Wednesday, April 04, 2007
SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2007 -- HAZY SUNSHINE AND STRONG WINDS-- 2 BRIDGE KISS-- AROUND TREASURE ISLAND AND ANGEL ISLAND.
Joe joined us at 2 pm and we headed out and raised a single reefed main in expectation of strong winds.
Skies were full of thin clouds, giving us hazy sunshine.
As we headed out into the central bay, there were only a few sailboats out on the bay, and here's one of them heading downwind with reduced canvas, with a cruise ship tied up at pier 35 in the background.
We pulled out the jib to full and headed eastward toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, with a few sailboats accompanying us out there, like this large one heading southeast on a converging course.....
Off the cityfront, this J105 was heading north with full canvas.
And here's the J109 KNOTS along the cityfront-- we seem to be encountering her frequently in the last week or so.
This small race boat approached from behind, sailing closer to the wind, as we headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge
As we sailed under the D-E span, this lovely sailboat was off port, near the Yerba Buena Island shore.
Way off in the distant south, we could see that the LADY WASHINGTON was still around and was raising sails. I thought she and the HAWAIIAN CHEIFTAN would be long gone, but I checked their schedule again and they will be on the Bay until mid-April, visiting Sausalito for the next couple of weeks.
Even further to the south, the HAWAIAN CHIEFTAN was also raising sails, so we decided to chase after them and headed up, hardening in sails to head that way.
But the winds just south of the Bay Bridge were not cooperative and we were stuck in a wind hole with almost no wind, so we gave up and gybed toward YBI and finally found some wind.
Off the shore of YBI, a beautiful tan-hulled sailboat was sailing east in good winds.
This ketch named BETA LABS passed in front of us after we tacked back to the south again, noticing that the two tall ships had changed course and were now heading north again and within range for a rendezvous. So we headed southwest again to try for a rendezvous.
Off to port this lovely sailboat was sailing down the YBI shore.
The lighthouse on the south end of YBI was looking beautiful as usual as we headed away from her.
About fifteen minutes later we were nearing the two tall ships, but the wind had strengthened dramatically and we were forced to fall off and reef the jib, before continuing to follow the tall ships, taking this shot of the two ships between us and the Bay Bridge.
The two ships headed south again, flying full canvas, and the Chieftan passed us first, looking great!
We headed toward YBI and the LADY WASHINGTON passed us to port, looking splendid and sailing fast in the strong winds.
We had good winds all the way to YBI, and this lovely Catalina KELE passed in front of us, heading southeast.
As we approached the east span of the Bay Bridge, we could see that they had made further progress on constuction of the tower for the suspension span. It will be quite interesting to keep a check on the progress of this final piece of the new bridge construction.
And whaddayaknow, here's KNOTS again, heading down the east shore of Treasure Island.
After passing the northern tip of TRI, we arrived in very strong winds, foulied up against the cold and expected spray and headed north toward the lee side of Angel Island, planning to sail well to the east of the island to stay in the wind and avoid the stronger ebb current near the island.
We sailed to a point near the stationary platform near Southampton shoal and then encountered lighter winds, so pulled out the jib to full for more power and started ghosting north. For quite a while, it looked like we would not find enough wind to sail far enough north to reach Raccoon Straits, but then a light breeze came up and we headed up toward the west mouth of the straits. Unfortunately, we didnt stay far enough north to stay in the wind, lost the breeze and were at the mercy fo the ebb current, so we had to turn on the engine and motor a while into the winds again.
We sailed northwestward toward the Tiburon shore with the ebb current in the straits carrying us westward, and then tacked toward AGI, eventually watching this lovely sailboat pasing in front of us.
Ayala Cove still had a few boats at the buoys and the docks as we passed.
Mt. Tam was in late afternoon haze as we and that other sailboat sailed toward Belvedere.
That other sailboat tacked and passed behind us, and we tacked later, watching another lovely sailboat near the shore of AGI and looking good!
The ebb current helped carry us westward as we sailed in light winds to the southeast, watching this small dingy sailing toward Tiburon with an escort.
ADVENTURE CAT was headed westward on her sunset sail.
The GGB was looking beautiful in the late afternoon sun.
We eventually arrive in strong winds--- too strong for full jib, so tacked toward the Marin Headlands and found a soft enough spot to head up and reef the jib before heading toward the gate again. After arriving back in strong winds again, we watched the CAT passing Horseshoe Cove heading toward the gate.
A couple more tacks took us out the gate, and we just ducked out before falling off and heading toward home port, pulling the jib out to full for more downwind power, eventually catching up with this smaller saiboat sailing on main only.
The city was wearing sundown color as we continued sailing eastward.
The wind had shifted more westward, so we fell off and pulled in the jib to sail main only dead downwind toward home port, watching a pilot change on an empty bulk carrier steaming slowing into the bay.
The almost full moon was brightening over the city as we continued sailing eastward.
Behind us we enjoyed a beautiful sundown over the Marin Headlands.
The city was a bit hazy as the sunset progressed.
The flags on pier 39 were still fluttering strongly as we passed.
The full moon was rising and brightening as we headed toward the lee of pier 35 to douse the main.
We doused the main in the lee of pier 35, readied ANTICIPATION for docking, motored into the marina, made a good docking in the waxing flood current, and later enjoyed the full moon rising in the dark sky over ANTICIPATION at the dock.
