Wednesday, November 29, 2006
TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2006-- FINE DAY FOR A 2 BRIDGE KISS
A partly cloudy afternoon with a great breeze and moderate currents on the bay-- a recipe for a delightful afternoon of sailing.
We headed out about 1pm and the winds were in the 10-15 knot range, so we put up full main outside the marina....
...then headed out into the bay on port tack, came about onto starboard tack, pulled out the jib to full, and did wing and wing down the cityfront, noticing that REVERIE was back at pier 35 again.
Beautiful cloud patterns filled the skies over Telegraph Hill.
We eventually gybed the jib and headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge on starboard tack broad reach, making good headway in good winds with some flood assist, and noticiing a jib only sailboat heading north.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sunshine as we approached the A-B span.
The view of the financial district from the other side of the bridge was spectacular!
We reefed the jib and headed back to the north, enjoying the view of Telegraph Hill in sunshine this time.
That same jib-only sailboat was beating to the west and we were slowly gaining on her. She eventually turned around and headed back home.
Another sailboat passed to port heading down the cityfront.
We sailed out into the central bay, then tacked toward pier 39 and pulled the jib out to full since the breeze had softened to a level perfect for full canvas. That tack took us past pier 35, where we tacked to the north again, sailed out a ways and then tacked to sail past the end of pier 35.
The flags on the end of the pier were fluttering nicely in the 10 knot breeze from the west as we fought the flood current.
The city was enjoying brilliant slanted sunshine as we passed the end of the west marina seawall.
Ahead of us was a p39 neighbor boat named CATBIRD that we had earlier watched come out and raise sails.
We were gradually catching up to CATBIRD, and after we both tacked to the northwest and then back to the southwest again, we easily passed her, though she was looking good flying full canvas.
Soon CATBIRD was falling farther and farther behind.
As we passed the St. Francis Yacht Club on shore, the city was still gleaming in the late afternoon sunshine.
Ahead of us a sailboat was returning from shooting the gate.
We were sailing straight for the gate on close reach starboard tack, when the wind suddenly started shifting around, forcing us to begin beating toward the gate, including a tack that took us inside Blackaller Buoy and giving us this view of our spectacular bridge.
It took us several more tacks before we were finally able to shoot the gate just inside the south tower of the bridge, and then we turned around and headed back inside, enjoying this view of the Golden Gate Bridge nearing sundown.
We sailed northward to position ourselves to see the sundown, and enjoyed views of the city wearing sundown color....
the north tower reflecting the setting sun....
....and Alcatraz wearing sundown color as well.
he sun was going down toward a thick cloud bank on the horizon...
...and soon started to disappear into it.
Finally, the sun was in hiding and illuminating the tops of the clouds...
...with a marmalade sky above.
A partly cloudy afternoon with a great breeze and moderate currents on the bay-- a recipe for a delightful afternoon of sailing.
We headed out about 1pm and the winds were in the 10-15 knot range, so we put up full main outside the marina....
...then headed out into the bay on port tack, came about onto starboard tack, pulled out the jib to full, and did wing and wing down the cityfront, noticing that REVERIE was back at pier 35 again.
Beautiful cloud patterns filled the skies over Telegraph Hill.
We eventually gybed the jib and headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge on starboard tack broad reach, making good headway in good winds with some flood assist, and noticiing a jib only sailboat heading north.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sunshine as we approached the A-B span.
The view of the financial district from the other side of the bridge was spectacular!
We reefed the jib and headed back to the north, enjoying the view of Telegraph Hill in sunshine this time.
That same jib-only sailboat was beating to the west and we were slowly gaining on her. She eventually turned around and headed back home.
Another sailboat passed to port heading down the cityfront.
We sailed out into the central bay, then tacked toward pier 39 and pulled the jib out to full since the breeze had softened to a level perfect for full canvas. That tack took us past pier 35, where we tacked to the north again, sailed out a ways and then tacked to sail past the end of pier 35.
The flags on the end of the pier were fluttering nicely in the 10 knot breeze from the west as we fought the flood current.
The city was enjoying brilliant slanted sunshine as we passed the end of the west marina seawall.
