The San Francisco call., 1906-08-26

Drown ana Nne "0NcAS otS
Nv green. whitehalls and sails en-
~ liven the Marin shores Grace
ful yachts spread their white wings 10
the favoring breezes and speed away
from. the sheltered anchorages at
. Sansalito and Belvedere for the upper
reaches Of San Pablo and Suisun. On
th5ir upward course they pass weird.
rocky island between the outstretching
arms OF san Quentin and Point Rich
mond. Well known is this Red Rock
10 the skilled ssilormen OF the corins
titan and San Francisco Yacht clubs.
These nautical gentlemen tell many a
thrilling tale OF adventure and timely
rescue that happened roundabout that
isolated islet
Amateur oarsmen on their maiden
voyages. as they drift out OF Raccoon
straits with the strong food time. be-
hold red cone. apparently quite near,
that lures them over the CLASSY waters
OF summers morning. Underestimate
Tag the distance as the insurging cur
rent sweeps them northward, they
strike out boldly from the shore with
the intention Of spending the midday
hours on this island OF inviting mys-
terry, the Juan Fernandez Of San Fran
cisco Bay. They believe II will be
quite as easy to drift back with the
ebbing tide. AS though its iron-im-
pregnated mass were indeed a lode
stone. the venturesome whitehall voy-
ayers seem drawn TO it's rocky cliffs.
They land on shingly beaches. shell
tered by massive bluffs, and Hnger as
the hours slip by. fishing where sport
is good. They explore its kelp-car-
peted caves and channel-cut reefs that
cluster like satellites along it's south
ern rim. Climbing the Jagged slope,
upon its expanse and note with some
misgivings the gulf OF water between
them and the oak-dotted Marin shore.
A fresh breeze rustling the shrubby
vegetation Of the island suddenly rip
pies the waters stretching inland
toward San Rafael; then. as the reg
ular afternoon squalI sets in from the
west whitecaps awake to their bois-
ferrous play. BY this time the novices
become suddenly homesick: down to
their beached boat they scramble, and,
as they near il, the rising waves en-
eroaching on the red rubble have an
oninous sound. Its high time we're
putting back 70 Tiburon." some one
says. But a few boat lengths are bare
ly- won from the rock when the white
halls crew find that they can only
make progress by steering to the
gloomy point Of San Quentin. Then
arms are strained and blisters swell
in the effort TO keep head-on TO the
curling whitecaps. Some stouter-
hearted ones grit their teeth and sue
ceed in fighting their way to the Silly
coves sheltered by the folded hills Of
Marin County. and late in the night
drift back TO the anxious keeper. of
the boathouse. Frequently home-re-
turning yachts come to the rescue of
rowboats struggling with the wind and
waves and tow their occupants to
safety. Others still, give UP the un-
equal contest and fee with the wind
for the lee shore of Contra Costa
County, much to the disgust of the
owner Of the pleasure craft. All too
often are the news columns filled with
accounts Of capsized boats and the sad
details of tragedies that have occurred
in the treacherous currents of the
north bay. Lured by lone Red Rock.
many have lost heir lives, and q great
number more have been cast ashore.
shlpwrecked and marooned in sight of
a great city.
September is by far the most de-
lightful month to visit Red Rock. The
disagreeable midsummer winds have
abated, and a golden glow crowns the
hills Of the TIburon Peninsula In the
forenoons OF early autumn the CLASSY
waters are rippled only by the running
tide as it whirls around the rocky
points. Sheltered coves mirror over
hanging oaks and bay trees, while the
white flower clusters of the toyon fore
tell the Christmas harvest Of crimson
berries. Leaving Tiburon. or the more
exclusive Belvedere, 1T is advisable to
take the turn Of the tide early in the
morning and float diagonally up the
swift current Of Raccoon Straits past
the wooded northerly slopes of Angel
Island. Between Belvedere and Point
Stuart, the nearest headland of the
military reservation, a depth of thirty