Santa Cruz Harbor Mouth Shoaled

Each year the Santa Cruz Harbor Mouth is shoaled by tons of sand. This creates very shallow conditions and can be hazardous to boaters, especially human-powered boaters.  Here is live video of the Harbor at the end of December, 2012.

http://youtu.be/NTheFxdxmgk 

This sign is posted at the Launch Ramp

Rowers must take care not to row through the harbor mouth when waves are breaking  - even if the waves do not seem large. The area inside the Harbor Mouth also creates many opposing currents due to the backwash off the jetties combining with incoming swells. These currents can make controlling a rowing shell very difficult. Take care of yourself, take care of our precious Club Fleet. Don't row out of the Harbor if you observe any waves breaking. Watch the mouth for several sets to determine if waves are breaking across the mouth. Know the swell conditions and the tides before you sign out a boat. Relax, row some laps, work on your technique inside the Harbor when the ocean is rough. KC  

NEW Celia Alice Boat Care Video

Our Fleet is housed on a variety of racks and spaces in the SC Harbor. Some boat spaces can we awkward to launch from, like our Dragonfly Double, Celia Alice.Celia has sustained several types of damage, most from difficulties launching, docking, and putting the boat away.  Our Board has great concern about this constant damage. Our volunteer Fleet managers have provided a demonstration on how to handle Celia Alice, captured here on Video for all Club members to review. Please see the Fleet Page to view this video.

November Ocean Rowing in Santa Cruz

West Coast rowers are a lucky bunch, but there's no luckier than Santa Cruz rowers. Fall and Winter reveal a secret; folded between replenishing storms are awe-inspiring fog-free, flatwater mornings with crispy, colorful sunrises. Late afternoons disappoint local sailors and serve up many windless passages to early evening sunsets, perfect for a short rejuvenating row after a long work day. Check out our latest YouTube Video of rowing on our amazing Monterey Bay Sanctuary waters. November Rowing on the Ocean in Santa Cruz. Our Club President invites you to enjoy rowing our Fleet and adds her advice about remembering to tie down the boats every time. Listen to the beautiful sound of our repaired Lighthouse Fog Horn. This sound is your friend when you are forced to navigate home in thick fog.  Take care not to get caught out in the dark during our shortest days of the year. Remember, it is a requirement to display a white light in low light conditions, before sunrise and after sunset. Enjoy, and stay safe!

Rowing Your Boat in a Sea of Change

When you set out onto the water in your rowing boat, you felt fresh and excited. The sun was rising with welcome to the inspiration of a new day. The sea was calm, reflecting fluffy clouds.Your oars left perfect puddles. The trail of your boat was straight and true. You felt a wisp of chill on your cheek; a slight riffle on the water amused you. The tiny spout of harbor porpoise to starboard thrilled you and you followed along. Next, a sea otter and pup resting in a nest of kelp drew you to turn and hurry over for a better view.Suddenly, a powerboat came roaring out straight at you, so you turned to move off his heading and avoid the wake. The wind shifted, quickened, and suddenly the breeze became a shivering cool. The hairs on your neck lifted. A few droplets of water dripped off your hair onto your nose.You turn and see a huge wall of wet cloud overtaking you. A few moments later, you are engulfed in gray fog and you have lost your way back.This scenario is the introduction to a series of navigation and safety blogs for you. Together we will explore a variety of tools and habits that will enhance your safety on the ocean. No matter how simple or sophisticated your tools, the key to successful navigation is VIGILENCE. You must consistently use your tools and be aware of your surroundings to enhance your safety in a sea of change.

How about Rowing Elkhorn Slough?

Thanks to the efforts of Sam Johnson, SCRC now has a presence at Moss Landing. We have two Aeros there, Connie Baker and Merrill.  The Elkhorn Slough is a flat water treasure steeped in opportunities to view birds and mammals. Watch out for rafting sea otters, copious numbers of California Sea Lions and resting harbor seals. Rowing is limited to the beautiful 7 miles of the Elkhorn Slough tidal estuary ONLY. No Moss Landing Ocean rowing is allowed in SCRC Club Boats.The boat storage area is inside a locked cyclone fence with video surveillance.When launching at Moss Landing, you need to carry the boat about 100 yards across the parking lot to get to the sand beach where you launch. Sam recommends going with 2 people to help carry the boat. Itʼs okay to put the boats down on the sand but be careful not to rest the boats on the skegs. You then just wade in, straddle the boat and get in and launch. Sam also recommends wearing neoprene socks. Only Members who have proven, trusted advanced rowing skills and history of impeccable boat care and responsibility will be given privileges to these boats.

1. Get information, combinations etc. from Club Membership.
2. Check tides for Moss Landing (google Moss Landing tides).
3. Row with a buddy. If you have not rowed on the slough before, pick a buddy with Slough experience. Tides can exceed 3 knots under the bridge. Deep, Sticky, Mud extends far into the Channel at low tide. Winds can come up quickly and be very nasty.