Francisco Bay.
Coast Guard responders attributed this week's distress calls to a combination of weather and inexperience, and are reminding kitesurfers to take precautions. 
Kitesurfers should always have a reliable method for calling for help, such as a handheld, waterproof marine VHF radio. They should also check the forecast before going out to find out when wind speed will be optimal, as low winds can result in becoming stranded. 
"Kitesurfing, along with many other sea-going sports, such as kayaking and boogie boarding, can be deceptively difficult activities," said Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie Shaner, the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco response department head. "It's important to know weather conditions before heading out, to take a VHF radio when possible and to never go to the beach alone. It also helps to have a more experienced friend that can help you learn to enjoy all the summertime activities California has to offer." 
The Coast Guard responded to two cases this week after downed kitesurfers contacted the Coast Guard via VHF radio. One kitesurfer was drifting near the Golden Gate Bridge and a second kitesurfer was adrift near Alcatraz Island.
Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews responded to both cases and retrieved the kitesurfers prior to transferring them to awaiting EMS personnel on shore.
The Coast Guard recommends that all kitesurfers wear a life jacket and a helmet, carry a hand-held radio while in the water and always let someone know when you're heading out and when you plan to return. Additionally, the Coast Guard recommends that kitesurfers mark their equipment with name and contact information in the event they get separated from their equipment.

​Crissy webcam upgrade status:
1. The existing camera has a relatively new enclosure, so the plan is to upgrade the software to the latest version. This upgrade provides some nice addtions, and the biggest one will be multiple video sizes available to our viewers. We plan to keep the 320x240 on the webcam list.. but offer a 640x480 size for people who want more clarity. I'm not sure how well this option will ultimately work given the camera's high usage as it is shared at the Crissy Field Center... so we'll have to see, and pending how seamlessly the swap works, perhaps make a choice at the time of install and live with the decision. For an example of the larger image, the St. Francis Yacht Club uses SiteProxy and they display the larger 640x480 image..... Here is the URL for a sense of what that looks like: http://12.201.135.206/Race%20Deck/siteproxy.html (their software version is from 2014).
2. The new camera will have larger still images, other additional features, better low light, and we plan to have exclusive PTZ controls for SFBA members (including camera contributors... to whom we should consider providing some length of membership to). Please note that we have not chosen a specific make/model camera yet, as we will consider all options and make a recommendation at a BOD meeting for concurrence as we get closer to confirmation of all the moving parts, at which time we can then purchase all the gear and installation services. 
3. We plan to install the new camera on a new mast on the roof of the Crissy restroom; the implementation of which is more challenging than when we planned, designed and built the dog wash. To be fair, the last quarter of the Federal fiscal year, the Holidays and now the Govt shutdown haven't helped move things along. We are still working on the OK for the infrastructure (power to the roof, new mast, wireless equip at each end) and timing. Yes, timing. There will be some restroom maintenance upgrades in the near (?) future, and to-date the Master Coordination Meeting and the decision to wait or not remains a missing-link. 
4. Our POCs at GGNPC are very supportive and are working to move it along as mindfully as they can.. and please continue to be patient (at this stage its a virtue!) and please be reminded that it is a federal project!!!

Thanks in part to the efforts of Dave Fielder. The East Bay Regional Park District has awarded a construction contract for improvements to the rigging area, path and breakwater that will increase the ease of using the site. Construction is expected to start in mid-September and be conclude by October, 2018.