January 4-6, 2019

With a major winter storm (thunder! lightning! gales! heavy rain! big seas!) arriving just in time for the busiest midwinters day of the month, race organizers are scrambling to cancel, and the USCG has sent out a cautionary press release.

Update Sunday morning: Sausalito Yacht Club and Oakland YC have canceled their races for Sunday, January 6.

Update Saturday night: Sausalito Yacht Club will make a decision about the Jan. 6 Chili Midwinter Race by 8 a.m. "The current weather conditions have many racers concerned as to whether or not we will be holding our Chili Midwinter race tomorrow," writes PRO Tim Prouty. "We will send out an announcement via email at approximately 8 am to confirm the status of the race. This decision is alway difficult because forecasts can be only so accurate. We do not want to cancel the event but will if the weather will put racers and race committee crew in danger. The current outlook call for a front to move through tomorrow mid day. Please check your email in the morning for the latest information regarding tomorrow's race. Also, please monitor VHF channel 72 if you are around a VHF radio."

###

The following races are canceled this weekend (that we know of as of Friday night): Golden Gate Yacht Club's Seaweed Soup; Encinal YC's Jack Frost; Richmond YC's Small Boat Midwinters; Sequoia YC's Winter Series; Tiburon YC's Mott Midwinters; Monterey Peninsula YC's Perry Cup for Mercurys. Any others?

The Coast Guard encourages mariners and beachgoers to prepare for high winds and seas forecasted for the San Francisco Bay Area throughout the weekend. The Bay Area is expected to experience gale-force winds at 50 mph and seas up to 15 feet.

"We encourage boaters to only get underway if necessary," said Capt. Tony Ceraolo, the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco commander. "Mariners who need to get underway should make sure they check all their survival and safety equipment before going out."

Mariners and beachgoers are encouraged to :

• Monitor the weather and heed all marine warnings.
• Double-check mooring lines when securing boats and take precautions for items stored loosely aboard. (We would add, check your docklines and maybe double up.)
• Secure all paddle craft so they do not end up in the water and cause a false distress.
• Recreational boaters, personal watercraft and paddle craft users are advised to stay off the water due to hazardous sea conditions.
• Swimmers, surfers and windsurfers (and kiters) are urged to stay out of the water during this period of heavy weather due to increased risk of drowning from rip currents and sneaker waves.
• If mariners get underway, they should create a float plan and send it to friends and families before getting underway, which consists of a description of the vessel, the number of people aboard, the destination and the expected return time.
• Always wear a proper life jacket when on the water and use VHF-FM channel 16 to notify rescuers in the event of an emergency.

For more information about this weekend's forecast, visit the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/mtr.