The Farallons - any docks?

D

DLL

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I mentioned going out to the Farallons to a friend and he asked if we are allowed to dock there. I told him no, just on instincts,
but I thought I would ask. Google Earth doesn't show any docks, at least not that I can see.

In an emergency, I would dock most anywhere, but if there aren't any docking facilities...???

I can check with the CG if no one on the forum knows.......

EDIT: I thought I should add that we have NO plans of docking there, just curious. I can see roads on one island. Always good to have a plan B.
 
your'e right, no docks. iv'e been there a few times, but never overnighted.
you can anchor in the lee, but if the winds kick up it would be a nasty ride back.you'll see some intersting sights. good luck roy
 
As far as I know the islands are considered off-limits. They're a protected wildlife sanctuary. The roads you see are for the biologists who are studying the sharks (one of the largest known 'steady' populations) and birds.
 
I saw a "Bay Area Backroads" show on the Farallons one time. They showed the docking from a cameraman in a helicopter. They use some kind of a sling/elevator contraption. Looks really scary to me!!!! And yes, they are off limits. Must have a special permit to even touch the rocks!
 
In order to protect these sensitive populations from disturbance, access to the (Farallon National Wildlife) Refuge is strictly limited. On occasion, wildlife biologists are granted access to conduct management-related research. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only considers those uses that are compatible with the purposes of the Refuge, and which will further the protection and management of wildlife resources. Scientists from the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, working in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, maintain a constant presence on the Refuge, conduct research, monitor the wildlife, and report trespass violations.

Special boating restrictions around all of the Farallon Islands include year-round speed (5 nautical mph) and noise restrictions within 1000 feet of all of the islands. Between March 15 and August 15, a seasonal period encompassing the breeding season, vessel traffic is prohibited within 300 feet (one football field length) of most of the islands.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r1/farallon.htm
 
There is a research station on one of the islands that is pretty much staffed full time. The sling contraption that Flutterby mentioned is because the station is high up on a cliff and they lower thier tender down into the water when they need it.

There is a group of boaters based in the bay that provides transport (people and gear) out to the researchers. They are a volunteer organization and will haul out supplies on a twice a month basis. I crewed on one such trip. When we got there the wind was really starting to pick up so we just off loaded our gear and headed home. Normally the researchers would have invited us ashore for a little tour.

If you are interested in visiting the islands I think that is the only way. I know that the support group is always looking for more boats to haul stuff out. If you are interested I could get a contact name/number for you.

Rod
 
Rod, what an interesting story! Where do you dock your boat to unload the supplies? Will you ever go again?
 
There's a sandy area on the SE side of the main island. There's a deep anchorage on the NE side(a cove, probably the most protected). You'd probably have to get special permission to anchor but in an emergency, I don't think they'd refuse.

I was running for home, passing on the south side a few miles on very unpleasant seas. The whole island looked nasty.
 
My friend is a marine biologist who spent 3 days on Ano Nuevo. It was great til he found the entire island was covered with foul smelling seal Poop. (the squid variety)
 
There is no dock.

There is a mooring buoy that the delivery boat can tie up to. As the delivery boat arrives they call the research station on the VHF. One of the guys at the station then gets into their little launch and has it lowered the ~100 feet down to the water. He unhooks, motors over to the delivery boat, transfers the gear/people to the launch, then returns to the dangling cable to be hoisted back up the cliff.

The island doesn't offer much protection so I don't recommend planning on it being a refuge in a storm. If conditions were too bad it would be impossible for the guys at the research station to launch their boat to be of any assistance. Even if they could you would have to transfer to their boat and then survive the hoist back up the cliff. In an emergency, best bet would be to call the Coast Guard!

I would certainly like to make the trip again and hopefully get a tour of the island. I will hope for better conditions however. The trip back in was slow, rough and wet. We had left from Horseshoe cove around 5:00 AM (that is where we picked up the supplies we were carrying out) and didn't get back to Oyster Point until about 9:00 PM. We were on a 45' ketch and were getting beat up pretty bad on the way back.

Rod
 
Thanks for the info. I have no desire to go ashore, was more interested in the emergency side of it. I have never heard a good word about the smell there. On the leeward side...would you be able to smell the seal poop? Bird droppings? :)

I wonder what their temperatures are? Like San Francisco or cooler?
 
I suspect that those islands get a lot more fog then SF which would make them colder. Even on a day like today when SF will be near 80 degrees, the Farallons might be in the fog which will stay offshore....
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I suspect that those islands get a lot more fog then SF which would make them colder. Even on a day like today when SF will be near 80 degrees, the Farallons might be in the fog which will stay offshore....

Click to expand...


I believe they are far enough off shore to escape the fog.

Last month I was on a cruise ship that left out of San Francisco. As we were leaving the Golden Gate bridge was obscured by the fog. By the time we got to the Farallon Islands it was clear and sunny.

Rod
 
Personal observation is always better then supposition! Was it a good cruise? Where did you go?
 
I'm with AbDiver on this one. I too have crewed a delivery run with a Farallon Society Member. This one was a 50' steel sloop. The roughest boat ride I have ever had. Waves washing completely over that boat made me yearn for the delta. Just today I got a call from the same guy. He mentioned he was planning to take his boat to Tomalas Bay over the weekend, and we need to get me back out on the ocean again. My reply was kept under my breath.

FindMe,
Tied to a dock.
 
I did a 10 day Alaska cruise, it was great. I really enjoyed leaving from San Francisco. It was so much more relaxing to leave from a home port rather than flying off to some other city to board the cruise ship.

Rod
 
Wasn't that the last cruise out of San Francisco? That particular cruise is no longer? If so, I had friends on it with you!
 
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