San Francisco Fleet Week is an annual celebration of our nation's Armed Forces. With air shows and flight demonstrations, the Navy Parade of Ships and public ship tours, and many other attractions and events to enjoy both ashore and on the water, Fleet Week is grand finale of summer and one of the Bay's biggest events of the year. This year's celebration will be held October 7 to 14.
Year after year, Modern sailors are enthusiastic to get on the water during San Francisco Fleet Week. Viewing the air shows and Parade of Ships from aboard sailboat on the Bay is an amazing way to experience the spectacle! If you're sailing on the weekdays during Fleet Week, you have a good chance to see the Blue Angels running practice sessions overhead.
There are Coast Guard rules and regulations and some safety tips you need to know if you're out sailing during these events. Here's the essential information and advice to follow when you're out on the water during Fleet Week.
Maintain Proper Lookout
We expect the Bay to be very busy during during Fleet Week, so we strongly encourage (as always), that skippers and crew remain mindful of Coast Guard Rule #5:
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and risk of collision.
Know the Rules of the Road
Be sure you fully understand the "Rules of the Road" and know when to maintain course ("stand on") and when to change course ("give way") to other approaching vessels.
- Test your Rules of the Road knowledge by taking the ASA's Navigation Rules Quiz.
- To learn more, go to USCGboating.org's Navigation Rules page.
Here's a helpful video by Practical Sailor that explores the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and uncovers the nuances of right of way between sailboats and other types of boats.
Monitor the VHF Radio
At all times when underway, monitor VHF channel 16. If necessary, you can utilize channels 12 and 14 to get details on traffic or to call SF Vessel Traffic for information.
US Coast Guard Restrictions
If you've chartered a boat to experience the spectacular US Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard practice sessions, exhibitions, and festivities from the water any time during October 7th through the 14th, please be informed that some areas of the San Francisco Bay that will be rigorously restricted by the US Coast Guard during the Air Shows and Parade of Ships.
Below, find the text and images adapted from the US Coast Guard's Fleet Week Letter to Ferry Companies 2024 (PDF).
FLEET WEEK 2024 BOATING SAFETY
This year’s on-water Fleet Week activities will be held October 10th through October 13th. To ensure the safety of participants and spectators on San Francisco Bay, the U.S. Coast Guard has enacted regulated areas, published in the Federal Register and advertised by Local and Broadcast Notice to Mariners. During Fleet Week activities, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and law enforcement vessels will be patrolling the regulated areas to ensure all events are conducted safely.
Please refer to the Boat Safety page on the Fleet Week website for important information about boating regulations, enforcement, and safety during Fleet Week.
ACTIVITIES AREA CLOSURES
IMPORTANT: As the rules may be subject to change, please be sure to check the official Federal Regulations page for updates before you head out of harbor to spectate Fleet Week activities. To see the official federal rules regarding Fleet Week navigation, visit:
NAVY PARADE OF SHIPS
Regulated area “Alpha,” which is depicted on “Chart 1,” will be enforced during the Parade of Ships. Traffic will be restricted throughout most of the Central San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge, south of Alcatraz, to just south of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This is to accommodate the Navy Parade of Ships as they pass under the Golden Gate Bridge to their assigned moorings in San Francisco. No vessel will be permitted to cross the parade line or interfere with the safe transit of the parade participants in any way. A 100-yard protective zone will also be enforced around each naval vessel the entire time they are in the port.
The Navy Parade of Ships will run Friday, October 11, 10:00am to 12:00pm. For more information, please see the Parade of Ships page on the Fleet Week website.
AIR SHOW / FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS
Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that regulated area “Bravo,” which is depicted on “Chart 2,” remain clear of all vessel traffic during the specified times for scheduled air shows.
Air demonstrations will run around the following times:
- Thursday, October 10th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Friday, October 11th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Saturday, October 12th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday, October 13th 12:00pm to 5:00 pm
Please see the Air Show page on the Fleet Week website for more information.
WATCHING THE SHOWS
The best areas to observe the air shows and the Parade of Ships are:
- North of the “Alpha” box for the parade and North of the “Bravo” box for the air show
- East of Blossom Rock Buoy
- From the shore
For schedules and additional information on Fleet Week 2024, please contact the San Francisco Fleet Week Association at info@fleetweeksf.org , or visit the San Francisco Fleet Week website.
CHART 1
Regulated Area “Alpha” for the Navy Parade of Ships on Friday, October 11, 10:00am to 12:00pm.
CHART 2
Regulated Area “Bravo” for U.S. Navy Blue Angels Activities
- Thursday, October 10th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Friday, October 11th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Saturday, October 12th 12:00pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday, October 13th 12:00pm to 5:00 pm
Temporary buoys for the Air Show Box will be installed by October 9th and will be removed on the 14th. The buoys at the center and northwest corner point will be partially obstructing the east bound traffic lane and the buoys at the northeast and southeast corner will be partially encroaching upon the precautionary area east of Alcatraz Island. The locations of the temporary buoys are listed below:
Air Show Box
SW Corner: 37°48.612 N / 122°26.786 W
NW Corner: 37°49.113 N / 122°26.868 W
NE Corner: 37°49.389 N / 122°24.354 W
SE Corner: 37°48.888 N / 122°24.272 W
Center: 37°49.008 N / 122°25.590 W
