Monday, January 22, 2007
SUNDAY 07 JAN 21-- SUNNY AND CLEAR-- MOSTLY GOOD WINDS
Ryan and Alyssa, a young couple from a farming community north of Sacramento, came
down to join us for our afternoon outing-- a birthday treat for Ryan who is suffering from sailing withdrawal after moving back home from San Diego where he belonged to a sailing club and sailed regularly on San Diego Bay. Evelyn also joined us for the afternoon.
We put out full canvas as we motored north into the northerly breeze after exiting the marina and then fell off and headed for the gate on starboard tack, passing this sailboat headed east and looking good.
This small Ranger sailboat was headed for the cityfront.
As we blasted toward the gate in good winds, this Catalina passed to starboard, returning from the gate.
A lovely Valiant passed astern of us with reefed main.
Ryan and Alyssa were enjoying the warm, sunny afternoon sail as we continued blasting toward the gate in good winds.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands looked beautiful as always as we approached.
We were a few hundred yards from the gate when the wind abruptly shifted into the WSW just as we were about to catch up with this smaller sailboat that was ahead of us by almost a mile when we started out. As we approached, we could see that they had their main trimmed too tight for maximum power and speed.
We both sailed out the gate on port tack, and we continued out while they fell off and passed astern of us.
Ryan was still at the helm as we sailed outside the gate-- looks like he is enjoying the outing, eh?
We enjoyed the views of the GGB and the Marin Headlands from outside the gate for a while and then fell off and headed back inside.
We began gybing back and forth, headed for Raccoon Straits, and watching this sailboat returning from the ocean....
....and this J-boat that had been heading for the gate, but fell off and was now sailing eastward away from the gate.
This small sailboat was passing Horseshoe Cove and headed for the gate.
The breeze was flukey and inconsistent so we abandoned the goal of sailing to Raccoon Straits and headed back toward home port, watching this nice little ketch crossing the bay behind us.
We made steady progress against the waxing ebb current for a while and then the breeze softened and we were being driven backwards by the current, so had to begin motorsailing toward home port. After motoring for a quarter mile or so, we picked up a nice northeasterly breeze and were delighted to be able to torn off the engine and sail on close reach port tack toward home port with plenty of headway to fight the ebb current.
Ahead of us, these two lovely sailboats crossed paths....
...and a bit later, this very sleek sailboat passed to port, heading toward the gate.
The city was enjoying the clear air and brilliant afternoon sunshine.
As we approached Aquatic Park, and noticed the buildings now in part sun and shadow, the breeze softened a bit and shifted more easterly, so we had to begin beating eastward toward home port, with the now quite strong ebb carrying us westward as we tacked away from the shore.
Fortunately, after a couple of tacks the breeze freshened and shifted into the northeast again and we were able to sail on close reach parallel to the shore and make great progress toward home port, approaching pier 39 just as the city was enjoying the late sun's slanted rays.
We sailed past pier 35 and then fell off to pull in the jib and then came into the wind to douse the main. After motoring into the marina, and putting ANTICIPATION to bed, we went below for some wine/juice and cheese and bread/crackers. After enjoying those appetizers and more great conversation, we headed out, saying goodby to Evelyn who needed to get home and do some work, and then heading over to North Beach for a pizza dinner at North Beach Pizza.
All in all an afternoon and evening full of great pleasure!
Ryan and Alyssa, a young couple from a farming community north of Sacramento, came
down to join us for our afternoon outing-- a birthday treat for Ryan who is suffering from sailing withdrawal after moving back home from San Diego where he belonged to a sailing club and sailed regularly on San Diego Bay. Evelyn also joined us for the afternoon.
We put out full canvas as we motored north into the northerly breeze after exiting the marina and then fell off and headed for the gate on starboard tack, passing this sailboat headed east and looking good.
This small Ranger sailboat was headed for the cityfront.
As we blasted toward the gate in good winds, this Catalina passed to starboard, returning from the gate.
A lovely Valiant passed astern of us with reefed main.
Ryan and Alyssa were enjoying the warm, sunny afternoon sail as we continued blasting toward the gate in good winds.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands looked beautiful as always as we approached.
We were a few hundred yards from the gate when the wind abruptly shifted into the WSW just as we were about to catch up with this smaller sailboat that was ahead of us by almost a mile when we started out. As we approached, we could see that they had their main trimmed too tight for maximum power and speed.
We both sailed out the gate on port tack, and we continued out while they fell off and passed astern of us.
Ryan was still at the helm as we sailed outside the gate-- looks like he is enjoying the outing, eh?
We enjoyed the views of the GGB and the Marin Headlands from outside the gate for a while and then fell off and headed back inside.
We began gybing back and forth, headed for Raccoon Straits, and watching this sailboat returning from the ocean....
....and this J-boat that had been heading for the gate, but fell off and was now sailing eastward away from the gate.
This small sailboat was passing Horseshoe Cove and headed for the gate.
The breeze was flukey and inconsistent so we abandoned the goal of sailing to Raccoon Straits and headed back toward home port, watching this nice little ketch crossing the bay behind us.
We made steady progress against the waxing ebb current for a while and then the breeze softened and we were being driven backwards by the current, so had to begin motorsailing toward home port. After motoring for a quarter mile or so, we picked up a nice northeasterly breeze and were delighted to be able to torn off the engine and sail on close reach port tack toward home port with plenty of headway to fight the ebb current.
Ahead of us, these two lovely sailboats crossed paths....
...and a bit later, this very sleek sailboat passed to port, heading toward the gate.
The city was enjoying the clear air and brilliant afternoon sunshine.
As we approached Aquatic Park, and noticed the buildings now in part sun and shadow, the breeze softened a bit and shifted more easterly, so we had to begin beating eastward toward home port, with the now quite strong ebb carrying us westward as we tacked away from the shore.
Fortunately, after a couple of tacks the breeze freshened and shifted into the northeast again and we were able to sail on close reach parallel to the shore and make great progress toward home port, approaching pier 39 just as the city was enjoying the late sun's slanted rays.
We sailed past pier 35 and then fell off to pull in the jib and then came into the wind to douse the main. After motoring into the marina, and putting ANTICIPATION to bed, we went below for some wine/juice and cheese and bread/crackers. After enjoying those appetizers and more great conversation, we headed out, saying goodby to Evelyn who needed to get home and do some work, and then heading over to North Beach for a pizza dinner at North Beach Pizza.
All in all an afternoon and evening full of great pleasure!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 1:12 PM 
