Sunday, April 29, 2007
SATURDAY 28 APRIL 07-- SUNSET SAIL WITH BLASTING WINDS AT SUNSET
We headed out in the late afternoon, around 5:30 pm, for a sail to the gate and back.
Moderate winds were blowing when we left port and it was tempting to raise a full main, but out of abundance of caution, we put up a single-reefed main in case the blasting winds came up later.
We headed out into the central bay, sailing northward on a northwesterly breeze, and pulled out the jib to full. Way off to starboard, down the cityfront, a sailboat flying main only was accompanied by a dingy for some unknown reason-- possibly the sailboat's engine wouldn't start and the people on the foredeck were getting ready to toss the dingy a tow line.
Neighbor boat, PRIVATEER, which operates a charter service, headed out of port after we did, motored past us and put up full main and jib, but we eventually caught up with her and easily passed her, both of us being pushed eastward by the waxing flood current.
After we were well ahead of PRIVATEER, we tacked toward the southwest and left her behind as she continued sailing to the northwest.
Much further behind us was the charter sloop, RUBY, also out for a charter sunset sail.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed westward after tacking away and having the wind shift into the southwest and begin to freshen.
Russian HIll and Hyde Street-- the cable car hill-- were enjoying the afternoon sunshine as we passed.
Alcatraz was enjoying the late sunshine.
The haze thickened and as we blasted westward, on the verge of being overpowered as the wind freshened past 12-15 knots, and the city behind was barely visibile.
Overhead, the near-full moon was shining brightly in the late afternoon sky.
A bit of sunset color was displayed over the fog bank on top of the Marin Headlands.
Eventually we had to come about and fall off to dead downwind to reef the jib as the wind had now freshened to well over 15 knots--- perhaps 20, and we noticed that the San Francisco Belle-- that garish looking party boat-- was steaming toward the gate.
We continued beating against the waxing flood courrent toward the gate for a while, but as the wind continued to increase to around 25 knots-- what gives with this freshening breeze at 8 pm?????-- we decided to head for home port with the fog starting to move toward the bay.
The fog blasted into the bay and by the time we were at home port, the fog bank had obscurred all the west part of the bay up to Alcatraz.
We headed out in the late afternoon, around 5:30 pm, for a sail to the gate and back.
Moderate winds were blowing when we left port and it was tempting to raise a full main, but out of abundance of caution, we put up a single-reefed main in case the blasting winds came up later.
We headed out into the central bay, sailing northward on a northwesterly breeze, and pulled out the jib to full. Way off to starboard, down the cityfront, a sailboat flying main only was accompanied by a dingy for some unknown reason-- possibly the sailboat's engine wouldn't start and the people on the foredeck were getting ready to toss the dingy a tow line.
Neighbor boat, PRIVATEER, which operates a charter service, headed out of port after we did, motored past us and put up full main and jib, but we eventually caught up with her and easily passed her, both of us being pushed eastward by the waxing flood current.
After we were well ahead of PRIVATEER, we tacked toward the southwest and left her behind as she continued sailing to the northwest.
Much further behind us was the charter sloop, RUBY, also out for a charter sunset sail.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed westward after tacking away and having the wind shift into the southwest and begin to freshen.
Russian HIll and Hyde Street-- the cable car hill-- were enjoying the afternoon sunshine as we passed.
Alcatraz was enjoying the late sunshine.
The haze thickened and as we blasted westward, on the verge of being overpowered as the wind freshened past 12-15 knots, and the city behind was barely visibile.
Overhead, the near-full moon was shining brightly in the late afternoon sky.
A bit of sunset color was displayed over the fog bank on top of the Marin Headlands.
Eventually we had to come about and fall off to dead downwind to reef the jib as the wind had now freshened to well over 15 knots--- perhaps 20, and we noticed that the San Francisco Belle-- that garish looking party boat-- was steaming toward the gate.
We continued beating against the waxing flood courrent toward the gate for a while, but as the wind continued to increase to around 25 knots-- what gives with this freshening breeze at 8 pm?????-- we decided to head for home port with the fog starting to move toward the bay.
The fog blasted into the bay and by the time we were at home port, the fog bank had obscurred all the west part of the bay up to Alcatraz.
THURSDAY 26 APRIL 07-- 2 BRIDGE KISS-- KITE SURFERS
A nice sunny day in SF, and we left port a bit after 3 pm, and raised single-reefed main.
