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WORKING WATERFRONT: West Coast

Latitude 38 Working Waterfront News Central

Since its inception, Latitude 38 has been able to cover, inspire and connect the people in our sailing community thanks to the businesses that support sailors and sailing. This includes boatyards, sailmakers, marinas, boat builders and numerous trades and craftspeople. Over the decades, the space available along our critical public waterfront continues to shrink.  Our Working Waterfront page is dedicated to covering these stories to bring awareness to the jobs, facilities and services that are vital to our nation's commercial and recreational maritime infrastructure. Enjoying the 12-month sailing season up and down the California coast is one of the prime features of living in the West. A working waterfront is one that works for all California citizens and retains space for these important waterfront facilities.

Your Local Sail Experts Marchal Sailmakers Are Back

Marchal Sailmakers will take care of all your sail repair needs.

The USCG ‘Eagle’ Has Landed — Almost

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX-327) sails past the Astoria-Megler Bridge during its departure from Astoria, Oregon, June 16, 2025. Known as “America’s Tall Ship,” Eagle serves as a training platform for cadets and officer candidates and is one of only two commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military.

The USCG tall ship ‘Eagle’ and her 120 crew are scheduled to dock in San Francisco next Wednesday.

Performance Art — The Creation of ‘C³’

One of the most unique boats to sail the Bay in recent years is Charles Ray’s 60-ft ‘C³’ (“C cubed”). Part catboat, part “Batboat,” part performance art.

Join Rocking the Boat San Francisco’s Spring Launch Celebration

Join the Spring Launch Celebration and launch of the restored’ Neptune,’ a 14-ft Whitehall built by students in the Bronx in 2004.

Trump Plans To Reopen Alcatraz as a Prison

2 Wyliecats and an Olson at Alcatraz

Future Alcatraz “tourists” could be on a one-way trip to the island.

S.F. Blue Tech and Sofar Ocean Drop Data

More Sofar Ocean buoys will be joining this one on the Bay on Friday.

New, bright-yellow data buoys known as Spotters have arrived on the Bay and off the coast.

Urgent Call for Funding to Protect the Bay

Laros II rumbles by the Romberg Center on the eastern shore of Tiburon on a sparkling Bay.

The Estuary & Ocean Science Center, located in Tiburon, is slated to close due to a loss of university funding.

Celebrate Sustainability at the Berkeley Waterfront — April 10

Celebrate the Berkeley Marina’s new electric Harbor Patrol boat, new boater WiFi, and 5 new electric vehicles!

Oh, Deere! It’s Caption Contest(!) Time

“Napa has its Crush in the Fall,” Niels Kisling writes. “Here in Morro Bay the Crush comes in March.

Short Sightings: SailGP, El Toros, Marine Mammals and Congressional Cup

SailGP racing

There’s lots of action ahead along the busy California coastline with SailGP, El Toro Regatta, Congressional Cup, an ABYC education forum, and the Marine Mammal Survey.

Working Waterfront Issues and Resources

Numerous groups and organizations around the country are working to help preserve maritime economic zones.  Working Waterfront Organizations:

National Working Waterfront Network

Sausalito Working Waterfront

San Diego Working Waterfront

Port Townsend Working Waterfront

Trade Schools

Spaulding Marine Center

Waterfront Jobs

San Francisco Bay fill map circa 1969.
Map of Bay fill and conversion to resevoir in 1969. San Francisco Bay might have disappeared or looked dramatically different without the attention of those who recognized and protected the Bay for all Bay Area citizens.

Job Opportunities