Fleet Week Boating Safety
If our charter calendar is anything to go by, Inspire Sailors are excited to get out on the bay for San Francisco Fleet Week! To keep folks safe, we’ve gathered some information and advice to follow when you’re out on the water during Fleet Week…
Maintain Proper Lookout
We expect the Bay to be very busy during during Fleet Week, so we strongly encourage (as always), that skippers and crew remain mindful of Coast Guard Rule #5:
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full
appraisal of the situation and risk of collision.
Know the Rules of the Road
Be sure you fully understand the "Rules of the Road" and know when to maintain course ("stand on") and when to change course ("give way") to other approaching vessels.
To learn more, go to USCGboating.org's Navigation Rules page.
Monitor the VHF Radio
At all times when underway, monitor VHF channel 16. If necessary, you can utilize channels 12 and 14 to get details on traffic or to call SF Vessel Traffic for information.
US Coast Guard Restrictions
If you've chartered a boat to experience the spectacular US Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard exhibitions and festivities from the water any time during October 6 through 9, please be informed that some areas of the San Francisco Bay that will be rigorously restricted by the US Coast Guard during the Air Shows and Parade of Ships.
Below, find the text and images from the US Coast Guard's Fleet Week 2022 Boat Public Notice. This notice advises the areas you must avoid and when during Fleet Week events.
At the end of this article, we've also attached the USCG's office notice as a downloadable, printable PDF file.
FLEET WEEK 2022 BOATING PUBLIC NOTICE
This year’s on-water Fleet Week activities will be held October 6th through October 9th. To ensure the safety of participants and spectators on San Francisco Bay, the U.S. Coast Guard has enacted regulated areas, published in the Federal Register and advertised by Local and Broadcast Notice to Mariners. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and law enforcement vessels will be patrolling the regulated areas to ensure all Fleet Week events are conducted safely.
ACTIVITIES AREA CLOSURES
NAVY PARADE OF SHIPS
Regulated area “Alpha,” which is depicted on “Chart 1,” will be enforced on Friday, October 7th between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Traffic will be restricted throughout most of the Central San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge, south of Alcatraz, to just south of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This is to accommodate the Navy Parade of Ships as they pass under the Golden Gate Bridge to their assigned moorings in San Francisco. No vessel will be permitted to cross the parade line or interfere with the safe transit of the parade participants in any way. A 100 yard protective zone will also be enforced around each naval vessel the entire time they are in the port.
BLUE ANGELS DEMONSTRATION
Regulated area “Bravo.” which is depicted on “Chart 2.” will be enforced during the dates and times as noted on “Chart 2.” The enclosure to this flyer depicts the boundaries and coordinates of the most significant regulated areas. Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that these areas be clear of all vessel traffic during the specified times in order for scheduled air shows.
WATCHING THE SHOWS
The best areas to observe the air shows and the Parade of Ships are:
North of the “Alpha” box for the parade and North of the “Bravo” box for the air show
East of Blossom Rock Buoy
From the shore
CHART 1
Regulated Area “Alpha” for Navy Parade of Ships
Friday, October 7th 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
CHART 2
Regulated Area “Bravo” for U.S. Navy Blue Angels Activities
Thursday, October 6th 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 7th 11:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 8th 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 9th 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Temporary buoys for the Air Show Box will be installed by 04 Oct 22 and will be removed on 10 Oct 22. The buoys at the Center and Northwest corner point will be partially obstructing the East bound traffic lane and the buoys at the Northeast and Southeast corner will be partially encroaching upon the precautionary area east of Alcatraz Island. The locations of the temporary buoys are listed below:
Air Show Box
SW Corner: 37°48.612 N / 122°26.786 W
NW Corner: 37°49.113 N / 122°26.868 W
NE Corner: 37°49.389 N / 122°24.354 W
SE Corner: 37°48.888 N / 122°24.272 W
Center: 37°49.008 N / 122°25.590 W