The winds were moderately fluttering the flags on shore and on Telegraph Hill, but chances are always good that the wind will intensify later in the afternoon.
We headed out into the central bay, gybed the main, pulled out the jib to full and headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge.
A large pilot boat steamed past, heading for its home port.
We had pretty good breezes all the way to the A-B span, and the Bay Bridge was gleaming in the sunshine.
We slid under the A-B span, reefed the jib again and came about to head back up the cityfront, eventually passing the Bay Lady, a beautiful charter schooner operating out of the south bay.
We were sailing past in east marina of pier 39 when we looked behind us to find a magnificent large sailboat, flying full canvas, easily catching up with us off port, and soon passing us and leaving us in her wake. Notice how she is hardly even heeled over in the strong winds-- what a sight!
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 39 and pier 45 on the southwest breeze, pointing straight toward the gate.
Eventually, as we continued on toward the gate, we were joined by windsurfers, like this one.....
...and kite surfers like this one....
...and this one.
It took us several tacks to reach the gate against the waxing flood current, and we then came about and headed back to home port with flood assist, the city still in hazy sunshine as we approached home port.
Another few hours of pleasure on our magnificent bay!
A nice sunny day in SF, and we left port a bit after 3 pm, and raised single-reefed main.
The winds were moderately fluttering the flags on shore and on Telegraph Hill, but chances are always good that the wind will intensify later in the afternoon.
We headed out into the central bay, gybed the main, pulled out the jib to full and headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge.
A large pilot boat steamed past, heading for its home port.
We had pretty good breezes all the way to the A-B span, and the Bay Bridge was gleaming in the sunshine.
We slid under the A-B span, reefed the jib again and came about to head back up the cityfront, eventually passing the Bay Lady, a beautiful charter schooner operating out of the south bay.
We were sailing past in east marina of pier 39 when we looked behind us to find a magnificent large sailboat, flying full canvas, easily catching up with us off port, and soon passing us and leaving us in her wake. Notice how she is hardly even heeled over in the strong winds-- what a sight!
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 39 and pier 45 on the southwest breeze, pointing straight toward the gate.
Eventually, as we continued on toward the gate, we were joined by windsurfers, like this one.....
...and kite surfers like this one....
...and this one.
It took us several tacks to reach the gate against the waxing flood current, and we then came about and headed back to home port with flood assist, the city still in hazy sunshine as we approached home port.
Another few hours of pleasure on our magnificent bay!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
SUNDAY 22 APRIL 07-- STRONG WINDS AND KITE SURFERS ON A SAIL TO THE GATE
With strong winds blowing at about 4 pm, we headed out for a sail to the gate and back, and as we arrived outside the marina, we saw this lovely sailboat flying downwind under spinnaker.
We raised single-reefed main and put out small jib and headed out into the central bay, followed by a neighbor boat, TEMPTATION.
TEMPTATION put out full canvas-- easy and quick to do with roller furling on both main and jib-- and headed out to the northwest, well heeled-over.
We sailed out to the west for a while and then tacked toward the lee of pier 45, watching the flags on the end of pier 39 quite well pegged-out in the strong winds.
After tacking away to the west again, we enjoyed the views of the city behind us basking in brilliant sunshine.
We soon saw our ole buddy, ADVENTURE CAT, quite a ways in the west, heading for home port, and before long she passed us, looking good!
Way off to starboard, an Ericson 35 sailboat was sailing downwind with double-reefed main, but full jib.
With flood current, the waters of the bay were quite flat, so we were not taking any significant spray as we headed west, and some clouds were beginning to drift over the city.
Way over by Angel Island, a couple of sailboats were also heading west on close reach port tack.
Sausalito and Mt. Tam were both enjoying hazy sunshine with a bit of cloud cover.
A small, bright red sailboat passed to starboard flying a colorful spinnaker.
We tacked a couple of times toward and away from the cityfront, and soon noticed that the cruise ship that had been tied up at pier 35 was backing away from the pier.
A bit later, we were beseiged by windsurfers enjoying the strong winds on the bay....
...and blasting past us at high speed.
Kite surfers were out there as well, enjoying the strong winds....
....and this one was chasing the cruise ship for a while.
This one blasted past our stern a couple of times and gave us the opportunity to take some of the nice video footage that we posted on youtube.com
We sailed out the gate at about midspan, and enjoyed the great views of the GGB in late afternoon sunshine....
...as well as one of our favorite views of the city framed by the bridge.