Ahead of us was a p39 neighbor boat named CATBIRD that we had earlier watched come out and raise sails.
We were gradually catching up to CATBIRD, and after we both tacked to the northwest and then back to the southwest again, we easily passed her, though she was looking good flying full canvas.
Soon CATBIRD was falling farther and farther behind.
As we passed the St. Francis Yacht Club on shore, the city was still gleaming in the late afternoon sunshine.
Ahead of us a sailboat was returning from shooting the gate.
We were sailing straight for the gate on close reach starboard tack, when the wind suddenly started shifting around, forcing us to begin beating toward the gate, including a tack that took us inside Blackaller Buoy and giving us this view of our spectacular bridge.
It took us several more tacks before we were finally able to shoot the gate just inside the south tower of the bridge, and then we turned around and headed back inside, enjoying this view of the Golden Gate Bridge nearing sundown.
We sailed northward to position ourselves to see the sundown, and enjoyed views of the city wearing sundown color....
the north tower reflecting the setting sun....
....and Alcatraz wearing sundown color as well.
he sun was going down toward a thick cloud bank on the horizon...
...and soon started to disappear into it.
Finally, the sun was in hiding and illuminating the tops of the clouds...
...with a marmalade sky above.
Monday, November 27, 2006
SUNDAY 26 NOV. 2006-- RAINY OUTING-- SURPRISE SUNSET!
Rain was predicted for Sunday, but Greg from up Placerville way wanted to come down for a sail. Stevan and his wife, Stela were tentatively scheduled to come also but decided to wait for nicer weather and concentrate on settling in with their furniture.
We left port around 1:45 in a light misty rain, after setting up for a reef in the main, and pulled up the reefed main after dodging a large motor yacht heading for the marina entrance. We headed out into the central bay, pulling out the jib to full as we did. Then we headed for the gate on port tack beam reach, sailing through widely varying winds against a moderate flood current. It was raining, so we didn't photograph ADVENTURE CAT2 as she passed us, or another sailboat out in the rain and heading east.
That single tack took us out the gate and then we fell off, reefed the jib, and then came about and headed for Raccoon Straits, sailing almost direct downwind, with the rain falling on our foulies, but still having a good time. [photo by Greg]
As we approached Raccoon Straits, we saw someone out sailing on a Laser-- don't think i'd go out on a Laser in that weather. [photo by Greg]
We sailed all the way down the Straits and then tried to sail up the east side of Angel Island, but there was insufficient wind to make headway against the flood current even after pulling out the jib to full, so we came about and headed back toward the Straits, enjoying this view of the structures on the east side of Angel,
now that the rain had stopped.
The seas were flat as we approached the Straits with some flood assist.
We eventually arrived in some good winds and were making good headway back up the Straits, passing Ayala Cove where a couple of boats were tied up, and enjoying the view of the mists dropping down the island hills.
Belvedere, Tiburon, and Mt. Tam were suffering under overcast skies.
A couple of tacks took us out of the Straits and we could then see Alcatraz and the City behind in the mist.
Greg was at the helm as we headed across the central bay toward home port on the southwest breeze.
The Golden Gate Bridge was also under overcast skies and so we were not expecting anything but grayness for our crossing.
Our boat neighbor on his new Catalina TEMPTATION was heading across the bay also and off to port.
As we sailed along, a window in the clouds seemed to be opening beyond the gate.
This opening in the skies outside the gate gave us some hope of seeing the sundown through the gate.
Soon we began to see some dramatic sundown skies through and over the gate!
A bit of clearing skies were also seen over the central bay.
We decided to head for the gate to watch the sundown as it developed with more dramatic flavor.
The sun was now visible under some clouds, but was about to drop behind a thick bank of clouds on the horizon, but producing some beautiful sunset colors over the gate.
Now the sun was partially obscured by the clouds on the horizon, but dramatic skies continued.
A large dark cloud was scudding toward us as we headed for home port, but over the gate the sunset colors persisted.
The sunset colors started to fade as we sailed against the waxing ebb current toward home port.
The sunset eventually faded into grayness with blackness overhead at dusk.
City lights brightened and added their magic to the growing darkness and threats of rain which soon started up again.
