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Subject: TWL: Bodega Bay - Danger
From: Michael Maurice (mikem@XXX.XXX)
Date: Mon Sep 02 2002 - 19:39:19 EDT
The Coast Pilot #7 has the following copy.
<<
(14) Danger.In good weather small boats having local
knowledge sometimes use the passage between Bodega Head
and Bodega Rock. The passage is unsafe whenever breakers from
heavy ground swells reduce the width of the passage. Large
breaking waves can occur inside the 30-foot depth contour line
NW and SW of Bodega Rock. The safest part of the passage
tween Bodega Head and Bodega Rock is along the deeper part of
the passage. When the width of the passage is reduced by breakers,
mariners entering Bodega Bay should pass S of Bodega Harbor
Approach Lighted Buoy BA.
>>
I have been busy the past few days going through my notes and other
materials from the past few years.
One of the places I have marked in the Pilot is this paragraph.
The information above is slightly, perhaps very misleading as I consider
this passage to be much more dangerous than indicated above.
While it is true that I personally use this passage frequently and that
many other locals and non locals use it as well, I still consider it quite
dangerous. It is that time of year again when many boaters are headed
south. Some to California, some to Mexico and some to places far more
distant. Many of them stop at Bodega Bay. I encounter many sailboats and
other craft headed south this time of year and using this passage.
As long as swell heights are not above about 7 feet, the passage is
relatively safe. And yet, I repeatedly witness locals and non alike using
the passage at swell heights considerably above this. For those of you not
familiar with the history of this passage, I warn you now that under no
circumstances should you attempt it at swell heights above about 7 feet.
If you try it at 7, you will have no trouble making it. And since many
people are headed south and the passage is very tempting because it
shortens the distance into the harbor by about a mile, they are likely to
use it. Such action is invariably triggered by one of the local boats which
use this passage frequently. Understand this; there are frequent accidents
here at elevated swell heights and that includes local boats.
If I had to write the Coast Pilot section here is what I think it ought to
read.
(14) Danger.In good weather small boats having local
knowledge sometimes use the passage between Bodega Head
and Bodega Rock. The passage is unsafe whenever << breakers from>>
heavy ground swells are present. <<reduce the width of the passage>>. Large
breaking waves can occur inside the 30-foot depth contour line
NW and SW of Bodega Rock. During low swell the safest part of the passage
between Bodega Head and Bodega Rock is along the center, deeper part of
the passage. When swell above about 7 feet are present <<the width of the
passage is reduced by breakers>>,
mariners entering Bodega Bay should pass west of Bodega Head Lighted
Whistle Buoy 12 and proceed east to Bodega Harbor
Approach Lighted Buoy BA.
I would remove the material in <<xx>>.
A few notes about all this. There is a extensive shallow shelf which Buoy
12 marks. I would rename it Bodega Reef Buoy as Bodega Rock has a sharp
spine reef that extends SSW from it and a large shelf which extends nearly
out to Buoy 12, up to Bodega Head itself and offshore to the West of the
Head for about 1/2 mile. This shelf is about 30-40 feet deep and creates a
serious danger. It has killed people in September and it will again.
Capt. Mike Maurice
Near Portland Oregon.
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