Efforts mount to stop dangerous “wake boarding” in San Francisco Bay, when hydrofoilers surf the waves of giant ships.
Wingfoilers ride the wakes of a cargo ship near Chrissy Field in San Francisco Bay on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. The San Francisco Boardsailing Association has started an educational campaign about the dangers of venturing too close to a cargo ship. Surfing the industrial-size waves of a giant ship in San Francisco Bay is a thrilling experience: smooth, silent and sublimely fast.
“It’s enticing to get up there, close to the ship’s swell. That’s human nature. But it creates a major safety issue,” said Capt. Anne McIntyre of the San Francisco Bar Pilots. Interest in foiling exploded during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among tech types, as people looked for fun outdoors. Crissy Field, a beach at the foot of the Presidio of San Francisco, emerged as a world-renowned foil site, drawing professionals and gutsy amateurs.“It’s like a magic carpet ride. An amazing sensory experience,” Wells said. “It’s very fluid – a ballet-like sport, with incredible speed.
These attributes have expanded the number of days that people can sail — as well as the number of people sailing. “It’s going to be pretty insane, if I don’t get run over or eaten by a shark!” said Lenny, before jumping into the frigid Bay water.The problem, says the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay Pilots, is that the giant vessels can’t quickly stop. Traveling 20 knots, holding millions of dollars’ worth of cargo, it may take 1.5 miles to halt. The ships are deceptively fast and can create a wind shadow that stalls a small foiler.
There’s no room to maneuver. The channel under the Golden Gate Bridge is narrow and only 60 feet deep. There’s a treacherous sand bar.If a vessel is forced to change course quickly to spare the life of a board rider, it could run aground or collide with another vessel, said Mendes. This could cause major damage and significant environmental damage if a collision causes an oil spill.
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