Saturday, December 16, 2006
SATURDAY 16 DEC 06-- SHIFTY WINDS & UNUSUAL SUNDOWN DISPLAY
Michael and Stevan joined us for an afternoon sail and we left port about 1:30 pm, put out full canvas and began sailing to the northwest
with the ebb current dragging us westward.
Hardly a breath of breeze was blowing, and the flags on the end of pier 39 were essentially limp.
Behind us the city was overcast and looking a bit gloomy.
We were ghosting to the northwest when a nice northwesterly breeze came up and we started sailing with some reasonable headway to the north, passing to the east of Alcatraz.
We continued sailing northward into the lee of Angel Island where the breeze softened and showed no sign of freshening again, so we came about and headed back toward home port, sailing with the current and enjoying a view of the GGB with interesting cloud patterns behind it.
We ghosted past Alcatraz and motored for a while to pass safely in front of an inbound freighter, then picked up a freshening westerly as we approached pier 39, where the flags were now fluttering nicely.
We sailed past the end of pier 39 on a close reach starboard tack and then tacked onto port tack to head out to watch the sundown which began with some dramatic light and shadow displays.
As we sailed past the weather side of Alcatraz, the light and shadow display over the gate was spectacular.
Michael was at the helm and bundled up in his foulies against the wind chill which was probably in the 30s....
...and Stevan was well bundled as well, but all were enjoying the freshening breeze and the dramatic sunset skies...
...which continued to change and develop in a spectacular manner.
The dark clouds over the gate took on the appearance of battling monsters.
A bit of sunset color was developing over the Marin Headlands.
Dramatic cloud patterns and some blue sky extended over the western part of the city.
The breeze softened so we came about and headed back toward home port, giving up on the idea of shooting the gate at sunset, but watching more vivid drama develop over the gate.
Here a cloud monster is about to gobble some blue sky and the cloud ahead.
We eventually picked up a steady westerly breeze again and made good headway toward home port, switching to wing and wing after approaching the cityfront, and watching this vessel steam past, loaded with sattelite communication gear, and probably a research vessel of some kind.
Dusk was falling as we approached the marina and got ready to douse sails and land.Dusk was falling as we approached the marina and got ready to douse sails and land.
The predicted showers and possible thundershowers did not materialize, and we were fortunate to have some periods of good breeze to allow us to do some enjoyable sailing, coupled with the dramatic sundown and sunset skies.
Michael and Stevan joined us for an afternoon sail and we left port about 1:30 pm, put out full canvas and began sailing to the northwest
with the ebb current dragging us westward.
Hardly a breath of breeze was blowing, and the flags on the end of pier 39 were essentially limp.
Behind us the city was overcast and looking a bit gloomy.
We were ghosting to the northwest when a nice northwesterly breeze came up and we started sailing with some reasonable headway to the north, passing to the east of Alcatraz.
We continued sailing northward into the lee of Angel Island where the breeze softened and showed no sign of freshening again, so we came about and headed back toward home port, sailing with the current and enjoying a view of the GGB with interesting cloud patterns behind it.
We ghosted past Alcatraz and motored for a while to pass safely in front of an inbound freighter, then picked up a freshening westerly as we approached pier 39, where the flags were now fluttering nicely.
We sailed past the end of pier 39 on a close reach starboard tack and then tacked onto port tack to head out to watch the sundown which began with some dramatic light and shadow displays.
As we sailed past the weather side of Alcatraz, the light and shadow display over the gate was spectacular.
Michael was at the helm and bundled up in his foulies against the wind chill which was probably in the 30s....
...and Stevan was well bundled as well, but all were enjoying the freshening breeze and the dramatic sunset skies...
...which continued to change and develop in a spectacular manner.
The dark clouds over the gate took on the appearance of battling monsters.
A bit of sunset color was developing over the Marin Headlands.
Dramatic cloud patterns and some blue sky extended over the western part of the city.
The breeze softened so we came about and headed back toward home port, giving up on the idea of shooting the gate at sunset, but watching more vivid drama develop over the gate.
Here a cloud monster is about to gobble some blue sky and the cloud ahead.
We eventually picked up a steady westerly breeze again and made good headway toward home port, switching to wing and wing after approaching the cityfront, and watching this vessel steam past, loaded with sattelite communication gear, and probably a research vessel of some kind.
Dusk was falling as we approached the marina and got ready to douse sails and land.Dusk was falling as we approached the marina and got ready to douse sails and land.
The predicted showers and possible thundershowers did not materialize, and we were fortunate to have some periods of good breeze to allow us to do some enjoyable sailing, coupled with the dramatic sundown and sunset skies.
Labels: sailboats, sailing, san francisco bay, sunsets
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:07 PM 
