Six Dead, Two Missing After Capsize on Lake Tahoe
Six people have died and two were missing after a power boat capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park, South Lake Tahoe, on Saturday. Ten people were aboard the boat when a storm came through the area, bringing 30-knot winds and a 6- to 8-foot swell, the Coast Guard reported. At approximately 3 p.m. a response crew from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe diverted to assist California State Parks and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office after receiving a report of 10 people in the water. Authorities confirmed that six people died, two were injured, and two were missing following the capsize of the 27-ft Chris-Craft vessel.
Mercury News reported on witnesses describing sudden north winds that “whipped up the waves, creating 8- to 10-foot troughs.” The National Weather Service recorded gusts of up to 45 mph in the South Lake Tahoe area between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. The weather service had issued a wind advisory for the Tahoe basin (gusts up to 45 mph and choppy lake water) but did not issue a similar alert for Saturday.
According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, a seasonal lifeguard and ranger brought two souls onto the nearby rocks and started CPR. The two individuals were transported to a local hospital.
The search for two remaining people continued throughout Saturday afternoon and evening; it resumed Sunday morning but was suspended at 10:55 a.m. Responders, including aircraft and dive teams, had covered 390 square miles. The remains of the missing two were subsequently found on Monday.
“Suspending a search is always a difficult decision to make and weighs heavily on each Coast Guard member involved,” Coast Guard Cmdr. David Herndon said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those involved in the boat capsize.”
The confirmed deceased are all adults. At the time of this report, no names have been released.
Elsewhere on the lake boats were smashed against each other, some sinking at their docks. The brief but fierce conditions lasted less than two hours, with warm, sunny conditions resuming by evening.
The Coast Guard urges all mariners, experienced or not, to always wear a life jacket, check the weather conditions before heading out onto the water, file a float plan, and carry a working VHF radio to call for assistance.
Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race Starts a Day Late
Friday at RYC
The 10 remaining solo sailors registered for the Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race gathered, along with almost as many volunteers and a few spouses and friends, on Friday afternoon at Richmond Yacht Club for their mandatory skippers’ meeting. (An 11th entry canceled mid-June; he was the only Canadian skipper.) The race was scheduled to start off Golden Gate Yacht Club on the San Francisco Cityfront at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Friday’s activities started with a deli lunch, followed by a prize-giving for May 31’s Singlehanded Farallones Race. Jim Quanci, commodore of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, encouraged the SHF sailors to stick around for the SHTP skippers’ meeting. After all, they’re possible prospects for the Pacific crossing race. We’ll have more on the SHF in Racing Sheet in the July issue of Latitude 38, coming out on Tuesday, July 1.
Friday’s Weather Briefing
Jim then gave the offshore weather briefing for the next few days. The images projected on the big screen were a source of concern. “It’s looking a little interesting,” he commented. “I’d recommend taking seasickness pills starting now.” The weather models for Saturday showed wide swaths of red just off the coast, with sustained winds of 35 knots in the late afternoon.
“By mid-afternoon Monday, it’s a downright pleasant 14-16. In my humble opinion, you shouldn’t start tomorrow. Delay one day; there’ll still be mid- to high 20s, still rough, you only have one day of it.” Jim asked for a show of hands: “Who wants to start Sunday?” At least eight hands went up.
Race chair David Herrigel pointed out that the YRA would be starting their Sunday Doublehanded race (also from the race deck at GGYC) at 11:30, and the Summer Wingding would kick off from neighboring St. Francis YC at 12:30. Dave later updated the Sailing Instructions for an 11 a.m. start on Sunday.
Saturday
On Saturday evening, Jim ran a second weather briefing, which showed an elongated high pressure system forming mid-Pacific, and perhaps encouraging a small southward dip below the Great Circle route mid-course. From the weather forecasts Jim presented, there appeared to be a good lane with no big wind holes on the way to Hawaii.
Sunday
The starts went off like clockwork Sunday morning in bright sunshine, milder than normal wind, warm temperatures and nary a breath of fog to be seen anywhere. But there was enough breeze to get the boats out the Gate in a reasonable manner. The timing called for a flood going to slack, but we could see the new ebb building out from the San Francisco shoreline.
