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April 13, 2009
STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS
2000 Evergreen Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, California 95815
http://www.dbw.ca.gov
Contact:
Gloria Sandoval (916) 263-0788, (916) 715-1657 cell,
gsandoval@dbw.ca.gov
Boater Advisory:
Boaters Urged to Exercise Caution as High Winds Forecasted
SACRAMENTO – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) strongly discourages boating over the next few days during predicted high winds. The National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory for California coastal waters and a Gale Warning for the entire coastline through Tuesday night. Winds are forecasted to be steady up to 34 mph with gusts up to 40 mph along the coast, and up to 10 miles offshore. From 10 to 60 miles offshore, the winds are forecasted to steady up to 40 mph with gusts up to 46 mph. The high winds can cause inexperienced boaters to find themselves in dangerous situations.
Should boaters go underway, they are urged to check that all of their safety equipment is in good condition and that life jackets are worn by everyone on board.
They should also ensure that they have a working marine VHF radio on board to contact the USCG on Channel 16 should an emergency arise. Boaters should also file a float plan with a friend or family member on land. Plans should include an approximate time of return and location of boating trip. It is also recommended that boaters regularly check in with those who are aware of their plan, especially if the plan changes.
Boaters are encouraged to check current and forecasted weather conditions prior to getting underway and to monitor changing conditions once on the water. The National Weather Service broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel WX2. The USCG broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel 22A at 9:30 a.m., noon, and 4:30 p.m.
For more information about boating safety and required and recommended safety equipment, please visit
www.uscgboating.org or
www.dbw.ca.gov.
For more information about weather conditions, please visit
www.weather.gov 
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