by Kate Sheahan
West Coast Tour Coordinator
When any waterman arrives in San Francisco it is helpful to
pay a visit to the The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model in
Sausalito to get up to speed. I stopped by with Dave
Hughes, Olympic 49er Coach and 470 Sailor for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.
In addition to his Olympic sailing, Dave works as a pro sailor and his next big
event is the Melges 24 Worlds beginning October 1st in San Francisco's Berkeley
Circle. Hear Dave explain how the current movement one can study at the
Bay Model translates to important considerations in rig tune and sail
choice for the ebb and flood tides on the actual racecourse.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay
Model is a three-dimensional hydraulic model
of San Francisco Bay and Delta areas capable of simulating tides and currents.
The Model is over 1.5 acres in size and represents an area from the Pacific
Ocean to Sacramento and Stockton, including: the San Francisco, San Pablo and
Suisun Bays and a portion of the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta.
While the Bay Model is still
operational, it is no longer used for scientific research but is instead open
to the public alongside educational exhibits about Bay hydrology. It offers a unique
opportunity for teachers and students to learn about the geography, topography,
ecology, and the human and natural history of the San Francisco Bay and Delta.
The dynamic nature of the model allows students to observe tidal action and visualize
currents and eddies, as they would actually occur in the Bay and Delta.The
model is located in the Bay Model Visitor Center at 2100 Bridgeway Blvd. in
Sausalito, CA.
Next, come aboard as Dave Hughes and I sail the Melges 24
Pacific Coast Championship at San Francisco Yacht Club with Olympic gold medalist Nathan Wilmot and
team "Embarr."