With the rain came the overwhelming blackness, and with a shift of the wind into the southeast, we decided to motorsail the rest of the way to home port.
After dousing the sails, heading into port and docking-- the rain having stopped again in the meanwhile-- we were happy to go below, enjoy warming up in the salon of ANTICIPATION, and sharing some apple-flavored hot tea and some brie and crackers, while watching a slide show of the photos of the day, and the day before.
I was happy that Greg came down since I would have otherwise been tempted to stay in port. Instead, our outing added credibility to my assertion that we go out year around, rain or shine.
Rain was predicted for Sunday, but Greg from up Placerville way wanted to come down for a sail. Stevan and his wife, Stela were tentatively scheduled to come also but decided to wait for nicer weather and concentrate on settling in with their furniture.
We left port around 1:45 in a light misty rain, after setting up for a reef in the main, and pulled up the reefed main after dodging a large motor yacht heading for the marina entrance. We headed out into the central bay, pulling out the jib to full as we did. Then we headed for the gate on port tack beam reach, sailing through widely varying winds against a moderate flood current. It was raining, so we didn't photograph ADVENTURE CAT2 as she passed us, or another sailboat out in the rain and heading east.
That single tack took us out the gate and then we fell off, reefed the jib, and then came about and headed for Raccoon Straits, sailing almost direct downwind, with the rain falling on our foulies, but still having a good time. [photo by Greg]
As we approached Raccoon Straits, we saw someone out sailing on a Laser-- don't think i'd go out on a Laser in that weather. [photo by Greg]
We sailed all the way down the Straits and then tried to sail up the east side of Angel Island, but there was insufficient wind to make headway against the flood current even after pulling out the jib to full, so we came about and headed back toward the Straits, enjoying this view of the structures on the east side of Angel,
now that the rain had stopped.
The seas were flat as we approached the Straits with some flood assist.
We eventually arrived in some good winds and were making good headway back up the Straits, passing Ayala Cove where a couple of boats were tied up, and enjoying the view of the mists dropping down the island hills.
Belvedere, Tiburon, and Mt. Tam were suffering under overcast skies.
A couple of tacks took us out of the Straits and we could then see Alcatraz and the City behind in the mist.
Greg was at the helm as we headed across the central bay toward home port on the southwest breeze.
The Golden Gate Bridge was also under overcast skies and so we were not expecting anything but grayness for our crossing.
Our boat neighbor on his new Catalina TEMPTATION was heading across the bay also and off to port.
As we sailed along, a window in the clouds seemed to be opening beyond the gate.
This opening in the skies outside the gate gave us some hope of seeing the sundown through the gate.
Soon we began to see some dramatic sundown skies through and over the gate!
A bit of clearing skies were also seen over the central bay.
We decided to head for the gate to watch the sundown as it developed with more dramatic flavor.
The sun was now visible under some clouds, but was about to drop behind a thick bank of clouds on the horizon, but producing some beautiful sunset colors over the gate.
Now the sun was partially obscured by the clouds on the horizon, but dramatic skies continued.
A large dark cloud was scudding toward us as we headed for home port, but over the gate the sunset colors persisted.
The sunset colors started to fade as we sailed against the waxing ebb current toward home port.
The sunset eventually faded into grayness with blackness overhead at dusk.
City lights brightened and added their magic to the growing darkness and threats of rain which soon started up again.
With the rain came the overwhelming blackness, and with a shift of the wind into the southeast, we decided to motorsail the rest of the way to home port.
After dousing the sails, heading into port and docking-- the rain having stopped again in the meanwhile-- we were happy to go below, enjoy warming up in the salon of ANTICIPATION, and sharing some apple-flavored hot tea and some brie and crackers, while watching a slide show of the photos of the day, and the day before.
I was happy that Greg came down since I would have otherwise been tempted to stay in port. Instead, our outing added credibility to my assertion that we go out year around, rain or shine.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2006-- 6 HOURS ON OUR BEAUTIFUL BAY
Yesterday begain as a beautiful sunny day with a moderate breeze out of the northeast. We left port just before noon, put up full canvas and headed out into the central bay, sailing downwind on broad reach starboard tack.
