Current News
Alameda Fire Department Pulls Their ‘Weiner’
If you’re caught on the wrong side of a wind shift — no matter if you’re a New York Congressman who has been caught sexting an R-rated photo of his ‘junk’ to anonymous women on the internet or the Alameda Fire Department trying to explain why their alpha males refused to get their feet wet to prevent a despondent man from committing a slo-mo suicide off Crown Beach on Memorial Day — the best advice is always the same: If you have to eat shit, take big bites. More »
First Hurricane of the Year
Adrian is the first Mexican hurricane of the season, and according to NOAA, it will likely be followed by at least a half dozen more.
© NOAA
While hurricane season opened June 1, the first whopper didn’t hit till Wednesday, eight days into the season. More »
Sanctuary Speed Limits
The good news is that whale populations on the West Coast are increasing. The bad news is that there is a corresponding increase in ship strikes. "Ship strikes are now one of the leading threats to whales migrating through California’s waters," says a press release issued jointly by the Environmental Defense Center, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, and Pacific Environment. More »
Treasure Island Plan Approved
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a massive redevelopment project for Treasure Island yesterday. Featuring 8,000 new housing units in a cluster of high rise buildings, the centerpiece will be a 450-ft tall tower that will dwarf Yerba Buena Island. More »
The Passing of Rui Luis
The Bay Area sailing community lost a well-loved and highly respected member this weekend. Rui Luis, the 48-year-old owner of Rooster Sails, fell in the water while trying to board his powerboat from his dinghy yesterday morning. More »
New Sailors Earn Their Stripes
What did Joel Brand do to deserve a smooch from these lovely ladies? The Cal Sailing instructor helped them improve their sailing skills and increase their self-confidence.
© 2011 Paul Kamen
To our way of thinking, one of the best things about the sport of sailing is that it is enjoyed by people of all ages, and there’s no reason that newcomers can’t begin their sailing careers in middle age. More »
To Protect and Serve — Or to Spectate?
The reputation of America’s ‘first responders’ took a humiliating kick in the groin at Alameda’s Crown Beach on Memorial Day, after numerous members of the Alameda police and fire departments stood at the edge of San Francisco Bay for approximately one hour as Raymond Zack, a fully-clothed 53-year-old man, slowly committed suicide via exposure in neck-deep water a short distance offshore. More »
Thousands to Escape from Alcatraz
Any time you go out for a sail on San Francisco Bay there are plenty of potential hazards to watch out for. But if you happen to be heading out early this Sunday, June 5, you’ll have an entirely unique set of obstacles to avoid. More »
Sailing Into the Zen Zone
The Oakland Estuary is the first ‘Zen Zone’. It’s actually a wonderful place to sail, as the water is always flat and it’s often warm on the downwind sail home. And for those willing to look, there is certain industrial ‘beauty’ to it. More »
Last Call for Heroes
We’ve received lots of well-deserved nominations for local ‘unsung heroes’ since we recently put out a call (here and in Latitude 38 magazine) for nominations. If you’re unclear on the concept, let us clarify that we’re interested in spotlighting sailors who quietly make a difference in our sport with little or no recognition — folks who, out of the goodness of their hearts, volunteer their time and expertise to introduce novices to our sport, mentor young people, nurture disabled sailors, endure long hours bobbing around on committee boats, or teach the time-honored skills of marlinspike seamanship. More »
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