Strong Wind in San Francisco, California

At 1642 local on June 18, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a report of a kite surfer drifting west of the Golden Gate Bridge. A vessel reported the kite surfer yelled to them requesting Coast Guard assistance. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco assumed SAR Mission Command in the DISTRESS emergency phase, issued a urgent marine information broadcast, and launched a rescue boat. The reporting vessel vectored in the rescue boat to the kite surfer. The rescue boat recovered the kite surfer and their gear and dropped off the individual at St. Francis Yacht Club.

Long-period southerly swell combined with strong northwest winds to create hazardous beach conditions for the last few days of June. A Beach Hazards Statement was issued to come into effect on the morning of June 27 and continued into the morning of July 1, chiefly for impacts from long-period southerly swell. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco reported eight SAR callouts during the period.