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!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 7:31 PM 
