Wednesday, March 07, 2007
TUESDAY 6 MARCH 07 -- SOLO TO GATE AND BACK IN SUMMER-LIKE WIND CONDITIONS
Today the winds were blowing at summer velocity-- 15-20 knots as we left port
and raised single-reefed main and put out small jib and headed out into the central bay.
We sailed out to the west a ways and then tacked into the lee of pier 45, tacked away again with the city behind us enjoying brilliant, but a little bit hasy sunshine.
As we blasted out to the west, this nice sailboat of our same size was blasting downwind to the east with full canvas flying.
We fell off the wind to take the waves on Alcatraz shoal at a more comfortable angle but we were still taking blasts of spray over the bow and a few that invaded the cockpit as well. After a short while we saw this well reefed sailboat headed our way and about to pass to port.
Alcatraz was enjoying the brilliant sunshine as we passed to the west of it.
The GGB was standing out above the brilliantly sundrenched surface of the sea as a sailboat was crossing the bay way to the west of us.
The breeze softened a bit, so we tacked back toward the city, hardened in the main and then tacked and headed west toward Yellow Bluff, enjoying the changing angle of view of the GGB.
After approaching the shore of Yellow Bluff, we tacked to the southeast and sailed past the marina at Horseshoe, enjoying the Marin Headlands sloping away from Horseshoe Cove.
We tacked toward Horseshoe Cove, then away to sail across the gate, then tacked out the gate and quickly came about and headed back inside, enjoying more views of the GGB-- this one framing my favorite tree on the top of the Marin Headlands.
Outside the gate, with fog starting to waft over the hills, a sailboat was returning to the bay from the ocean.
We were making good headway toward home port on broad reach starboard tack and the city was enjoying the angled sunshine.
Suddenly a windsurfer blasted across our bow, enjoying the great wind!...
...and followed by a kitesurfer, taking advantage of the summer weight winds, and
doing some aerials from time to time, but not when we had the camera ready.
The city was still enjoying great sunshine as we passed pier 45.
The California Hornblower was out on the bay, not seemingly going anywhere in particular.
We pulled in the jib as we approached pier 39, and doused the main after passing the east marina, and then motored into the marina. It was interesting to have a taste of summer-type sailing with the strong winds, and always a pleasure to be blasting around on SF Bay!
Today the winds were blowing at summer velocity-- 15-20 knots as we left port
and raised single-reefed main and put out small jib and headed out into the central bay.
We sailed out to the west a ways and then tacked into the lee of pier 45, tacked away again with the city behind us enjoying brilliant, but a little bit hasy sunshine.
As we blasted out to the west, this nice sailboat of our same size was blasting downwind to the east with full canvas flying.
We fell off the wind to take the waves on Alcatraz shoal at a more comfortable angle but we were still taking blasts of spray over the bow and a few that invaded the cockpit as well. After a short while we saw this well reefed sailboat headed our way and about to pass to port.
Alcatraz was enjoying the brilliant sunshine as we passed to the west of it.
The GGB was standing out above the brilliantly sundrenched surface of the sea as a sailboat was crossing the bay way to the west of us.
The breeze softened a bit, so we tacked back toward the city, hardened in the main and then tacked and headed west toward Yellow Bluff, enjoying the changing angle of view of the GGB.
After approaching the shore of Yellow Bluff, we tacked to the southeast and sailed past the marina at Horseshoe, enjoying the Marin Headlands sloping away from Horseshoe Cove.
We tacked toward Horseshoe Cove, then away to sail across the gate, then tacked out the gate and quickly came about and headed back inside, enjoying more views of the GGB-- this one framing my favorite tree on the top of the Marin Headlands.
Outside the gate, with fog starting to waft over the hills, a sailboat was returning to the bay from the ocean.
We were making good headway toward home port on broad reach starboard tack and the city was enjoying the angled sunshine.
Suddenly a windsurfer blasted across our bow, enjoying the great wind!...
...and followed by a kitesurfer, taking advantage of the summer weight winds, and
doing some aerials from time to time, but not when we had the camera ready.
The city was still enjoying great sunshine as we passed pier 45.
The California Hornblower was out on the bay, not seemingly going anywhere in particular.
We pulled in the jib as we approached pier 39, and doused the main after passing the east marina, and then motored into the marina. It was interesting to have a taste of summer-type sailing with the strong winds, and always a pleasure to be blasting around on SF Bay!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:51 AM 
