Spring Storm Scours the Bay

If you were anywhere near the Bay Area on Saturday, it probably didn’t escape your notice that we experienced some unsettled weather. After slogging through torrential downpours all day, the full force of the storm hit that evening, sending anchored boats dragging and shredding poorly secured roller furling jibs. "My anemometer maxed at just over 50 knots," wrote Jeff Berman, who had his Catalina 36 II Perseverance berthed at Sausalito’s Schoonmaker Point Marina for the weekend.

Boats anchored just off the marina in Richardson Bay took the brunt of the storm. According to Richardson Bay Regional Agency Harbor Administrator Bill Price, at least 15 boats — not including dinghies and skiffs — went walkabout on Saturday. "It’s very frustrating that people who can afford to keep their boats in marinas try to save money by anchoring out," said Price. "They underestimate the damage that other, less-well-maintained boats can cause when they drag anchor."

While most of the boats washed up on either Strawberry Point or near Blackie’s Pasture, a few actually sunk at their moorings. The Coast Guard and Marin Sheriff’s Patrol did their best that night to round up the strays, but only a handful were saved from being grounded. Salvage services such as Parker Diving will be likely be cleaning up the mess for days to come.