Saturday, December 02, 2006
THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2006-- GREAT TRIP TO THE GATE AND BACK
A chilly, but sunny day in SF, with a moderate breeze out of the northwest: another recipe for some fantastic full canvas sailing. We headed out about 3 pm, raised full canvas, and sailed out the the north a short distance and then tacked to the west.\\
The breeze was blowing at about 8-10 knots as we passed the end of pier 39.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 39 and pier 45.
Sausalito and Mt. Tam were locked in haze.
We were blasting toward the gate on close to broad reach, starboard tack, making great headway despite the waxing flood current, and looking back from time to time to enjoy views of the city, like this one of Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill....
....and this one of Russian Hill, Nob Hill and Pacific Heights.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands looked spectacular as usual.
That single starboard tack took us out the gate just inside the south tower, and as we continued sailing to the southwest, we eventually enjoyed one of our favorite views of the city framed by the GGB.
We decided to continue sailing out toward Pt. Bonita as long as the good breeze stayed around.
The gate was receding ...
....and the headlands looked great in sun and shadow.
About half way to Pt. Bonita, the breeze started to soften, so we came about and headed back toward the gate on close reach, watching another sailboat heading for the gate and fighting the flood current.
That sailboat made it out the gate while we were blasting inside with the strong flood and good breeze combining forces.
we sailed toward Angel Island which was looking resplendent in the late sunshine.
Overhead we saw a 4 engine prop plane blasting toward the sunset....
....and the moon was brightening.
Approaching Angel Island, we tacked to the west, and sailed on until the sun dropped behind the Marin Headlands.
Then we came about and headed back toward home port, eventually seeing the sun peeking out from behind the headlands and near sundown.
Then as we sailed along, some on wing and wing, some broad reaching, we watched as the sun dropped into the ocean.
That single whisp of cloud in the southwest, looking a bit like some giant flying birds, took on some sunset color as the horizon turned a dusky marmalade color....
.... and the sky gradually darkened...
leaving us with the magic of the city lights in a colorful dusky sky.
A chilly, but sunny day in SF, with a moderate breeze out of the northwest: another recipe for some fantastic full canvas sailing. We headed out about 3 pm, raised full canvas, and sailed out the the north a short distance and then tacked to the west.\\
The breeze was blowing at about 8-10 knots as we passed the end of pier 39.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 39 and pier 45.
Sausalito and Mt. Tam were locked in haze.
We were blasting toward the gate on close to broad reach, starboard tack, making great headway despite the waxing flood current, and looking back from time to time to enjoy views of the city, like this one of Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill....
....and this one of Russian Hill, Nob Hill and Pacific Heights.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands looked spectacular as usual.
That single starboard tack took us out the gate just inside the south tower, and as we continued sailing to the southwest, we eventually enjoyed one of our favorite views of the city framed by the GGB.
We decided to continue sailing out toward Pt. Bonita as long as the good breeze stayed around.
The gate was receding ...
....and the headlands looked great in sun and shadow.
About half way to Pt. Bonita, the breeze started to soften, so we came about and headed back toward the gate on close reach, watching another sailboat heading for the gate and fighting the flood current.
That sailboat made it out the gate while we were blasting inside with the strong flood and good breeze combining forces.
we sailed toward Angel Island which was looking resplendent in the late sunshine.
Overhead we saw a 4 engine prop plane blasting toward the sunset....
....and the moon was brightening.
Approaching Angel Island, we tacked to the west, and sailed on until the sun dropped behind the Marin Headlands.
Then we came about and headed back toward home port, eventually seeing the sun peeking out from behind the headlands and near sundown.
Then as we sailed along, some on wing and wing, some broad reaching, we watched as the sun dropped into the ocean.
That single whisp of cloud in the southwest, looking a bit like some giant flying birds, took on some sunset color as the horizon turned a dusky marmalade color....
.... and the sky gradually darkened...
leaving us with the magic of the city lights in a colorful dusky sky.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:05 PM 
