Spring 2025

Lighted Boat Festival 2024

The Lighted Boat Festival, held on December 14, 2024, was a spectacular celebration that brought together a vibrant community of over 1,000 attendees, all united in the spirit of joy and festivity. This event featured a mesmerizing drone show that illuminated the night sky. Families enjoyed kids' crafts, while a wide array of food and drink options satisfied every palate. The festival not only showcased the beauty of Pillar Point Harbor but also fostered a sense of togetherness, making it a memorable experience that will inspire future events and strengthen community bonds.

The 2025 Lighted Boat Festival will take place on December 13, 2025. Planning has already begun.

Coastside Ocean Safety Fair

Coastside Ocean Safety Fair to be held at Pillar Point Harbor on May 17, 2025.

Each year the National Safety Boating Council sponsors the National Safe Boating Campaign. This year’s campaign runs from May 17, 2025, through May 23, 2025. The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, encouraging boaters to always wear a life jacket while on the water. From U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 75% of all boating fatalities were caused by drowning. Of those, 87% were reported as not wearing their life jackets and two-thirds of all drowning victims considered themselves as good swimmers.

With the recent loss of life here on the Coastside beaches, and the hundreds of boaters that required assistance to return to port safely, ocean safety awareness is a very important message to share and support.

The fair would include representatives and involvement from the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, San Mateo Sheriff’s Office, Coastside Fire, expert waterman, the Arunay Foundation, food vendors, safety equipment vendors, and more.

PROJECTS

SURFERS BEACH REPLENISHMENT PILOT PROJECT

Scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2025, the Harbor District will begin the Surfers Beach Replenishment Pilot Project and Harbor Dredge. The project will include recreating Surfers Beach in Half Moon Bay and dredging the east basin of the outer harbor, including the area around the launch ramp. At the conclusion of the project, Surfers Beach will again have a sandy beach, providing the opportunity for recreation and a protective barrier for the Coastside. The District was supported in this project by a $2.9 million grant from the California Ocean Protection Council.

PRINCETON BY THE SEA SHORELINE PROJECT

As you may be aware, the Princeton shoreline has suffered significant coastal erosion, which has resulted in the loss of the beach and dunes that once protected Princeton from flooding. The accelerated erosion was caused by a change in the currents within Pillar Point Harbor. The currents were changed when the construction of the Pillar Point Harbor Breakwater, a Federal navigation project was completed. In January 2024, the Harbor District requested the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to mitigate this damage (the loss of the beach and dunes) to the shoreline and prevent it from continuing. Following an initial cost-benefit analysis, the ACOE has recently agreed to move forward with a project under their Continuing Authorities Program to address the Princeton Shoreline. In March 2025, the Harbor District signed an agreement with the ACOE as the non-federal sponsor and the project has now entered the feasibility (design) phase. The feasibility phase will involve the ACOE, Harbor District, County Planning, OneShoreline, County Public Works, and Coastal Commission. As the non-federal sponsor of this project, the District will be responsible for 4.6% of the project costs. The total cost of the project cannot exceed $15 million.

North Half Moon Bay Coastal Erosion

Sea Level Rise Project

In 2024, the Harbor District worked closely with the Honorable Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to include the North Half Moon Bay Coastal Erosion and Sea Level Rise Project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024). On January 4, 2025, the President signed WRDA 2024 into law. The ACOE now has the authority to conduct a general investigation into the coastal damage caused by the breakwater and formulate a solution that will mitigate and prevent the damage from continuing.This project is significant as it will address the entirety of Northern Half Moon Bay (Pillar Point Harbor to Pilarcitos Creek).

The public will also be heavily involved through public meetings and workshops. Like the Princeton Shoreline Project, the Federal Government will be responsible for a majority, if not all the funding to complete this project.

Life Jackets

The Difference Between

Life and Death

All motorboats, regardless of length, must carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in serviceable condition and of a type and size appropriate for the intended wearer, the conditions, and the boating activity. The life jackets must be within easy reach for each person on board.

Under California state law, every child under 13 years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while the boat is underway unless every child under age 13 is in an enclosed cabin.

FIT FACTS

If a life jacket fits properly...

It will help keep your head above water.
If it's too big, the life jacket will ride up around your face.
If it's too small, it will not be able to keep your body afloat.
Life jackets designed for adults will not work for children!
Try it on for size!
Check the manufacturer's label to ensure that the life jacket is a proper fit for your size and weight.
Make sure the jacket is properly fastened.
Hold your arms straight up over your head.
Ask a friend to grasp the tops of the arm openings and gently pull up.
Make sure there is no excess room above the openings and that the jacket does not ride up over your chin or face.
For the best fit, try the life jacket in shallow water under safe and supervised conditions.

Taken from the California Division of Boating and Waterways Webpage: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29416

For more information:

www.WearItLifeJacket.com.

https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29182

Recent Property Purchases

The Harbor District, with the intent to increase the number of revenue streams and improve customer service, purchased several pieces of property situated next to or near Pillar Point Harbor in January 2024.

These parcels include four parcels located above the Pillar Point Harbor public launch ramp. The District also purchased two parcels on Burnham Strip in El Granada. The exact use of the properties above the launch ramp is being discussed as part of the 2025 Strategic Plan with an emphasis on using the property for harbor serving, income producing purposes.The two parcels located on the Burnham Strip are being considered for public parking to serve the Harbor District as an overflow lot given the fact Caltrans is eliminating parking on Hwy 1 with the Highway 1 Intermodal Improvement Project.

This District also purchased property in Princeton by the Sea, with the goal of providing additional services to the Harbor and increasing the number of revenue streams.