We ghosted past pier 39 where a lone kayaker was paddling eastward on the glistening bay waters.
Flags on the end of pier 39 were barely fluttering in the light breeze.
As the breeze softened further, we headed up toward Alcatraz, passing this large cutter-rigged sailboat headed toward shore.
We ghosted out toward the east side of Alcatraz, passing other boats on the way, like this one.
The breeze became flukey and so we decided to sail to the northeast with the flood current so that we would be down current when the ebb started if a better wind didnt materialize.
As we sailed along, this Catalina passed to starboard.
The wind shifted into the southeast so we headed for the cityfront and then a lovely 10 knot westerly came up and soon we were blasting westpnorthwestward on close reach port tack, quickly passing this Catalina hardly moving due to poor sail trim.
As we sailed toward Alcatraz, we passed astern of this small sailboat sailing a bit more off the wind...
...and this dingy-trailing sailboat as well.
After arriving in light air in the lee of Alcatraz, we tacked to the south and saw Adventure Cat approaching.
We were on starboard tack so the Cat owed us right of way and fell off a bit to let us pass port to port with a few feet of each other-- so we could see the happy people on the foredeck.
Skies were mostly clear, but some clouds were beginning to move in from the west.
This traditional cutter-rigges sailboat with tanbark sails passed to port after we had tacked to the west again.
Behind us, this small sailboat was sailing toward us and looking good with the city in the background.
Adventure Cat had rounded Alcatraz and was heading westward, but we were far ahead of her and we expected her to catch up fairly soon.
North of Alcatraz, the breeze was softer, so we tacked back into the stronger breeze in the south half of the central bay, and this Beneteau passed between us and the gate.
as we sailed to the south, the wind continually freshened and eventually we were on the verge of being overcanvassed, so we tacked back to the west again, and ended up on a converging course with this smaller sailboat, forcing them to luff up to give us right of way as the leeward boat.
She ended up right behind us and chased us for a while, but quickly fell several boat lengths behind and fell off the wind a bit more again.
A couple of more tacks took us to a point approaching Horseshoe Cove, where this nice sailboat crossed in front of us, returning from outside the gate. I love the look of the rolling Marin Headlands in the background.
The lovely ketch PENDRAGON passed in front of us after we tacked toward the gate and looked good with the city shining brilliantly in the background.
We tacked again toward Horseshoe Cove and Adventure Cat passed us, returning from outside the gate.
As we sailed toward the gate, this Ranger sailboat passed to starboard.
Behind us, this small sailboat was headed toward the gate.
A Catalina doing wing and wing was heading back toward the gate.
We sailed out on starboard tack just inside the south tower of the GGB, enjoying views of the bridge and the rugged coast of the Marin Headlands just outside the gate.
We sailed out just a short distance and then fell off and heaed back inside, passing this sailboat headed for the gate.
We considered heading for Raccoon Straits, but with the ebb current starting soon, we decided to gybe and head toward home port, passing this nice Catalina named BIG CAT headed toward the gate.
A cute Rhodes 19 approached and passed astern.
As we sailed eastward, behind us the skies started to fill with more and more clouds.
After passing pier 45, we could see that that city was still under clear skies and enjoying brilliant sunshine.
We sailed past pier 39 and down the cityfront shore, enjoying views of the financial district as the clouds began to move over.
ith the sun now down behind clouds, the financial district buildings and the ferry building showed up in silhouette-- creating an interesting photo.
The breeze stayed moderately strong all the way down the cityfront, and soon we were approaching the Bay Bridge which was still gleaming.
After sailing under the A-B span of the bridge, we fell off to reef the jib and then headed up and sailed back through the span, headed toward the shore, where we eventully had a different view of the city.
we sailed to within a couple hundred yards of the shore and then tacked to the north, passing that bow and arrow sculpture that I like more the more I see it.
We had a view of the Ferry Building and Coit Tower behind that is one that I can't recall experiencing before.
As we sailed along the cityfront, the racing trimaran named FLIP FLAP N' FLY scooted past to starboard.
That same Catalina named BIG CAT passed us, heading home.
Some interestesting cloud formations were scudding past Coit Tower as we blasted in good winds toward Angel Island.
