Dorsal fins observed:Florence/ Pistol

[srr37]

Wed.5/31 I watched an 8-10 inch dorsal fin trolling in chestdeep surf at cape sebastion for about 15 minutes.
The most amazing part is I also observed one at the Florence jetty last week!!
Both times I was alone with no one to collaborate. Anyone else seen this at these spots?
Any experts want to guesstimate the Fish size and type? The one at Pistol had a strait narrow fin (like a G10 blade)and the other was angled back like a wave fin with a semi-floppy top. Also of note was the dirtiest water Ive ever seen and colder water temps.

[isobars]

A Coast Guard helicopter pilot and windsurfer I talked with said sharks FAR outnumber windsurfers on the OR coast, even at the common sailing sites. We may as well just assume both fins were on great whites, consider the REAl issue -- how many attacks have been logged there -- and get on with business.

Mike \m/

[rasdpm]

What is the frequency of s_ _ _ k attacks on the OR, WA and CA coasts? It seems to me that we hear or read about one attack off OR about every two years. What is the estimate of sailor days per year? If the man in the grey flannel suit makes this feeding mistake about as often as i am likely to win the lottery, ill take my chances. My chances of winning the lottery are about the same whether i buy a ticket or not, and if my chances of getting nipped by whitey are about the same whether i sail the coast or not, im gonna sail because the hoot and holler factor adds much more to my life than the reverant but irrational fear of a very unlikely event. Isnt one in a million alot like zero?

[erickmj]

I sail Florence with a buddy quite often. We both have confirmed shark sighting there. I once sailed through a pack of feeding birds and saw a shark below them. Also, I know of one corroborated shark sighting at Oceanside.

Hes out there. Watching...

[isobars]

This thread also overlooks the REAL risk of sailing in salt water: driving to it.

Mike \m/

[rasdpm]

Precisely!!!!
the addition of casinos dotting our beautiful coast has made the drive treacherous. The risk of being plowed over by a land yacht is far greater than a close encounter with the one who shall not be named. Someone out there has access to these stats and can shine light on the real relative risks of these events. Please chime in.

[erickmj]

True. The risk of auto related death, injury, or falling into the revenue generating maw of the highway patrol are far scarier. Rasdpm also articulates a couple of other risks in a long forgotten thread: Wind and spousel discomfort.

[erickmj]

Here is the only science I could offer:

RE: South Coast Wind and Stormy Women

Here is what I was told: Northern CA gets hot earlier than the Willamette Valley. Then it gets too hot for a decent gradient, thus moving the thermal low, and associated gradient towards the North.

As for your wife, clinical studies have provided irrefutable evidence that this madness can be forecasted and measured by a simple equation: If H = Home, and D = Destination, then the difference between the two is directly proportionate to an unspoken expectation of luxury (L). H - D = L. The further the distance between H and D, the greater the value of L. For my girlfriend, lodging expectations at Florence (D) can usually be met with car camping, breakfast doughnuts from Safeway, and free coffee at Texaco (all equaling L). However, the exponential increase in L, associated with the additional mileage to Pistol, creates an equation which is almost impossible to solve. L at Pistol is equal to that of the Four Season Hotel in Hong Kong. L can thus not be facilitated on the South Coast of Oregon. Tell her you are going to tractor pull in North Bend and head South.

[goltz]

Didnt a shark attack a sailor at Davenport Landing, CA a year or two ago? Does anyone know the details?

[erickmj]

I read it tasted the tail of his board, but didnt hit flesh.