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.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:39 AM 
