Rowing to the Golden Gate and outside

Note: Rowing outside (or even near) the GG can be dangerous. Club boats are not allowed past the GG Bridge unless accompanied by an instructor.

Tidal currents under the GG Bridge can be extreme, greater than 4 knots, and turbulence due to irregular shore lines and bottom shape can make rowing a challenge The best time to explore outside the Bridge is near the beginning of a mild flood. It will then be easy to row out under the Bridge and you will be rowing with the current on your return. If you do fall out of your boat it's better to be washed into the Bay than out.

A typical route taken by a rower in the Open Ocean Regatta is indicated on the chart at the top by the red line. The Regatta is on a Sunday in April, usually not on Easter and not on the last Sunday which is Opening Day, with rowers starting at 9 am on a flood tide. With all these constraints, some years the current under the Bridge will be quite strong. This page gives one rowers' advice on getting past the Bridge in a fast flood.