Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 13:42:19 -0700 From: Jim McGrath To: pk@well.com Subject: Use of South Basin docks by Cal Adventures Paul--I'd like your help in getting some discussions about the use of the three docks in the South Basin by multiple users. Cal Adventures activities seem to camp on the docks and fully occupy them at many many times when other recreational users such as windsurfers are trying to go in or out. I have talked to Tim Bean many times, and last year he was pretty helpful at getting the on-site staff to educate their users about the need to leave areas clear for people to launch and retrieve their craft. But this year has been much worse. I've talked to the on-site manager three times, and to Tim Bean twice, but things aren't working. Last Wednesday was a not unusual example. Four windsurfers returned to the basin about 7:00. Cal Adventures had 9 boats tied up at the two docks, and the east dock was closed. They were strung along the middle dock nearly to the end, making it almost impossible to get out of the water. Their customers often leave two or three boards on the docks unattended, including boards hanging over the water on the lee side of the dock with their fins out to catch anyone who might need to land or launch. I think that teaching sailing and safety in sailing is a wonderful thing, and a good public service. Cal Sailing Club seems to do a much better job of teaching courtesy, and recognizing that there are other users of the docks. I've been sailing in Berkeley since before the docks were rebuilt and the east dock added with a Coastal Conservancy grant. That was built, as a common user facility, to avoid conflicts between keel boats and windsurfers. None of the users, including Cal Sailing Club, paid for that dock, it was a granted facility with State funds. And all of the land is public trust land, impressed with the public trust that allows for all users. Could you please schedule a meeting before the Waterfront Commission, or an informal workshop in some other venue, so that we can discuss and develop some groundrules that make it possible for multiple users to use these facilities with a minimum amount of conflict? Jim McGrath --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Paul Kamen 07/16/01 02:55PM >>> I'm surprised this hasn't come up on the Cal Sailing Club email list. It's a very active list, and people don't hesitate to complain about all kinds of things, from the trivial to the very serious. Anyway, Cal Adventures' M.O. seems to be to leave their whole fleet tied up at the dock while they have ground school, then they all go out at the same time, and then all come back at the same time. So I don't know if there's a viable procedural solution, other than keeping the east dock open or extending the middle and/or west docks. Meanwhile I think the best we can do is make Cal Adventures more aware of the problem, and see if we can make the people on-site realize that leaving some dock space open has to be a priority. I hate to impose a time limit or a number-of-boats limit, but until we discuss this with all parties I won't rule anything out. The next Waterfront Commission meeting is August 8. I'll put this on the agenda, and send a note to Cal Adventures that it's going to come up. Maybe that's all that's needed to raise their awareness. Do you have contact info for Tim Bean? (I've only dealth with Rob Anderson, don't know if he's still involved - I think Rob has been promoted up a couple of levels by now.) Is it okay if I put your email in the packet for the meeting? Or would you like to write something more specifically for that purpose? Same for the Cal Sailing Club email list. If it's okay with you I'll copy it to the list - it's at cal-sailing@yahoogroups.com. Paul Kamen Chair, Berkeley Waterfront Commission pk@well.com 510-540-7968 www.BerkeleyWaterfront.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 08:54:02 -0700 From: Jim McGrath To: pk@well.com Subject: Re: Use of South Basin docks by Cal Adventures Thanks Paul, I'll be there. Tell me when and where. Cal Adventures program director is Tim Bean, at 642-3197. Feel free to use my e-mail. I support what they do, I just want to see some education about multi-users and some cooperation. Jim McGrath