We've all experienced the magic of the wonderful bay porpoises gracing our local waterways on our many open sails. I've heard several stories on the increase in their numbers in recent years.
You can read the full scoop in Bay Nature Magazine article Safe Harbor written by William Keener of the GG Cetacean Society. Their research vessel is a few slips down from us at Clipper 4.
More than a wildlife spectacle, the presence of these shy animals could be telling us something positive about the health of the Bay ecosystem. Big mammals, especially carnivores, are in decline everywhere. Unless humans intervene, as with the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone, they rarely make a comeback. Yet it's happened here--the porpoises have "reintroduced" themselves to San Francisco Bay...
... the best place to watch for porpoises ... is from the Golden Gate Bridge.... time your visit to coincide with the currents running at maximum flood ... There are two good zones--one near the north tower, and one near the south tower (see map for areas where porpoises concentrate).
Coastal Cleanup, it's 27th year, is scheduled for September 17 at Horseshoe Cove, and SEA is making final preparations to participate, as we did last year.
Date: September 17, Saturday Time: 09:00 - 12:00 Location: Horseshoe Cove at Fort Baker Category:Members
California Coastal Commission has scheduled many great events in both the Marin and San Francisco Counties.
As active users of the wonderful Bay and beyond, it's in our interest to help insure we all do our job to keep our environment clean and healthy. You can help!
*CELEBRATE COASTWEEKS!*
Each fall, people across the country participate in COASTWEEKS, a celebration of our coastal and water resources. In 2011 the California celebration takes place from September 17 to October 9, kicked off by the 27th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day! The California Coastal Commission has compiled a calendar of over 200 coastal and water-related events taking place in 31 counties. Please visit the calendar at www.coastforyou.org and find just the right activity for you, your friends, and your family to celebrate our coast and inland waterways!
Reminder, the skippers meeting for the SSS Corinthian Race is Wednesday March 30, 1930 hours at Oakland Yacht Club. We'll go over the do's
and don'ts for Saturday's race.
Following that, Jim Quanci will give a presentation on ocean racing in general and OYRA in particular. You've probably seen Jim's immaculate Cal 40 Green Buffalo in SSS ocean races. I know he regularly cleans my clock. Here's a sampling of Jim's outline:
Fascinating short video about Life on the Farallones and the research that goes on out there from KQED Quest. Although many of us have sailed, raced, or motored out there, we cannot make land on the island! Videos such as these provide a rare glimpse into this habitat sanctuary.
The Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco are a vital home to many birds and marine mammals. While the forbidding and inhospitable nature of the Farallones may be ideal for wildlife, it also makes this a difficult place for scientists to live and work. QUEST ventures out to these jagged rocks to get a glimpse of daily life on the islands and what it’s like there for the researchers from PRBO Conservation Science.
SEA was one busy group over this fabulous weekend!
SEA folks, along with 80,000 volunteers up and down the California coast, cleaned the beaches, picking up fishing line, bottle caps, plastic bottles, coffee lids and cigarette butts - it's a pretty sobering scene when you spend three hours focused on collecting wayward trash!
Afterward we had a visiting one legged seagull offer a personal thank you - and nibble on homemade scones we also enjoyed. And, then we were off to one heck of a BBQ sponsored by The Sausalito Lions Club, Whole Foods and other local businesses.
It's the Annual California Coastal Clean Up! Saturday, September 25 8:45am-12pm The ocean is good to us, so let's be good to it. Help make a difference with SEA.
SEA members will meet at Horseshoe Cove, near Presidio Yacht Club, for the annual Coastal Cleanup. Coffee and morning pastries will be available. Wear your SEA T-Shirts! Please bring work gloves and "previously owned" plastic or reuseable bags so we use the least amount of plastic possible. Bay Model will host a free BBQ from noon to 3pm for clean up volunteers.
A six-day celebration of artistic and scientific excellence, BLUE brings together the world's greatest collection of ocean films, esteemed filmmakers and marine experts.
BLUE moves to its new home of Monterey this year, with the Aquarium as its Presenting Sponsor. The festival will feature more than 60 award-winning ocean films, photography, workshops and exhibits. Highlights include a special screening of Disneynature's new film "OCEANS."
Festivities will include VIP parties, formal dinners with live entertainment and a special centennial birthday tribute to famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau.
ocean
We've all experienced the magic of the wonderful bay porpoises gracing our local waterways on our many 
Jim Quanci talk on Ocean Racing
SEA was one busy group over this fabulous weekend!
It's the Annual California Coastal Clean Up! 