The water was flat, and port tack was heavily favored for exiting the Bay. On starboard tack, boats were pretty much paralleling the Golden Gate Bridge. Weather on the walkway of the bridge was sunny, mild and not particularly windy. This photographer overdressed based on previous experience.
Monday
As of this morning, the fleet was heading southwest, with some, including the planing-hull B-25 Akumu and the catamaran Rainbow, heading due south (Akumu has recently turned to the west.) All entries have AIS. Follow the fleet on Jibeset. Click on “Track Display” under “Display Options” to see the tracks in progress. Ping times vary, so we’re not really comparing positions in real time, but the 49-ft catamaran Starship appears to be out ahead, while the Westsail 32 InnFall is bringing up the rear. You can also check the SSS Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Because of the postponement, the deadline for finishing the race is now July 13. Next stop for the racers will be Hanalei Bay on the north shore of Kauai. SSS volunteers and yours truly will be there to greet them in early July. Kauai Sailing Association will host the awards party in Nawiliwili (date unchanged) on July 12.
Don’t Get Behind — Schedule Your Service With KKMI Today
A Magical Summer Sailstice Weekend
This past Summer Sailstice weekend was one of the best on record: no summer fog, warm temperatures and a wide variety of San Francisco Bay microclimates to choose from. We started our weekend sailing the CYC Friday Night beer can series on the solstice with brisk breezes on the Knox course. On Saturday we joined our friends, the Gridleys, aboard their Sabre 38 Aegea, for an overnight cruise to Benicia.
All weekend we saw racers racing, foilers foiling and cruisers cruising the Bay.
Beyond the Bay, sailors were sailing everywhere. The Newport Bermuda Race got underway, Long Beach Race week rocked in Southern California, and Singlehanded Transpac racers headed out the Gate for Hawaii.
Back on the Bay, the second annual US Sailing Wingding foilers found the brisk Cityfront breezes to their liking. The fleet of 41 wingfoilers raced 15 races over four days, with Kiwi foiler Sean Herbert winging into town from Manly Sailing Club in New Zealand and taking the championship with 14 firsts and a second for a throwout. Kaneohe Yacht Club winger JP Lattanzi took second, and local legend Johhny Heineken third. Complete results here.
On Sunday, the third race in the YRA summer-season doublehanded series, the Island Tour race, saw about 20 boats with two-person crews racing around the Bay’s islands. See full results here.
Everywhere you looked, there were sailors out, including the solo sailor above, the BAYS #1 Regatta happening in Richmond, and the Ericson 27 and Alerion 28 below cruising the shoreline.
After a Friday night race we switched to leisure mode with a cruise up San Pablo Bay to spend the night at the Benicia Marina guest docks. It couldn’t have been nicer. Well, actually, if we could have chosen, we would have adjusted the current to be in our favor each way, but sailing against the current just meant more time sailing.
Benicia is an ideal overnight destination, about a 25-mile sail from the central Bay. San Pablo Bay had a steady ebb as we sailed downwind with an asymmetrical chute for a couple of hours before the breeze picked up and we managed a classic wrap around the forestay in a jibe. Fortunately, after a little puzzling we were able to jibe to reverse the wind flow and unwrap the three wraps that had accumulated.
San Pablo Bay is a broad bay with a narrow channel and well-defined 20-foot depth line to sail along to avoid the adverse currents. As you reach the Carquinez Bridge you pass the Napa River, Cal Maritime Academy and the C&H sugar factory as the Bay narrows to start a transition to warmer Delta sailing mode. We passed Glen Cove Marina on the left and then pulled into the narrow entrance to Benicia Marina at 5 p.m. to tie up for the evening.
From the Benicia Marina guest dock it’s just a five-minute walk to Main Street, where you can find a good meal at Bella Siena restaurant or many other eateries in the neighborhood. Bella Siena was busy, so reservations are suggested.
Every year the solstice weekend brings the most daylight to start your summer of sailing. From Tomales Bay, San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay and Santa Monica Bay to San Diego Bay, Californians have started their summer of sailing. The Delta and the Channel Islands both await summer cruisers, and Transpac racers will be heading to Hawaii starting July 1. The Bay is not far away, so we hope you can make it aboard a boat to get onto the water under sail.
