The first few days of 2026 brought epic rainfall combined with King Tides in excess of 7 ft in San Francisco Bay. Thankfully, our ships float! Matthew Turner and Seaward were able to weather the King Tides, stormy winds and rain without incident, and Call of the Sea’s workshop and offices on Liberty Ship Way escaped the flooding. Sorry, we cannot say the same for our neighbors along the Richardson Bay shoreline at Spaulding Boatworks and others along Marinship and Gate 5 road.
While the King Tides happen every year around this time when the Earth, Sun, and Moon align, increasing gravitational pull, what made these astronomically high tides particularly bad was the heavy rain which coincided with the new year. The severity of flooding in Sausalito, Mill Valley, Larkspur and San Rafael may have been a bit of a surprise, but we should all take heed. It is a harbinger of things to come. By 2050, sea levels are expected to rise by 1 foot. This may not seem like much, but that additional 12 inches will make today’s King Tides feel like every day high tides.
The King Tides in early January 2026 caused extensive damage to businesses around the Marinship area of Sausalito, as well as nearby residential areas and freeways.
Photo credit, Sausalito Police Dept.
Flooding which happens occasionally, will happen frequently and will be more intense. The impacts range far and wide, not only for homes and infrastructure, but also for the Bay Area ecosystem. Salt marshes and wetlands, vital for absorbing floodwaters, will be further threatened by being submerged, impacting habitats for birds and fish. Rising groundwater will lead to even more flooding further inland.
Understanding and anticipating these changes is critical to our future here in the Bay. Call of the Sea is committed to empowering future generations of environmental stewards. Last year, our programs introduced 6000+ young people to science-based learning on the water, giving them tools that could transform their world and their future. In 2026, we plan to increase that number and expand our reach around the Bay Area and beyond.
Come join us! Winter Camp starts on February 16th, Spring Camp launches March 30th, and the sailing season officially starts April 1st.
Carla Thorson
Executive Director