We sailed away from the gate for a while, the GGB receding behind us, and were tempted to keep heading out on the ocean to Pt. Bonita, but decided to head back inside.
As we headed for home port, the CAT was heading westward on her sunset sailing outing.
The Palace of Fine Arts looked resplendent in the late sunshine as we sailed past.
Russian HIll was still enjoying brilliant sunshine....
...as was the rest of the city as we blasted home with full jib now and flood current assist.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still pegged out as we sailed past.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready for landing and then motored into port with the usual feeling of full-body-pleasure from a nice outing on our wonderful bay!
With strong winds blowing at about 4 pm, we headed out for a sail to the gate and back, and as we arrived outside the marina, we saw this lovely sailboat flying downwind under spinnaker.
We raised single-reefed main and put out small jib and headed out into the central bay, followed by a neighbor boat, TEMPTATION.
TEMPTATION put out full canvas-- easy and quick to do with roller furling on both main and jib-- and headed out to the northwest, well heeled-over.
We sailed out to the west for a while and then tacked toward the lee of pier 45, watching the flags on the end of pier 39 quite well pegged-out in the strong winds.
After tacking away to the west again, we enjoyed the views of the city behind us basking in brilliant sunshine.
We soon saw our ole buddy, ADVENTURE CAT, quite a ways in the west, heading for home port, and before long she passed us, looking good!
Way off to starboard, an Ericson 35 sailboat was sailing downwind with double-reefed main, but full jib.
With flood current, the waters of the bay were quite flat, so we were not taking any significant spray as we headed west, and some clouds were beginning to drift over the city.
Way over by Angel Island, a couple of sailboats were also heading west on close reach port tack.
Sausalito and Mt. Tam were both enjoying hazy sunshine with a bit of cloud cover.
A small, bright red sailboat passed to starboard flying a colorful spinnaker.
We tacked a couple of times toward and away from the cityfront, and soon noticed that the cruise ship that had been tied up at pier 35 was backing away from the pier.
A bit later, we were beseiged by windsurfers enjoying the strong winds on the bay....
...and blasting past us at high speed.
Kite surfers were out there as well, enjoying the strong winds....
....and this one was chasing the cruise ship for a while.
This one blasted past our stern a couple of times and gave us the opportunity to take some of the nice video footage that we posted on youtube.com
We sailed out the gate at about midspan, and enjoyed the great views of the GGB in late afternoon sunshine....
...as well as one of our favorite views of the city framed by the bridge.
We sailed away from the gate for a while, the GGB receding behind us, and were tempted to keep heading out on the ocean to Pt. Bonita, but decided to head back inside.
As we headed for home port, the CAT was heading westward on her sunset sailing outing.
The Palace of Fine Arts looked resplendent in the late sunshine as we sailed past.
Russian HIll was still enjoying brilliant sunshine....
...as was the rest of the city as we blasted home with full jib now and flood current assist.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still pegged out as we sailed past.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready for landing and then motored into port with the usual feeling of full-body-pleasure from a nice outing on our wonderful bay!
Monday, April 23, 2007
SATURDAY 21 APRIL 07-- MODERATE WINDS AND SHOWERS FOR OUR 2 BRIDGE KISS AND AROUND TREASURE ISLAND
The weather forecast was for possibility of showers in the afternoon and a few drops began to fall as we left port and raised full main and put out full jib as the winds were moderate and southerly.
This nice sailboat was heading west out in the middle of the central bay.
AFFINITY was sailing east and passed to starboard as we headed for the gate on port tack beam reach.
Southerly winds were light and variable so the flags on the end of pier 39 were just barely fluttering as we passed-- perhaps a lee effect.
The race boat RECIDIVIST passed to port, heading east, perhaps after finishing an ocean race-- a guess since we had started to see race boats entering the bay from the ocean and flying spinnakers.
Shortly after we passed RECIDIVIST the rains began and we were unable to take photos of any of the race boats heading for the finish line under spinnaker, but the rain stopped just as we were approaching the gate, and we saw our old buddy, ADVENTURE CAT, shooting the gate at about this same time, but near the north tower.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, while the CAT lingered outside the gate, and we began to see some race boats heading for the finish line but not flying spinnakers. [Actually, we looked up the race and it was the single-handed Farallons race, so none of these crewed boats could be in that race.]
TWIST was heading for the finish line and appeared to have only the skipper aboard,
so she was probably one of the participants.