If you did make it out this weekend and have some photos to share, you can upload them here. We’ll post them in our July Sailagram. Or let us know what kind of sailing you did on Summer Sailstice in the comments section below.
Join the Potter Yachters’ Monterey Cruiser Challenge XXVI
The Potter Yachters are preparing for their 26th annual Monterey Cruiser Challenge on August 1–3, and you’re invited. The challenge is a low-key competition for small cabin boats not designed primarily for racing. More than 20 boats are already signed up, including West Wight Potters, Catalinas, Com-Pacs, and Montys. Registration is FREE.
The Cruiser Challenge began as a grudge match between competing boat manufacturers and evolved into the West Coast’s most venerable trailer-sailing competition. It’s an informal, around-the-buoys race set along a spectacular strand of California coastline. The venue — a bight more than a bay — is exposed to the Pacific, and challenging. The 14-mile passage takes three to four hours, often includes whale encounters, and is suitable sailors accustomed to ocean conditions.
Race day is Saturday, Aug. 2. Those who wish to launch in Moss Landing and sail over to Monterey on Friday are welcome to do so. Typically, a handful of boats make this trip each year and return to Moss Landing on Sunday. Skippers contemplating this sail-in option should remember that it’s not an official part of the program, and consider the potential risks associated with open-ocean sailing. The Moss-Monterey passage is about 14 miles.
Skippers have the option to launch/retrieve in Monterey, or at Moss Landing, to join a pre-race cruise into Monterey on Friday, Aug. 1, (and back on Aug. 3).
Monterey charges visiting vessels just $1/boat ft. per night and provides clean restrooms with showers. Skippers launching in Moss Landing are welcome to arrive a day or two early and dock at the Elkhorn Yacht Club.
The rules aim to keep things friendly. Participants will include seasoned race veterans as well as novices.
More information and registration form here. Don’t delay! Dock space is limited.
Cruising Then and Now — A Retrospective
Has cruising changed much over the years? Clark Beek thinks it has. Starlink, solar power and lithium batteries, AIS, and even stand up paddleboards have changed the way he and his family cruise.
Condesa sailed under the Golden Gate 17 years ago, after a 10-year circumnavigation. After my marrying Alison and our having Henry (age 12) and Lena (age 10), Condesa is finally back at it for a six-month family cruise around the Gulf of California. Cruising life is as wonderful as I remember it: the camaraderie, the adventure, the self-sufficiency — and a few technological developments in the intervening years that have made life aboard even better.
Starlink
Elon Musk’s polarizing behavior notwithstanding, Starlink has made communications aboard easy and straightforward. Every cruising boat in Mexico has it, at least every boat we’ve met. Email, Web, Facetime, or Zoom, free Wi-Fi calling, online school programs for the kids, banking, streaming movies, weather information, charting — all are available anytime, anywhere.
Early in our cruise I had to send a time-sensitive document to our bank via mail (problematic from Mexico) or fax (huh?). In the before-times, this would have required hours of frustration in a foreign city. With Starlink and a scan-to-fax app, I dealt with it in five minutes. The very article you are reading, and the photos that accompany it, were emailed to the editor of this magazine from a remote anchorage in Baja, all in about two seconds.
Starlink changes its user agreement almost weekly, and they seem to have trouble figuring out what to do with us cruisers who perhaps don’t fit their business model, but generally it’s trouble free. Most cruisers pay $165 to $250 per month, depending on the service plan (it’s cheaper if you buy your system in Mexico), and $300 to $500 for the hardware (depending on what incentives are on offer at the time). Starlink sucks up 6-10 amps at 12 volts, so we can’t leave it on all the time, and this is how we regulate screen time for the kids.
The sad corollary to Starlink’s takeover is that high-frequency radio has all but vanished. The thousands of dollars spent on radios, tuners, antennae, copper foil, ground planes, and HF modems have been traded for a simpler installation and monthly service fees. The morning radio nets have been replaced with social media forums, but there are cruiser Facebook groups, and NOFOREIGNLAND (www.noforeignland.com), a cruiser-specific social media app with a boat-tracking function. Good old VHF radio still provides real-time voice contact, and there are morning VHF nets in the more popular anchorages. Likewise, instead of checking the barometer and downloading the latest weather fax, we now use apps such as PredictWind and Windy.
Learn to Race With Modern Sailing