This large sailboat approached with the overcast GGB in the background.
Alcatraz was mostly in silhouette as we passed to the lee side
A bit of sunset color showed through the GGB as we headed for the weather side of Angel Island.
As we sailed up the west shore of Angel, we enjoyed this view of the residences scattered up the hillside.
A couple of sailboats had exited Raccoon Straits as we approached and were sailing toward the central bay on a southerly course.
We sailed past the northwest point of Angel and took our last view of Alcatraz and the city as we entered the Straits, pulling out the jib to full for more power.
We always enjoy this view of Mt. Tam towering over Tiburon.
We switched from port tack to wing and wing to sail past Ayala Cove, in which a number of boats were tied up.
sailed past Ayala Cove and then reefed the jib and came about and headed back up the straits again.
As we exited the straits, this sailboat flying full canvas was chasing us.
We were blasting across the central bay on starboard tack beam reach when we noticed that REVERIE-- that large motor yacht that had been tied up at Pier 35-- was now steaming toward the gate.
A bit later, we could see that some nice sunset colors were beginning to develop outside the gate
REVERIE was steaming into the sunset-- perhaps a good omen for a good voyage to whereever she was headed.
The sunset developed some brilliant colors in the window in the clouds over the gate....
...including some brilliant colors over the Presidio.
Ahead of us, city was looking especially festive for the holiday season in the twilight
We sailed past pier 39 and continued down the cityfront, enjoying the magic vistas presented by the holiday lighting.
The views of the financial district are especially appealing this time of year with the special lighting supplementing the usual ferry building lighting.
We continued sailing and passed under the A-B span of the Bay Bridge again, eventually to enjoy this view of the city framed by the bridge.
We came about and headed back toward home port, eventually noticing that skies had cleared and a quarter moon was visible over the financial district buildings.
We were filled to overflowing with the pleasure of our outing as we eventually pulled into port and docked, especially after reviewing and culling the some 300 photos that we took during the outing.
Yesterday begain as a beautiful sunny day with a moderate breeze out of the northeast. We left port just before noon, put up full canvas and headed out into the central bay, sailing downwind on broad reach starboard tack.
We ghosted past pier 39 where a lone kayaker was paddling eastward on the glistening bay waters.
Flags on the end of pier 39 were barely fluttering in the light breeze.
As the breeze softened further, we headed up toward Alcatraz, passing this large cutter-rigged sailboat headed toward shore.
We ghosted out toward the east side of Alcatraz, passing other boats on the way, like this one.
The breeze became flukey and so we decided to sail to the northeast with the flood current so that we would be down current when the ebb started if a better wind didnt materialize.
As we sailed along, this Catalina passed to starboard.
The wind shifted into the southeast so we headed for the cityfront and then a lovely 10 knot westerly came up and soon we were blasting westpnorthwestward on close reach port tack, quickly passing this Catalina hardly moving due to poor sail trim.
As we sailed toward Alcatraz, we passed astern of this small sailboat sailing a bit more off the wind...
...and this dingy-trailing sailboat as well.
After arriving in light air in the lee of Alcatraz, we tacked to the south and saw Adventure Cat approaching.
We were on starboard tack so the Cat owed us right of way and fell off a bit to let us pass port to port with a few feet of each other-- so we could see the happy people on the foredeck.
Skies were mostly clear, but some clouds were beginning to move in from the west.
This traditional cutter-rigges sailboat with tanbark sails passed to port after we had tacked to the west again.
Behind us, this small sailboat was sailing toward us and looking good with the city in the background.
Adventure Cat had rounded Alcatraz and was heading westward, but we were far ahead of her and we expected her to catch up fairly soon.
North of Alcatraz, the breeze was softer, so we tacked back into the stronger breeze in the south half of the central bay, and this Beneteau passed between us and the gate.
as we sailed to the south, the wind continually freshened and eventually we were on the verge of being overcanvassed, so we tacked back to the west again, and ended up on a converging course with this smaller sailboat, forcing them to luff up to give us right of way as the leeward boat.
She ended up right behind us and chased us for a while, but quickly fell several boat lengths behind and fell off the wind a bit more again.
