Surface Motion
T he Harbor Shoals from the Beginning
Catamaran barely makes it through shallows
Photo by Vestor Dick
Santa Cruz Sentinel photo
In 1963, the harbor neared completion. Pilings were driven for the wharf and docks. The jettys were in place. A dredging operation was impeded by the discovery of a concrete slab near the west jetty. The slab was from the foundation of an old sewer plant, and was removed by blasting and lifting the debris by crane.
Sunday, June 9, 1963: In a photo run in the Sentinel, a catamaran can be seen sailing out toward the harbor mouth. Small waves can be seen breaking inside the harbor. Here's the caption.
A catamaran, taking advantage of high tide, risks the still-shallow waters to venture ino the new yacht harbor, now in its final phase of construction.
Commentary: Though tiny, the shape is perfect, a line of whitewater breaking right to left with the curl and shoulder visible. This is the birth of the familiar harbor tube.
The caption attests that this photo was taken at high tide. Imagine how shallow the water must have been at low tide. The Hobie catamaran will prove to be a Harbor favorite, due to its shallow draft and centerboards which can be pulled up to sail in extremely shallow waters, to be the winter norm in coming years.
