San Franciscans and visitors love watching the sea lions down at the shore along Pier 39 or on their live sea lion cam.  They have a big chest and belly and seem pretty funny walking on all fours with their long flippers. These mammals seem to enjoy laying around lapping up the sunshine and barking boisterously. We rarely hear of them biting a human. Dr. Claire Simeone, Conservation Medicine Veterinarian for the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito suggests that the sea lion may have been injured or sick according to KGO’s coverage of an incident in December of 2017, where two sailors rescued the victim.

Roger van Hertsen

At The Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show this year US Sailing Board of Directors Member Richard Jepsen is presenting the US Sailing’s Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Roger van Hertsen and his father Evrand van Hertsen for their rescue of a swimmer severely injured by an attacking sea lion in San Francisco Bay December 14, 2017. The timing was everything. “It was a 60 second window,” says Van Hertsen.”We had just finished lunch and were going for a casual sail around Angel Island when I saw two heads bobbing in the water and slowed down.” The victim, 56 yr.-old Christian Einfeldt, out on his regular swim, cried out that he had been bitten by a sea lion. “I didn’t know how bad it was when I first called the Coast Guard and then saw all the blood and called them back, which escalated their response time.” Van Hertsen said anyone in his situation would have done what he did and was happy it turned out the way it did.

The awards ceremony is Saturday, April 21, 5:30 pm, in the tent outside Craneway Pavilion. The awards presentation kicks off Cruising Outpost’s Cruisers Party and raffle at 6 pm to benefit the Educational Tall Ships Foundation Project in Sausalito.

Evrand van Hertsen

Also planned is a Coast Guard Helicopter rescue on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm (dependent upon Coast Guard priorities).

 The Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show celebrates sailing, boating, and the marine sport lifestyle with events & exhibits for all generations of marine sports enthusiasts over four days in at Craneway Pavilion and Marina Bay Yacht Club in Richmond, CA from Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 22.

There will be hands-on boating clinics run by Bay Area companies Club Nautique and Passage Nautical, featuring both sail and power boats. Also on the calendar at the marina will be free, radio-controlled model yacht racing, a favorite activity for young and old alike.

The environment is a special focus at this year’s event:

On Saturday Groundwork Richmond, an environmental organization restoring the environment with the next generation of environmental stewards, celebrates Earth Day at the Marina Bay Yacht Harbor with their kayak fleet, nature and environment interactive lessons and free on-the-water tours of Richmond’s historic waterfront. Schedule:

  • 9 am – Green Team Wet-Run Safety Training
  • 10 am – Guided Kayaking tours available for the general public to navigate the harbor, followed by Food Trucks at Craneway Pavilion
  • 12:30 pm – Public information Session with SF Bay Water Trail
  • 1 pm – Public Boating offering continues until 3 pm

Interactive marine sports activities for the whole family:

If you have always wanted to try SUP, 510 Waterline offers free mini-intros to Stand Up Paddle Boarding with short rides at the boat launch ramp Friday 11:30 am – 2 pm and on Saturday 11 am – 2 pm. They also have a Just Paddle excursion on Friday 9 am – 10:30 am, an Earth Day paddle on Saturday 9 am – 10:30 am and a SUP yoga class on Sunday from 9 am – 10:30 am. Boat show attendees can get out on the water and see the San Francisco Bay and Richmond from a new perspective.

More good times:

The show is in its third year at Craneway Pavilion and Marina Bay Yacht Harbor in Richmond, CA and will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Details online at http://www.PacificBoatShow.com, on Twitter @PacificBoatShow and on Facebook @PacificSailandPowerBoatShow.

About Sail America

Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show is produced by Sail America. Sail America is the trade association for the U.S. sailing industry and plays a vital role for all companies that are involved in providing sailing-related products and services. Established in 1990, Sail America works hard to promote the health and growth of sailing. www.sailamerica.com