The National Weather Service forecasts 12- to 14-foot swells hitting the Coastside Saturday morning and lasting through the weekend. Those conditions would curb the opportunity for boaters out of Pillar Point Harbor to snag the first bags of this year’s crop of Dungeness, and dampen the second race of the 2009-2010 Wave Chaser series, which was set for Sunday.
“We’ll probably be discouraging people from going out unless it turns around,” said harbormaster Dan Temko. “I know everybody gets kind of tunnel vision when the (crab) season opens, but we need to help them be aware of what the weather conditions are and help them make the necessary adjustments – like not going out.”
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While harbor patrol officers can’t order boaters from tempting fate in dangerous conditions, they can take other measures to keep people out of harm’s way.
Last year, Temko remembers parking a harbor patrol pick-up truck across the boat ramp on a blustery day, effectively barring outside boaters from access to the harbor.
Rigorous safety inspections are another means of deterring voyages, Temko said.
“We’ll use every tool we have available to try to keep people safe and in port, if necessary,” Temko said.
While the waves are dangerous, they can also be alluring to surfers. The Mavericks Surf Contest window is open and organizers say they are keeping a watchful eye on conditions offshore. There has been no announcement. In fact, some are predicting that the anticipated weather will not present contest conditions.
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