Wednesday, January 10, 2007
TUESDAY 9 JAN 07-- SAILING PAST PT. BONITA AND BACK
Another beautiful day in San Francisco-- perhaps too many beautiful days for this supposedly rainy season-- we could really use some more.
The morning started with a nice northerly breeze accompanying the brilliant sunshine.
By noontime, the breeze had softened to a knot or two. Another new sailing mate, Bob, from Kentfield, joined us about 1 pm and we headed out, hoping for a freshening breeze. With full canvas we headed out into the central bay and then tacked toward the gate.
We were just ghosting along, passing pier 39 where the flags were just barely fluttering as we passed.
A beautiful ketch passed to port as we ghosted between pier 39 and pier 45.
A short time later, the breeze started freshening and shifting into the WNW, and soon we were making great headway toward the gate, sailing a bit off the wind, as the city was enjoying somewhat hazy afternoon sunshine.
Bob was at the helm as we sailed toward the gate with a freshening breeze giving us increasing lift so we were soon blasting toward the gate against the moderate flood current.
A smaller sailboat was re-entering the bay as we approached the gate.
We sailed out just inside the south tower and with a good continuing breeze, we continued on toward the ocean, enjoying views of the marin headlands.
The Golden Gate Bridge receded behind us and we gradually encountered some growing ocean swells.
We sailed out past Point Bonita and could see up the northern coast as far as the Point Reyes Peninsula.
After sailing out past the point for a half mile or so, we came about and headed back toward the gate, enjoying our view of the picturesque lighthouse on the point.
It was great to do some surfing on the swells as we blasted back toward the gate, and eventually approached the gate to enjoy the view of the city framed by the GGB.
About a half mile inside the gate, a rower was rowing eastward.
We had good winds all the way to about pier 45 where the breeze started to soften, but the city was enjoying clearer air and the late sunshine.
Off to port, an inbound freighter had slowed to a crawl so they could do a pilot exchange.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of about 3-5 knots as we sailed past.
We doused the sails after passing the marina and then motored in, well-satisfied with a great winter outing.
Another beautiful day in San Francisco-- perhaps too many beautiful days for this supposedly rainy season-- we could really use some more.
The morning started with a nice northerly breeze accompanying the brilliant sunshine.
By noontime, the breeze had softened to a knot or two. Another new sailing mate, Bob, from Kentfield, joined us about 1 pm and we headed out, hoping for a freshening breeze. With full canvas we headed out into the central bay and then tacked toward the gate.
We were just ghosting along, passing pier 39 where the flags were just barely fluttering as we passed.
A beautiful ketch passed to port as we ghosted between pier 39 and pier 45.
A short time later, the breeze started freshening and shifting into the WNW, and soon we were making great headway toward the gate, sailing a bit off the wind, as the city was enjoying somewhat hazy afternoon sunshine.
Bob was at the helm as we sailed toward the gate with a freshening breeze giving us increasing lift so we were soon blasting toward the gate against the moderate flood current.
A smaller sailboat was re-entering the bay as we approached the gate.
We sailed out just inside the south tower and with a good continuing breeze, we continued on toward the ocean, enjoying views of the marin headlands.
The Golden Gate Bridge receded behind us and we gradually encountered some growing ocean swells.
We sailed out past Point Bonita and could see up the northern coast as far as the Point Reyes Peninsula.
After sailing out past the point for a half mile or so, we came about and headed back toward the gate, enjoying our view of the picturesque lighthouse on the point.
It was great to do some surfing on the swells as we blasted back toward the gate, and eventually approached the gate to enjoy the view of the city framed by the GGB.
About a half mile inside the gate, a rower was rowing eastward.
We had good winds all the way to about pier 45 where the breeze started to soften, but the city was enjoying clearer air and the late sunshine.
Off to port, an inbound freighter had slowed to a crawl so they could do a pilot exchange.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of about 3-5 knots as we sailed past.
We doused the sails after passing the marina and then motored in, well-satisfied with a great winter outing.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:10 AM 
