Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, 10pm
I observed for myself what was happening at the entrance to the Shelter Island Basin this evening.
The only open area for entering and exiting the basin was the Kellogg St. cut, close to Shelter Island. There were boats traveling through that area and the two Naval Security boats allowed all passage in that area.
The main channel was closed with the booms spread around the SD Bay Entrance Range Front Light and the Shelter Island West Shoal Light and extending back across the channel to the area of the dolphin enclosures and the Marine Institute pier. The booms were not closed on the west side of that area. Perhaps this would allow the Navy to move the booms to allow larger boats to move through that area close to the Pt. Loma side. I did not see any boats attempting to transit that side while I was there. It remains to be seen if they will move the booms to allow boats to pass when requested. I am told they are monitoring VHF 22a.
Since the RC boats can get out, we will continue with the Midwinter Regatta as planned.
I am currently planning to keep to our start/finish area around Buoy 17 for Sunday's race. I did not observe anything that would cause me to move our area. Certainly not the Naval Security boat doing donuts and high speed maneuvers around the booms.
The SWYC Juniors were busy this afternoon collecting shattered pieces of the jet from the water around our docks. They had a sackful to turn over to the Navy.
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, 10:30am
Sharon Cloward reports from both USCG and Navy that they have moved the boom and are now letting marine traffic in and out of the Shelter Island Yacht Basin!
Independent reports also say the Navy boats have moved the boom into a very narrow containment area perhaps 200 feet wide but still quite long towards Kellogg Beach.. Now the passage to La Play seems very doable!.
Thursday, Feb 13,2025, 4:30pm
The USN plans to leave the boom in place this evening and in the morning, when the weather improves, they will tighten the boom and create an opening so marine traffic can depart/enter the Shelter Island Yacht basin.
Thursday, Feb 13, 2025, 12:30pm
You are likely aware of the military aircraft crash near Shelter Island.
The latest information we were provided from the Coast Guard regarding our regatta permit is that the entrance in/out of Shelter Island will still be open, but transit needs to done at the minimum safe speed to reduce wake, as recovery operations may run into the weekend.
VHF channel 22A is operational for this activity.
This, however, may not be sufficient for all boats.
Sharon Cloward, the President of the SD Port Tenants Association, wrote this update:
SUBJ: Update from Coast Guard on closure of Shelter Island Yacht Basin.
Please inform your boaters and I will keep you updated. I just heard from Coast Guard that Sector San Diego is maintaining the lead as the federal agency for this aircraft crash and follow up on safety/security zone implementation. The USN is part of their plan, and they have instructed them to allow vessels to move past the booming material. With that said, the space between the shore and the boom is not deep or wide enough. The USN was supposed to bring a barge in today to lift the aircraft from the sea-bed. The weather is going to hinder their operations and potentially delay the recover until tomorrow. I know that is not ideal for our yacht basin boaters especially our charter boat businesses knowing it is a 3-day weekend. That said, Coast Guard will keep me informed on the status of reopening the yacht basin. Sharon Cloward
Folks, it looks like we wait until Friday to see how open the channel will be. It appears those who know how to transit the "cut" between Shelter Island and the shoal area and whose boats are of a sufficiently shallow draft will be able to get in and out. That may not mean all boats.
I am not, at this point, cancelling the regatta and, if some boats can make it in and out, I likely will NOT cancel the regatta. I will try to keep you informed.
Colleen Cooke, PRO (619)852-5010
