Richmond Sailors Chart Their Marine Hazards

Sailors are all too aware of the dangers of unknown sunken or floating objects and are always open about sharing information about the whereabouts of such hazards. Sheldon Coad is part of the Google Groups’ “Cal Sailing Club Discussions” group; he forwarded us a memo and a chart of the marine hazards faced by Richmond sailors.

“Just got a note from a friend who teaches at Tradewinds,” Sheldon wrote. “There is a new sunken hazard opposite the entrance to the Richmond Yacht Club. This would be on the south side of the Point Potrero Reach. Tradewinds had one of their boats badly damaged by running into the obstruction.”

As we understand it, this means the water off Point Richmond now has seven known hazards, and they are difficult to spot — hence the marine-hazards chart, which is dated January 2025 and may not include the new obstruction.

“That sunken boat in Keller Cove has been there for a long time, a few years. RYC sailors know to avoid it. At least it’s well marked (in the daytime) and close-ish to shore,” Latitude racing editor Christine Weaver commented. “The other newer one is more scary.”

One of the hazards charted out is the remains of the old ferry landing. The pier was built at the close of the 19th century and saw its last commercial use in the 1970s. Its deterioration continued, and in early 2024 it was earmarked for removal. We don’t have the latest information, but it would appear that job has not been completed.

Rather than try to explain all the hazards, we leave you with the chart as we received it, accompanied by a photo attributed to Will Paxton.

And while we’re on the topic of hazards, let’s hope the vessel pictured below doesn’t become one as well.