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The Trouble With Sailing the Forbidden Path

Surely we’ve all done it: sailed a little outside the usual route. Perhaps in an attempt to take a shortcut, perhaps we’ve seen something that warrants a closer look. Either way, one or more of us will have sailed a forbidden path, for one reason or another. If we’re fortunate, we suffer no consequences, but sometimes one does.

Jeff Berman, of the Tartan 4000 Maverick, sent us the following photos a couple of weeks ago, of a mariner who, perhaps having taken the forbidden path, ended up on the rocks.

Boat in forbidden zone
You can’t tell from this photo, but between Alcatraz and the red/green AZ buoy is a rock known as Little Alcatraz.
© 2022 Jeff Berman
boat on rock off Alcatraz
The powerboat seems to have found the rock.
© 2022 Jeff Berman
boat on rock and USCG rescue craft
Now, how to explain one’s predicament to the USCG.
© 2022 Jeff Berman

If this is indeed the same situation as was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, then the incident occurred on Saturday morning, November 26, just before 10:00, with two people and three dogs aboard.

Forbidden zones usually exist for a reason, and it behooves us as sailors to be aware of not only those zones, but also the reasons behind them. That way, if we do choose to ignore the rules, we can at least know what we might be in for if we find we have made the wrong decision. That said, there is nothing to indicate that the captain of the unfortunate powerboat was in that area intentionally. Perhaps the boat had mechanical difficulties. So while this story may sound accusatory, it is not our intention to point the finger. As we said at the start, we’ve probably all crossed that line.

What trouble have you gotten into when you sailed a track that you later wished you hadn’t? Let us know here: [email protected], or in the comments below.

4 Comments

  1. leonard sellers 1 year ago

    In years of racing on the Bay I’ve seen several boats (all sailboats) hung up on that rock. Low tide and a lack of local knowledge will bite even high-end racers.

  2. Phil Jay 1 year ago

    It just illustrates what is happening these days with fewer and fewer boaters having any idea how to look at a chart or having any concept of navigation. Too much reliance on electronics or reliance on nothing.

  3. Maxwell 1 year ago

    I agree with the other commenters that a lack of navigation diligence is the cause of these types of events. A few years back I took my sailboat, Endless Hubris (appropriate for the story!) out during what I knew was a King Tide. So, I got stuck in the lane going back to Emery Cove Marina for 5 hours until the tides released me from the “dumb-sailor” penalty box. My pride and being on time for dinner were the only damages.

  4. Monica Grant 1 year ago

    Jay Lambert from the Seawind 1000xl “Nanea” in Kona, Hawaii, emailed us with this comment:
    “We have chartered many times in the Puget Sound/Haro Straits area with San Juan Yachting and they have a name for forbidden paths in numerous areas up there. ‘Boat blood’ can result from crossing or anchoring in these spots and you will pay dearly!”

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From the Magazine
This is the story of 'Rosebud,' a Santa Cruz 52 commissioned by Roger and Isobel Sturgeon in December 1997. It nabbed the cover of the October 1999 'Latitude 38' and led to the build of two other great 'Rosebud's.