Here are a few shots of the U.S. Coast Guard training in big surf at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Thanksgiving Day this year. Very impressive display of seamanship. The surf was about 10-15′. Thanks to my son Daniel for taking these photos.
Coast Guard Training in Big Surf in San Francisco
Filed Under: California Tagged With: big swells, big wave training, big waves, Coast Guard, Ocean Beach, ocean safety and training, San Francisco, U.S. Coast Guard
Toxic Barge
Between storms I was out surfing yesterday in Imperial Beach. Luckily it had not rained much on Wednesday, so the water was crystal clear, there were only a few of us out, and the waves were fun.
While I was in the water, the toxic barge arrived with a load of sediment dredged up from San Diego Bay laced with heavy metals and PCBs to be dumped just offshore.

Toxic barge arrives in Imperial Beach with sand laced with PCBs and heavy metals. Glad the ocean is a garbage dump. Photo: Alan Jackson

Alex and I discussing the toxic dump. I've surfed with him since 1977. He is out every morning by the pier. Photo: Alan Jackson