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Anyone thinking about the 2027 SHTP?
- Thread starter OlyJeff
- Start date
I like this and thank you to the contributors. For 2027 I'll be sailing into the bay for the first time, just me and the cargo/tanker ships, little unnerving with me not having a radar. Leaving for the race? I figured I'd just follow the fast/experienced skippers ahead of me.Thanks @vanilladuck ! And also thanks for all the work updating the website!
However, none of those resources address sailing outside the Gate, other than comments re: the Farallones or SHTP (which are great, just a big step up from "just starting to get offshore experience", which several comments above referenced in different ways.
By way of an attempt to contribute myself, I have written up all my notes on going outside the Golden Gate, and made annotated figures. All of this is information one can find online, or in various guides, etc. Much of it is quotes from actual SSS people, though ironically from websites other than the SSS one, since this discussion has not seemed to happen here (that I can find much of.) To be clear: I am not the experienced one; I have just accumulated information from others who are. Whcih is what one would expect for someone starting to gain offshore experience... Writing this up is an attempt to bring this sort of thing together to lower the barrier to entry for others.
I made the document an editable Google doc:
Sailing out the Golden Gate 202226
Sailing out the Golden Gate (Advice / Overview) Last updated: 02/21/2026. Ppl Editing: If you have substantial (years) of experience sailing this area and disagree with anything here, please feel free to edit / add! This is intended to be a living document. If editing, please add your opinion / ...docs.google.com
* Please add to it! [But also please add only if you have a lot of experience sailing these waters, or are quoting someone who does; links to sources are great.] The whole point is to capture that experience.
* If you edit, please do NOT delete other quotes. just add yours. If you think something is wrong, say so politely. Subsequent editing for style may be done by me.
* If you edit, please update the 'last edited' date at the very start of the document
This is an experiment; we'll see if anyone uses it or looks at it.
Daydreamer
SAILOR
Welcome aboard Laysan and Desmond !
The NOR and the SER documents will be up soon.
The 2025 SHTP documents are a good reference.
Getting into and out of the Bay without radar is not a problem.
A good plotter and AIS will cover 99% of your needs. Small fishing boats without AIS being the exception.
There is more room than it appears and keeping out of the shipping lanes is not difficult.
Mind the current. Try to time your arrival on a flood and ride it in.
The NOR and the SER documents will be up soon.
The 2025 SHTP documents are a good reference.
Getting into and out of the Bay without radar is not a problem.
A good plotter and AIS will cover 99% of your needs. Small fishing boats without AIS being the exception.
There is more room than it appears and keeping out of the shipping lanes is not difficult.
Mind the current. Try to time your arrival on a flood and ride it in.
I've used the 2025 documents as my punch list, actually started way before that but updated to 2025. I should be good to go, just a few small items like renting the life raft. I'm more concerned with the initial entrance and early stay in SF. I plan to sail to SF in May from Newport OR to some marina? in the bay. My plan is to be early enough to be able to work on anything that needs a final fix before the jump off on race day. Entering the bay in May concerns me since fog is a real issue in my home port of Yaquina Bay and I don't have a radar. I think of this. "The coldest winter I ever had was the summer I spent in San Francisco."
Chad Peddy
New member
I need to decide the boat to take then do it.
My Hobie 33 is ready but I am now 50yr. The J35 looks more comfortable, but would require selling the Hobie for over $12k
I will decide by July for LongPac
My Hobie 33 is ready but I am now 50yr. The J35 looks more comfortable, but would require selling the Hobie for over $12k
I will decide by July for LongPac
Daydreamer
SAILOR
"I need to decide the boat to take then do it.
My Hobie 33 is ready but I am now 50yr. The J35 looks more comfortable, but would require selling the Hobie for over $12k
I will decide by July for LongPac"
I turned 60 after sailing back from Kauai and the 2025 SHTP.
The General was in his 80s
Don't let age be an excuse, you're in good shape!
Sail what you have ready and sell it when you get back as a proven boat.
They are both good boats!
My Hobie 33 is ready but I am now 50yr. The J35 looks more comfortable, but would require selling the Hobie for over $12k
I will decide by July for LongPac"
I turned 60 after sailing back from Kauai and the 2025 SHTP.
The General was in his 80s
Don't let age be an excuse, you're in good shape!
Sail what you have ready and sell it when you get back as a proven boat.
They are both good boats!