The tides are lined up for a good Golden Gate exit & entry on Saturday,
October 17, 2026 for a sail to the Farallone Islands and back.
The Farallon Islands rise dramatically out of the Pacific Ocean, made of rugged granite bedrock and separated from the mainland for more than 10,000 years. © Michael Pierson
This is our annual (most years, anyway :) safety-in-numbers voyaging event. (BAMA adventures) It's a day to experience sailing out to the rocks without the pressures of racing. If you haven't taken your boat that far out on the ocean yet, this is our best event in supporting your effort. You'll be traveling alongside other BAMA boats that have been out to the Farallones many times.
The fall Farallones trip is not a race. We purposefully throttle back faster boats so the group stays relatively together, and we're close to each other in case of an emergency. It's also comforting for new ocean crew to see other BAMA boats nearby.
Your boat should be prepared for an ocean trip, following the ocean racing safety gear guidance. But we will not check or inspect anyone. Each skipper is fully responsible for their boat & crew's safety.
Plan on getting your boat to Alcatraz Island (we meet in the lee of the island) at 8:30 am, Saturday, Oct. 17. The total distance, including how close to the Farallones we go, will be decided by the day's weather, with the goal of getting everyone back to the Golden Gate by around 6 pm, with docking at most marinas before dark.
Consider this the 'save the date' notice. Soon the details will go up on jibeset, and everyone will be asked to sign up there. Stay tuned for another email.
If you'd like to sail as crew that day on another boat, I've got room for you aboard F39 Ravenswing, and I believe there may be spots open on both Explorer 44s, Caliente & Round Midnight. Email back to me via cartersboat@gmail.com if you're looking for a ride that day. It's been a few years since I've visited the Farallones, so this is an exciting day to circle on my calendar. That's a special place out there, and fall is generally a mellow time to visit. Yes, we'll probably be burning extra gasoline that day. But maybe the wind gods will grant us a bit of a spinnaker run home :)
-Greg Carter for BAMA adventures
BAMA Adventure Sailing / Day Sailing & Cruising
From day sailing destinations in the San Francisco Bay, to great spots in the Delta, to nearby offshore destinations, there are many great places to explore from your multihull in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out the following recommendations from BAMA Club Members and contribute a write-up of your own.
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