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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.

As Clipper Cove Remains Open to Boaters, the Treasure Island Toll Moves Full Steam Ahead

Last year, we heard the first murmurings of a Treasure Island toll of $5 to both enter and exit the island. The toll, which is set to take effect in 2024, was met with no small degree of outrage, with opponents saying the toll would reduce access to public shores.

Treasure Island Will Keep Clipper Cove Beach Open to Boaters

Rumors of restricted access for boats at Clipper Cove Beach appear to be just that, though sailors should expect to see designated boating and swimming zones in the next few years, as one of several compromises that attempt to balance development with public access.

Critical Oakland Estuary BCDC Hearing on Wednesday

Coast Guard Island

Oakland Estuary advocate Brock de Lappe is reaching out for support this week from sailors willing to speak out for a cleanup of boats along the Oakland shoreline.

Angel Island Ferry To Go Electric in 2024

Angel Island Ferry has announced a partnership with PG&E to develop California’s first zero-emission, electric propulsion short-route ferry beginning in 2024.

Where Do You Pick Up Your Latitude 38? We Have Two New Outlets in the North Bay Area

Woodlands Market

During a recent pass along the Marin waterfront we found a couple of new places for you to pick up your ‘Latitude 38,’ and as we were in the neighborhood, we also stopped by one of our many stellar distribution points.

Oakland Waterfront Free-for-All

Brock de Lappe writes about how the Oakland waterfront is once again falling prey to lack of oversight and attention from the city and the port.

Sausalito Working Waterfront Victorious Over Housing Threat

The City of Sausalito has voted to preserve its working waterfront and shift its housing focus to another part of town.

The Painfully Slow but Slightly Encouraging News About Green Ships

When will there be a critical mass of new wind-assist and/or alternative-fuel ships that shift economies and the scales of production in a meaningful way to offer efficient and lower-cost alternatives?

The Resourceful Sailor Makes Rigging Alignment a Top Priority

While working aloft on the tricolor, The Resourceful Sailor noticed that the toggle and triangle plate connecting the masthead to the dual backstays were misaligned, awkwardly loading the clevis pin.

Good Jibes #74: Alan Olson on Building Tall Ships

Hear what goes into building a tall ship, how to sail from Minnesota to the Caribbean, abandon ship, dodge hurricanes and winter, and about Alan’s five years at a Buddhist monastery.

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

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.

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