Twenty-five Rescued off Crissy Field

We were a bit shocked to learn that Coast Guard resources had to come to the rescue of 25 windsurfers and kiteboarders off San Francisco’s Crissy Field Sunday evening, as we know that many boardsailors and kiters pride themselves on being able to ‘self-rescue’.

But as Lt JG Sean Kelly explained, the summer winds, which had been cranking earlier, simply shut down, leaving roughly two dozen sailors dangerously close to the main shipping channel. In addition to the 47-foot Motor Life Boat and 29-foot Response Boat sent out from Station Golden Gate (at Horseshoe Cove), Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel also helped in the effort. 

While some might say the boarders and kiters should take responsibility for getting safely ashore before the wind shuts down, the Coasties see it as their mandate to render assistance without question: "It was critical to locate and recover every disabled kiteboarder and windsurfer, said Sector San Francisco commander Capt. Greg Stump, "as San Francisco Bay is the gateway to seven busy commercial ports frequented by large ship traffic."

Needless to say, while the Bay is renowned as one of the greatest sailing venues on earth, its 50-degree water and challenging winds and tides can be extremely dangerous — especially for neophytes. The Coasties urge all watersports enthusiasts to "wear a life jacket and carry a VHF marine radio when taking to the water" and "wear a wetsuit of sufficient thickness to prevent the onset of hypothermia."