On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:21:47 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

A lot of the coastal harbors in WA, OR, and CA have river bars. the
combination of rapid shoaling, an onshore wind, and conflicting tides
and river currents can create some very nasty conditions. In many
locations, the USCG literally closes the bar to navigation when
conditions get ugly enough. One of the reasons for "surfman" training
is to prep the Coast Guard personnel to perfrom rescues of folks who
don't heed the "closed bar" warnings.

Didn't you post a picture a couple of years ago of a large yacht
crossing a bar - some famous actor's yacht?