\\\
Joe joined us at 2 pm and we headed out and raised a single reefed main in expectation of strong winds.
Skies were full of thin clouds, giving us hazy sunshine.
As we headed out into the central bay, there were only a few sailboats out on the bay, and here's one of them heading downwind with reduced canvas, with a cruise ship tied up at pier 35 in the background.
We pulled out the jib to full and headed eastward toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, with a few sailboats accompanying us out there, like this large one heading southeast on a converging course.....
Off the cityfront, this J105 was heading north with full canvas.
And here's the J109 KNOTS along the cityfront-- we seem to be encountering her frequently in the last week or so.
This small race boat approached from behind, sailing closer to the wind, as we headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge
As we sailed under the D-E span, this lovely sailboat was off port, near the Yerba Buena Island shore.
Way off in the distant south, we could see that the LADY WASHINGTON was still around and was raising sails. I thought she and the HAWAIIAN CHEIFTAN would be long gone, but I checked their schedule again and they will be on the Bay until mid-April, visiting Sausalito for the next couple of weeks.
Even further to the south, the HAWAIAN CHIEFTAN was also raising sails, so we decided to chase after them and headed up, hardening in sails to head that way.
But the winds just south of the Bay Bridge were not cooperative and we were stuck in a wind hole with almost no wind, so we gave up and gybed toward YBI and finally found some wind.
Off the shore of YBI, a beautiful tan-hulled sailboat was sailing east in good winds.
This ketch named BETA LABS passed in front of us after we tacked back to the south again, noticing that the two tall ships had changed course and were now heading north again and within range for a rendezvous. So we headed southwest again to try for a rendezvous.
Off to port this lovely sailboat was sailing down the YBI shore.
The lighthouse on the south end of YBI was looking beautiful as usual as we headed away from her.
About fifteen minutes later we were nearing the two tall ships, but the wind had strengthened dramatically and we were forced to fall off and reef the jib, before continuing to follow the tall ships, taking this shot of the two ships between us and the Bay Bridge.
The two ships headed south again, flying full canvas, and the Chieftan passed us first, looking great!
We headed toward YBI and the LADY WASHINGTON passed us to port, looking splendid and sailing fast in the strong winds.
We had good winds all the way to YBI, and this lovely Catalina KELE passed in front of us, heading southeast.
As we approached the east span of the Bay Bridge, we could see that they had made further progress on constuction of the tower for the suspension span. It will be quite interesting to keep a check on the progress of this final piece of the new bridge construction.
And whaddayaknow, here's KNOTS again, heading down the east shore of Treasure Island.
After passing the northern tip of TRI, we arrived in very strong winds, foulied up against the cold and expected spray and headed north toward the lee side of Angel Island, planning to sail well to the east of the island to stay in the wind and avoid the stronger ebb current near the island.
We sailed to a point near the stationary platform near Southampton shoal and then encountered lighter winds, so pulled out the jib to full for more power and started ghosting north. For quite a while, it looked like we would not find enough wind to sail far enough north to reach Raccoon Straits, but then a light breeze came up and we headed up toward the west mouth of the straits. Unfortunately, we didnt stay far enough north to stay in the wind, lost the breeze and were at the mercy fo the ebb current, so we had to turn on the engine and motor a while into the winds again.
We sailed northwestward toward the Tiburon shore with the ebb current in the straits carrying us westward, and then tacked toward AGI, eventually watching this lovely sailboat pasing in front of us.
Ayala Cove still had a few boats at the buoys and the docks as we passed.
Mt. Tam was in late afternoon haze as we and that other sailboat sailed toward Belvedere.
That other sailboat tacked and passed behind us, and we tacked later, watching another lovely sailboat near the shore of AGI and looking good!
The ebb current helped carry us westward as we sailed in light winds to the southeast, watching this small dingy sailing toward Tiburon with an escort.
ADVENTURE CAT was headed westward on her sunset sail.
The GGB was looking beautiful in the late afternoon sun.
We eventually arrive in strong winds--- too strong for full jib, so tacked toward the Marin Headlands and found a soft enough spot to head up and reef the jib before heading toward the gate again. After arriving back in strong winds again, we watched the CAT passing Horseshoe Cove heading toward the gate.
A couple more tacks took us out the gate, and we just ducked out before falling off and heading toward home port, pulling the jib out to full for more downwind power, eventually catching up with this smaller saiboat sailing on main only.
The city was wearing sundown color as we continued sailing eastward.
The wind had shifted more westward, so we fell off and pulled in the jib to sail main only dead downwind toward home port, watching a pilot change on an empty bulk carrier steaming slowing into the bay.
The almost full moon was brightening over the city as we continued sailing eastward.
Behind us we enjoyed a beautiful sundown over the Marin Headlands.
The city was a bit hazy as the sunset progressed.
The flags on pier 39 were still fluttering strongly as we passed.
The full moon was rising and brightening as we headed toward the lee of pier 35 to douse the main.
We doused the main in the lee of pier 35, readied ANTICIPATION for docking, motored into the marina, made a good docking in the waxing flood current, and later enjoyed the full moon rising in the dark sky over ANTICIPATION at the dock.
\\\
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 2:29 PM 