A couple of more tacks took us to a point approaching Horseshoe Cove, where this nice sailboat crossed in front of us, returning from outside the gate. I love the look of the rolling Marin Headlands in the background.
The lovely ketch PENDRAGON passed in front of us after we tacked toward the gate and looked good with the city shining brilliantly in the background.
We tacked again toward Horseshoe Cove and Adventure Cat passed us, returning from outside the gate.
As we sailed toward the gate, this Ranger sailboat passed to starboard.
Behind us, this small sailboat was headed toward the gate.
A Catalina doing wing and wing was heading back toward the gate.
We sailed out on starboard tack just inside the south tower of the GGB, enjoying views of the bridge and the rugged coast of the Marin Headlands just outside the gate.
We sailed out just a short distance and then fell off and heaed back inside, passing this sailboat headed for the gate.
We considered heading for Raccoon Straits, but with the ebb current starting soon, we decided to gybe and head toward home port, passing this nice Catalina named BIG CAT headed toward the gate.
A cute Rhodes 19 approached and passed astern.
As we sailed eastward, behind us the skies started to fill with more and more clouds.
After passing pier 45, we could see that that city was still under clear skies and enjoying brilliant sunshine.
We sailed past pier 39 and down the cityfront shore, enjoying views of the financial district as the clouds began to move over.
ith the sun now down behind clouds, the financial district buildings and the ferry building showed up in silhouette-- creating an interesting photo.
The breeze stayed moderately strong all the way down the cityfront, and soon we were approaching the Bay Bridge which was still gleaming.
After sailing under the A-B span of the bridge, we fell off to reef the jib and then headed up and sailed back through the span, headed toward the shore, where we eventully had a different view of the city.
we sailed to within a couple hundred yards of the shore and then tacked to the north, passing that bow and arrow sculpture that I like more the more I see it.
We had a view of the Ferry Building and Coit Tower behind that is one that I can't recall experiencing before.
As we sailed along the cityfront, the racing trimaran named FLIP FLAP N' FLY scooted past to starboard.
That same Catalina named BIG CAT passed us, heading home.
Some interestesting cloud formations were scudding past Coit Tower as we blasted in good winds toward Angel Island.
This large sailboat approached with the overcast GGB in the background.
Alcatraz was mostly in silhouette as we passed to the lee side
A bit of sunset color showed through the GGB as we headed for the weather side of Angel Island.
As we sailed up the west shore of Angel, we enjoyed this view of the residences scattered up the hillside.
A couple of sailboats had exited Raccoon Straits as we approached and were sailing toward the central bay on a southerly course.
We sailed past the northwest point of Angel and took our last view of Alcatraz and the city as we entered the Straits, pulling out the jib to full for more power.
We always enjoy this view of Mt. Tam towering over Tiburon.
We switched from port tack to wing and wing to sail past Ayala Cove, in which a number of boats were tied up.
sailed past Ayala Cove and then reefed the jib and came about and headed back up the straits again.
As we exited the straits, this sailboat flying full canvas was chasing us.
We were blasting across the central bay on starboard tack beam reach when we noticed that REVERIE-- that large motor yacht that had been tied up at Pier 35-- was now steaming toward the gate.
A bit later, we could see that some nice sunset colors were beginning to develop outside the gate
REVERIE was steaming into the sunset-- perhaps a good omen for a good voyage to whereever she was headed.
The sunset developed some brilliant colors in the window in the clouds over the gate....
...including some brilliant colors over the Presidio.
Ahead of us, city was looking especially festive for the holiday season in the twilight
We sailed past pier 39 and continued down the cityfront, enjoying the magic vistas presented by the holiday lighting.
The views of the financial district are especially appealing this time of year with the special lighting supplementing the usual ferry building lighting.
We continued sailing and passed under the A-B span of the Bay Bridge again, eventually to enjoy this view of the city framed by the bridge.
We came about and headed back toward home port, eventually noticing that skies had cleared and a quarter moon was visible over the financial district buildings.
We were filled to overflowing with the pleasure of our outing as we eventually pulled into port and docked, especially after reviewing and culling the some 300 photos that we took during the outing.