The skipper of this racing trimaran also seemed to be flying solo and so part of
the race.
As we headed for home port, we could see behind us that the tourist helicopter was diving under the GGB.
LAWLESS was headed for the gate and passed to starboard.
The CAT was now headed home behind us as an empty tanker headed out the gate.
The city was grayed-out as we approached home port, but with the intention of continuing toward the bay bridge.
The CAT eventually started to catch up with us, though we stayed ahead of her and passed pier 39 without her catching up or passing us.
A Newport 30 passed to port, heading west with a couple on board.
A bit later, neighbor boat PRIVATEER passed to port, heading west on a charter sail.
After passing pier 39 and pier 35, the skies began to brighten a little and the financial district was not as gloomy as before.
As we approached the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, we could see the GLOBAL SENTINEL anchored out in the south bay-- this is the undersea cable laying ship that we saw heading out to sea a few weeks ago.
With good winds, we were soon approaching the D-E span of the bridge.
After passing under the D-E span, we enjoyed the view behind us of the city framed by the bridge.
This lovely sailboat passed to port, sailing along the shore of Yerba Buena Island.
On the shore of YBI, a colony of harbor seals was resting comfortably.
We passed the south end of YBI where the cute lighthouse is situated with a lovely residence of similar design up the lawn behind it.
We eventually gybed and headed through the span east of YBI, and passed the suspension tower under construction there.
Now the rain started again so the camera had to stay in the pocket as we sailed up the east shore of Treasure Island, then shortened the jib and headed west on the southwest breeze, finally tacking toward home port as we approached Alcatraz. The rain was steady the remainder of the trip and well into the evening and overnight.
The weather forecast was for possibility of showers in the afternoon and a few drops began to fall as we left port and raised full main and put out full jib as the winds were moderate and southerly.
This nice sailboat was heading west out in the middle of the central bay.
AFFINITY was sailing east and passed to starboard as we headed for the gate on port tack beam reach.
Southerly winds were light and variable so the flags on the end of pier 39 were just barely fluttering as we passed-- perhaps a lee effect.
The race boat RECIDIVIST passed to port, heading east, perhaps after finishing an ocean race-- a guess since we had started to see race boats entering the bay from the ocean and flying spinnakers.
Shortly after we passed RECIDIVIST the rains began and we were unable to take photos of any of the race boats heading for the finish line under spinnaker, but the rain stopped just as we were approaching the gate, and we saw our old buddy, ADVENTURE CAT, shooting the gate at about this same time, but near the north tower.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, while the CAT lingered outside the gate, and we began to see some race boats heading for the finish line but not flying spinnakers. [Actually, we looked up the race and it was the single-handed Farallons race, so none of these crewed boats could be in that race.]
TWIST was heading for the finish line and appeared to have only the skipper aboard,
so she was probably one of the participants.
The skipper of this racing trimaran also seemed to be flying solo and so part of
the race.
As we headed for home port, we could see behind us that the tourist helicopter was diving under the GGB.
LAWLESS was headed for the gate and passed to starboard.
The CAT was now headed home behind us as an empty tanker headed out the gate.
The city was grayed-out as we approached home port, but with the intention of continuing toward the bay bridge.
The CAT eventually started to catch up with us, though we stayed ahead of her and passed pier 39 without her catching up or passing us.
A Newport 30 passed to port, heading west with a couple on board.
A bit later, neighbor boat PRIVATEER passed to port, heading west on a charter sail.
After passing pier 39 and pier 35, the skies began to brighten a little and the financial district was not as gloomy as before.
As we approached the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, we could see the GLOBAL SENTINEL anchored out in the south bay-- this is the undersea cable laying ship that we saw heading out to sea a few weeks ago.
With good winds, we were soon approaching the D-E span of the bridge.
After passing under the D-E span, we enjoyed the view behind us of the city framed by the bridge.
This lovely sailboat passed to port, sailing along the shore of Yerba Buena Island.
On the shore of YBI, a colony of harbor seals was resting comfortably.
We passed the south end of YBI where the cute lighthouse is situated with a lovely residence of similar design up the lawn behind it.
We eventually gybed and headed through the span east of YBI, and passed the suspension tower under construction there.
Now the rain started again so the camera had to stay in the pocket as we sailed up the east shore of Treasure Island, then shortened the jib and headed west on the southwest breeze, finally tacking toward home port as we approached Alcatraz. The rain was steady the remainder of the trip and well into the evening and overnight.
