This Bay Just Isn't Big Enough for the Both of Us During a small craft advisory Dec. 6, I was sailing out of San Diego Bay. I was on a starboard tack leaving the Navy fuel dock area and the bait station behind.
As I cleared the sausage barriers surrounding the submarine berthing area, the channel south of Ballast Point came into view. Prior to that time, I could not see the inbound traffic - which happened to be a U.S. Navy warship, along with three self-propelled barges in line and to her starboard - all nearing the degaussing area.
The wind was blowing from the south and I was sailing with a reefed genoa. Before I crossed the line of green buoys and into the channel, I tacked away as my brother furled the sail and I engaged the engine.
I was heading straight for Ballast Point, with enormous and dense kelp paddies to avoid, and the point was about 100 feet ahead. My biggest concern was to maintain steerage, keep kelp off my prop and not go aground.
That is when I got the five short blasts from the warship - and within a couple of minutes, the "blue light special" of naval security arrived and engaged in questioning my clearance to a naval warship.
"Was I within 500 yards?" he asked. My reply was that since he wasn't visible earlier under the conditions, I had no choice; and heeding Rule 9, I prudently gave as wide a berth as possible, short of going aground.
I would have thought, with a bit of reasoning, that answer would suffice. WRONG.
Again, this time, security demanded a "yes" or "no" answer. "Did I go within 500 yards?" Before they left, they either threatened or advised me that if it happened again, I would get a $30,000 fine.
As I was approaching Buoy No. 9, along came a Coast Guard vessel with a blue light blazing after me. All the way to Buoy No. 7, I was chastised for the same thing. Since there weren't the big ground swells I came to sail, only confused sloppy chop, I unfurled the genoa, jibed and sailed in, hoping to stay well ahead of what looked like a warship coming in.
Later, I got out my chart to verify what I believe about the extent of San Diego Bay. For the greater portions of the bay, there IS NOT 500 yards of navigable water on either side of the channel. So, given the mandated 500-yard stay-clear zone, the bay isn't big enough for the both of us.
John J. Farina, S.V. Mama Mia!, San Diego
Fun With FUBAR
I'm sure many of your Navy readers have notified you that "FUBAR" is a Navy term meaning "Fouled (or something stronger) Up Beyond All Recognition" - as in "this aircraft recovery is FUBAR." According to your story ("FUBAR Odyssey Makes Mexico Cruising Look Easy," in the Dec. 14 issue) the cruise was anything but.
Good article.
William K. Sandke, Coronado
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