Downwind in 18' breaking surf!!???

[soling42]

Searched the archives without finding this so heres a link to an unbelievable photo essay on The Yachtsea SF Bay incident. Don't know the details so I'll refrain from judgement but the first 49 images are a real gut wrencher. Please forgive me if it's already been around. Be safe. Adios, Michael

 

[paphman]

Type of craft?

What type of boat was that? I looked could not find the lenght or make. Glad it was not mine!

 

[Liam]

Santana 22

If I remember correctly this was a Santana 22.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Last year

I remember seeing this when it first surfaced, because it was suprising how nonplussed the windsurfer was as he zipped past.

 

[Franklin]

Yes

I saw all the camera shots last spring when it happened. I remember getting the impression the guy was trying hard to sink his boat and making sure somebody was there to take pictures. It happened in SF bay and if you notice in some of the pictures, the other sailors don't have reefs in, so the wind wasn't that strong that day.

 

[Liam]

Always windy

The entrance to the San Francisco Bay is nearly always windy. Under the Golden Gate Bridge it is usually 25-35 knots because of the mountians on both sides and the extreme temperature difference between the Pacific Ocean and the hot interior valleys. That with a 4-5 knot ebb moving millions of gallons per second through a slot that is less than a mile wide make for some very interesting conditions.Franklin, next time you are out in San Francisco rent a boat and sail on out the Gate... Be sure and bring your PFD and harness!

 

[Benny]

looks shallow there!

Was he going through the main span of the bridge or one of the side jetties as it looks quite shallow there? Surfers were hanging around there for a reason so to drive a small boat into those conditions was insane. When I seen the first photos the thought that came to my mind was "Santanas have no flotation, it will sink" I also cringed at the thought of a swing keel smashing through the hull but then I noticed this boat had a fixed keel.