Northern California and Lake Tahoe area annual marine events.

  1. Law
  2. CFR 33
  3. Navigation and Navigable Waters
  4. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
  5. Regattas and Marine Parades
  6. Safety of Life on Navigable Waters
  7. Eleventh Coast Guard District
  8. Northern California and Lake Tahoe area annual marine events.

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§ 100.1103 Northern California and Lake Tahoe area annual marine events.

(a) General. Special local regulations are established for the events listed in Table 1 of this section. Notice of implementation of these special local regulations will be made by publication in the Federal Register 30 days prior to the event for those events without specific dates or by Notice to Mariners 20 Days prior to the event for those events listing a period for which a firm date is identifiable. In all cases, further information on exact dates, times, and other details concerning the number and type of participants and an exact geographical description of the areas are published by the Eleventh Coast Guard District in the Local Notice to Mariners at least 20 days prior to each event. To be placed on the mailing list for Local Notice to Mariners contact: Commander (dpw), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Island, Building 50-2, Alameda, CA 94501-5100. Note: Sponsors of events listed in Table 1 of this section must submit an application each year as required by 33 CFR part 100, subpart A, to the cognizant Coast Guard Sector Commander. Sponsors are informed that ample lead time is required to inform all Federal, state, local agencies, and/or other interested parties and to provide the sponsor the best support to ensure the safety of life and property.

(b) Special local regulations. All persons and vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or as official patrol vessels are considered spectators. The “official patrol” consists of any Coast Guard; other Federal, state, or local law enforcement; and any public or sponsor-provided vessels assigned or approved by the cognizant Coast Guard Sector Commander to patrol each event.

(1) No spectator shall anchor, block, loiter, nor impede the through transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated areas during all applicable effective dates and times unless cleared to do so by or through an official patrol vessel.

(2) When hailed and/or signaled by an official patrol vessel, any spectator located within a regulated area during all applicable effective dates and times shall come to an immediate stop.

(3) The Patrol Commander (PATCOM) is empowered to forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. The Patrol Commander shall be designated by the cognizant Coast Guard Sector Commander; will be a U.S. Coast Guard commissioned officer, warrant officer, or petty officer to act as the Sector Commander's official representative; and will be located aboard the lead official patrol vessel. As the Sector Commander's representative, the PATCOM may terminate the event any time it is deemed necessary for the protection of life and property. PATCOM may be reached on VHF-FM Channel 13 (156.65MHz) or 16 (156.8MHz) when required, by the call sign “PATCOM”.

(4) The Patrol Commander may, upon request, allow the transit of commercial vessels through regulated areas when it is safe to do so.

(5) The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, state, or local agencies.

Table 1 to § 100.1103

[All coordinates referenced use datum NAD 83]

1. Blessing of the Fleet
Sponsor Corinthian Yacht Club.
Event Description Boat parade during which vessels pass by a pre-designated platform or vessel.
Date Last Sunday in April.
Location San Francisco Waterfront to South Tower of Golden Gate Bridge.
Regulated Area The area between a line drawn from Bluff Point on the southeastern side of Tiburon Peninsula to Point Campbell on the northern edge of Angel Island, and a line drawn from Peninsula Point to the southern edge of Tiburon Peninsula to Point Stuart on the western edge of Angel Island.
2. Opening Day on San Francisco Bay
Sponsor Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association and Corinthian Yacht Club.
Event Description Boat parade during which vessels pass by a pre-designated platform or vessel.
Date Last Sunday in April.
Location San Francisco, CA waterfront: Crissy Field to Pier 39.
Regulated Area The area defined by a line drawn from Fort Point; thence easterly approximately 5,000 yards; thence easterly to the Blossom Rock Bell Buoy; thence westerly to the Northeast corner of Pier 39; thence returning along the shoreline to the point of origin.
Special Requirements: All vessels entering the regulated area shall follow the parade route established by the sponsor and be capable of maintaining an approximate speed of 6 knots.
Commercial Vessel Traffic Allowances: The parade will be interrupted, as necessary, to permit the passage of commercial vessel traffic. Commercial traffic must cross the parade route at a no-wake speed and perpendicular to the parade route.
3. Delta Thunder Powerboat Race
Sponsor Pacific Offshore Power Racing Association.
Event Description Professional high-speed powerboat race.
Date Second Saturday, Sunday in September.
Location Off Pittsburgh, CA in the waters around Winter Island and Brown Island.
Regulated Area The water area of Suisun Bay commencing at Simmons Point on Chipps Island; thence southwesterly to Stake Point on the southern shore of Suisun Bay; thence easterly following the southern shoreline of Suisun Bay and New York Slough to New York Slough Buoy 13; thence north-northwesterly to the Northwestern corner of Fraser Shoal; thence northwesterly to the western tip of Chain Island; thence west-northwesterly to the northeast tip of Van Sickle Island; thence following the shoreline of Van Sickle Island and Chipps Island and returning to the point of origin.
4. Pittsburg Seafood Festival Air Show
Sponsor City of Pittsburg, CA.
Event Description Pittsburg Seafood Festival Air Show.
Date Second Saturday, Sunday in September.
Location Off Pittsburgh, CA in the waters around Winter Island and Brown Island.
Regulated Area The water area of Suisun Bay commencing at Simmons Point on Chipps Island; thence southwesterly to Stake Point on the southern shore of Suisun Bay; thence easterly following the southern shoreline of Suisun Bay and New York Slough to New York Slough Buoy 13; thence north-northwesterly to the Northwestern corner of Fraser Shoal; thence northwesterly to the western tip of Chain Island; thence west-northwesterly to the northeast tip of Van Sickle Island; thence following the shoreline of Van Sickle Island and Chipps Island and returning to the point of origin.

[USCG-2009-0558, 76 FR 53334, Aug. 26, 2011, as amended by USCG-2018-0533, 85 FR 8172, Feb. 13, 2020]


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