Sunday, January 14, 2007
SUNDAY 14 JAN 07- SUNNY, CHILLY, LIGHT WINDS
Saturday there was no wind until the mid-afternoon-- too late to go out when I had a 6 pm dinner date with my daughter, so we stayed in port and hoped for wind on the morrow.
Today there was a lovely 10 knot northeasterly blowing in the morning, but by early afternoon, when we planned to go out, it had started to soften.
GO DOG GO was heading out under sail as we prepared to leave the dock.
She was outside the marina with sails up and beating against the wind as we motored out to put up full canvas.
Once out in the central bay we were headed for the gate on starboard tack broad reach, and we passed the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering moderately.
Off to starboard a Catalina named CARMELITA was sailing westward....
....and a short time later began motorsailing and pulling in the jib, as Alcatraz behind was enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
Off to port, the city was also enjoying the sunshine through a slight bit of haze.
A large sailboat was sailing past Alcatraz and off to starboard, looking good!
... as was this catamaran....
...and this Catalina named FAMILY FEUD.
We did a bit of gybing back and forth as we approached the gate, and HOME FREE motorsailed past, apparently in a hurry to arrive at the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands behind were looking spectacular as usual in the brilliant afternoon sunshine.
Another Catalina named FULL SHELL motorsailed past, returning from outside the gate.
We ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, watching this Ranger motorsail out the gate as we passed under the bridge.
Just outside the gate, this smaller sailboat was motorsailing back toward the bay, with the dramatic Marin Headlands as a backdrop.
She was still motorsailing with sails flapping after passing under the GGB
We sailed toward the pier just inside the gate and had this lovely view of the GGB from that vantage point.
Michael was at the helm as we tacked back and forth, looking for some consistent breeze.
The wind softened to just a bit of puffing and we were ghosting toward home port with a slight bit of flood current assist when this large cruise ship that had been tied up at pier 35 steamed past, heading for the gate....
...and then steamed out the gate.
The city was wearing sunset color as we ghosted past the St. Francis Yacht Club.
The sun went down behind the Presidio Hills as we ghosted along with almost no breeze.
Only the tops of the buildings on Russian Hill were wearing sunset color as we ghosted past the Golden Gate Yacht Club on shore.
The breeze freshened up a bit, and the flood was giving us a push, but Michael needed to get back to port to get home and get ready for a business trip on Monday, so we turned on the engine and motorsailed the rest of the way to home port, passing Aquatic Park as the lights were coming up.
Behind us the sunset had turned a dusky marmalade color.
City lights were brightening as we motorsailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Another nice but chilly winter outing on our beautiful bay!
Saturday there was no wind until the mid-afternoon-- too late to go out when I had a 6 pm dinner date with my daughter, so we stayed in port and hoped for wind on the morrow.
Today there was a lovely 10 knot northeasterly blowing in the morning, but by early afternoon, when we planned to go out, it had started to soften.
GO DOG GO was heading out under sail as we prepared to leave the dock.
She was outside the marina with sails up and beating against the wind as we motored out to put up full canvas.
Once out in the central bay we were headed for the gate on starboard tack broad reach, and we passed the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering moderately.
Off to starboard a Catalina named CARMELITA was sailing westward....
....and a short time later began motorsailing and pulling in the jib, as Alcatraz behind was enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
Off to port, the city was also enjoying the sunshine through a slight bit of haze.
A large sailboat was sailing past Alcatraz and off to starboard, looking good!
... as was this catamaran....
...and this Catalina named FAMILY FEUD.
We did a bit of gybing back and forth as we approached the gate, and HOME FREE motorsailed past, apparently in a hurry to arrive at the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands behind were looking spectacular as usual in the brilliant afternoon sunshine.
Another Catalina named FULL SHELL motorsailed past, returning from outside the gate.
We ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, watching this Ranger motorsail out the gate as we passed under the bridge.
Just outside the gate, this smaller sailboat was motorsailing back toward the bay, with the dramatic Marin Headlands as a backdrop.
She was still motorsailing with sails flapping after passing under the GGB
We sailed toward the pier just inside the gate and had this lovely view of the GGB from that vantage point.
Michael was at the helm as we tacked back and forth, looking for some consistent breeze.
The wind softened to just a bit of puffing and we were ghosting toward home port with a slight bit of flood current assist when this large cruise ship that had been tied up at pier 35 steamed past, heading for the gate....
...and then steamed out the gate.
The city was wearing sunset color as we ghosted past the St. Francis Yacht Club.
The sun went down behind the Presidio Hills as we ghosted along with almost no breeze.
Only the tops of the buildings on Russian Hill were wearing sunset color as we ghosted past the Golden Gate Yacht Club on shore.
The breeze freshened up a bit, and the flood was giving us a push, but Michael needed to get back to port to get home and get ready for a business trip on Monday, so we turned on the engine and motorsailed the rest of the way to home port, passing Aquatic Park as the lights were coming up.
Behind us the sunset had turned a dusky marmalade color.
City lights were brightening as we motorsailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Another nice but chilly winter outing on our beautiful bay!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:32 PM 
