By Tom Fowle
It seemed that, until recently, all of my experiences going out the Gate involved weather that, to put it mildly, was poor. A couple of whacks at the Double Handed Farallons race in April, and our fabulous Yukon Jack cruise to San Diego in mid January, started with seas in the 10 foot range as soon as we got outside. Even in the trip south, it took a day and a half to improve. (See Farallon '93, Farallon '95, and South with the Yukon (Jack)).
I was not prepared then for 2 recent one day jaunts on E.T. with fellow BAADS skippers on which the seas were light and the wind almost too mild for good sailing. It seems that later in the summer, particularly this year, conditions outside are often quiet almost to a fault. On both trips, we close reached across the bay, taking winds well over 20 knots through "the slot" and expecting to get banged around quite a bit after getting under the 'Gate bridge. In both cases, as soon as we cleared the bridge, things began to moderate quickly. Outside, the swells ran 3 to 5 feet or less, and the wind and air temperature dropped. The wind ran perhaps 10 to 15 knots with only a few gusts higher. It was cool enough that we were all glad we'd put on foulies before leaving, but before returning to the bay, some of that gear came off.
If you pick the tides correctly so they help you both ways, and keep a close eye (and ear) on the weather to avoid getting caught by any sudden changes, going out the 'Gate this time of year is not more difficult than a regular summer sail. It will only require a few more hours and will still fit into a longish late summer day.
Once you're out the 'Gate and clear of the roar of traffic, settle down and observe the surroundings. It's cool, particularly as was the case almost all the time on our 2 trips if it's overcast or cloudy. Most remarkable perhaps, even with the noise of boat, wind and water, there is a background quiet which I can only call "deep and wide." I have not experienced silence of this kind anywhere else I've been. It's different than the deep quiet of a forest because there is no closed in feeling; you can "hear" the openness! Even when the seas build and the wind howls, it's still true. There's no noise at any distance! It is immediately obvious how much noise "civilization" creates and what a wonder it is to get away from all that bother. For me at least the purity of that kind of silence stays with me after the trip is over. It is not a cure-all, but sure something a sailor could become well and truly addicted too.
If the good weather holds out for a couple more months as it should, check it out, particularly if you've never been out on the real ocean, this is the perfect time for a first non threatening taste of the big deep quiet blue beyond!
Just a few things to keep in mind. Bring your foulies and a few warmer clothes. When you've got a couple of hours' trip just to get home you don't want to get chilled and not have anything to put on.
Do keep a close eye out, especially for fog, changing weather and ships. When big guys are going out the Gate there isn't as much room as we're used to having in the bay, and by then they are generally going very fast. Also, you don't want to get caught out there if the fog comes in and makes it hard to see your way back in the Gate. Having to spend a night outside even if you can stay warm is a whole different kettle of fish than a one day trip. Make sure you have at least one life harness and tether handy, it should be a skipper's rule that no one goes out of the cockpit in any seas at all unless there is a real need, and anyone going outside the cockpit when outside the bay must wear a harness and be hooked to something strong. Life lines are not considered strong for those purposes.
If you check everything first and make sure you've got what you need and have thought through contingencies, nothing will go wrong. If you get slipshod, you are asking to get caught at it.
Despite a little justifiable paranoia, give it a try! Even if all you learn is that you're a bay sailor at heart, you'll have an unforgettable experience, I can just about guarantee it.
Next level up, trips up and down the coast to Half Moon Bay and Drakes Bay for a little overnight anchoring out practice!
See you out there! It's everything it's cracked up to be and much more!
Updated 2-18-1999 and 6-20-2005