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Smoke on the Water

By Christine Weaver | September 8, 2017 | San Francisco Bay |

While natural disasters elsewhere have garnered the headlines, the western United States has not slid into September unscathed. Wildfires too numerous to list, some massive and catastrophic in scope, dot the West Coast from border to border. Over Labor Day Weekend, dense smoke from those distant fires smothered the Bay Area. It was under that blanket of hot, still, smoky air that the Windjammers and Jazz Cup destination races kicked off the new month.

Not only was the air temperature strangely hot, the water in the middle of San Francisco Bay felt unusually warm.

latitude/Chris
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC

During a long postponement, the crews of many Jazz Cup starters, milling about the Central Bay north of Treasure Island, sought relief from the heat, which built to record-high triple digits.

For reboarding boats, crews deployed emergency ladders. A certain amount of athleticism was required to use them.

latitude/Chris
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

In the end, neither the Windjammers from San Francisco to Santa Cruz on Friday nor the Jazz Cup from the Central Bay to Benicia on Saturday had any finishers. Although a westerly did eventually fill in for the Jazz Cup starters, it petered out short of San Pablo Bay. We’ll have more in Racing Sheet in the October issue of Latitude 38.

Abba-Zaba’s crew had an easier time of it — a better angle — when they moved the ladder around to the transom. Note that their engine is not running.

latitude/Chris
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

The website www.watertemperature.net claims that San Francisco water temperature is 57°F. "This water temperature is too cold for water sports. Please wear a wetsuit if you like to go into the water." According to NOAA, the water temperature has crept up into the low 60s.

Sailor-swimmers on boats with open transoms and low freeboard, such as this Melges 20, had an easier time of it. Note that these boats are sailing, not anchored. Drivers had just enough breeze to keep control of the helm.

latitude/Chris
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC

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