Monday, April 16, 2007
THURSDAY 12 APRIL 07-- 2 BRIDGE KISS AND AROUND ANGEL ISLAND
Thursday was a beautiful sunny day in SF. Tim, the owner of The Ulitimate BBQ-- another contact from sfsailing.com-- joined us around 3 pm for an outing.
Winds were moderate as we headed out of the marina and put up single-reefed main in anticipation of stronger winds later in the afternoon.
We headed out into the central bay, did a chicken gybe to the east to sail toward the Bay Bridge, and pulled out the jib to full for downwind power, as we passed a large cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35, and apparently being refueled by a tug and barge.
A bit later, we passed another huge cruise ship tied up at pier 27-- first time we've ever seen a cruise ship tied up there, but obviously she was too long to tie up on the west side of pier 35.
Winds were gusty at times as we headed toward the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, and this smaller sailboat was heading toward us, off port side, and heeled over with the rail almost in the water.....
.... and we could see that she was flying a double-reefed main, but a large genoa, as she passed astern of us with her rail in the water.
We enjoyed the view of the financial district buildings and the ferry building as we headed down the cityfront toward the A-B span.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sun and clear skies as we approached the A-B span.
After sailing under the A-B span, we fell off to dead downwind to reef the jib and then came about and headed north with the intention of sailing way to the east of Angel Island, with Tim at the helm and making good headway in the strong winds.
Crossing in front of us was this nice Catalina, heading east....
...and passing astern was a J106-- our now-frequently-encountered buddy: KNOTS, also headed eastward.
As we sailed northward, the wind started shifting into the northwest and softening so tacked to the west and pulled out the jib to full, and were surprised to see some windsurfers playing around off starboard.
It felt strange to be beating to the west-northwest in a northwesterly breeze this time of year, but so it was, as this gray-hulled Catalina passed behind us.
We eventually entered the east mouth of Raccoon Straits on close reach starboard tack, and sailed past the mouth of Ayala Cove where a few boats were tied up and enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine.
That single starboard tack took us all the way through the straits-- very different from the usual beating against the wind that's required this time of year-- and soon the city was again visible as we exited the straits, sailing against a waxing flood current.
The breeze stayed from the same direction and so we were approaching the gate on the same starboard tack close reach, in moderate breezes with the jib still all the way out.
Off to starboard, a Catalina 34 was heading for the gate and flying full canvas, so making a bit faster headway than we were.
Tim was at the helm as we shot the gate between midspan and the south tower, sailing into some confused seas that are usually encountered there under flood current conditions.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, gybing toward the shore to stay well out of the way of the outbound cruise ship steaming toward the gate....
....and loaded with passengers on the two decs above the bridge of the ship.
The Palace of Fine Art looked especially beautiful in the late afternoon sunshine as we sailed toward home port on broad reach starboard tack-- the breeze having shifted in our favor into the southwest and negating having to gybe back and forth toward home port.
Rowers in an outrigger canoe were headed for the gate against the current and much closer to shore.
Fort Mason and Russian Hill were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine as we approached.
FDR's presidential yacht, the POTOMAC, steamed past to port, heading for the gate with a group of passengers on the foredeck.
The city was wearing sunset colors as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
A dramatic sun reflection hit us from a downtown building-- one of the hotels, I think.
As we passed pier 39, where the flags were fluttering in a moderate breeze, a brilliant sun reflection from the 101 California office tower came into view.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and ready ANTICIPATION for landing, then motored into the marina and landed fine by going in high and drifting down and straight into the slip with the flood current.
On the way to the marina restrooms after putting ANTICIPATION to rest, and before heading over to North Beach for dinner, we saw the garishly-lit SAN FRANCISCO BELLE heading out for an evening cruise.
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Thursday was a beautiful sunny day in SF. Tim, the owner of The Ulitimate BBQ-- another contact from sfsailing.com-- joined us around 3 pm for an outing.
Winds were moderate as we headed out of the marina and put up single-reefed main in anticipation of stronger winds later in the afternoon.
We headed out into the central bay, did a chicken gybe to the east to sail toward the Bay Bridge, and pulled out the jib to full for downwind power, as we passed a large cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35, and apparently being refueled by a tug and barge.
A bit later, we passed another huge cruise ship tied up at pier 27-- first time we've ever seen a cruise ship tied up there, but obviously she was too long to tie up on the west side of pier 35.
Winds were gusty at times as we headed toward the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, and this smaller sailboat was heading toward us, off port side, and heeled over with the rail almost in the water.....
.... and we could see that she was flying a double-reefed main, but a large genoa, as she passed astern of us with her rail in the water.
We enjoyed the view of the financial district buildings and the ferry building as we headed down the cityfront toward the A-B span.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sun and clear skies as we approached the A-B span.
After sailing under the A-B span, we fell off to dead downwind to reef the jib and then came about and headed north with the intention of sailing way to the east of Angel Island, with Tim at the helm and making good headway in the strong winds.
Crossing in front of us was this nice Catalina, heading east....
...and passing astern was a J106-- our now-frequently-encountered buddy: KNOTS, also headed eastward.
As we sailed northward, the wind started shifting into the northwest and softening so tacked to the west and pulled out the jib to full, and were surprised to see some windsurfers playing around off starboard.
It felt strange to be beating to the west-northwest in a northwesterly breeze this time of year, but so it was, as this gray-hulled Catalina passed behind us.
We eventually entered the east mouth of Raccoon Straits on close reach starboard tack, and sailed past the mouth of Ayala Cove where a few boats were tied up and enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine.
That single starboard tack took us all the way through the straits-- very different from the usual beating against the wind that's required this time of year-- and soon the city was again visible as we exited the straits, sailing against a waxing flood current.
The breeze stayed from the same direction and so we were approaching the gate on the same starboard tack close reach, in moderate breezes with the jib still all the way out.
Off to starboard, a Catalina 34 was heading for the gate and flying full canvas, so making a bit faster headway than we were.
Tim was at the helm as we shot the gate between midspan and the south tower, sailing into some confused seas that are usually encountered there under flood current conditions.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, gybing toward the shore to stay well out of the way of the outbound cruise ship steaming toward the gate....
....and loaded with passengers on the two decs above the bridge of the ship.
The Palace of Fine Art looked especially beautiful in the late afternoon sunshine as we sailed toward home port on broad reach starboard tack-- the breeze having shifted in our favor into the southwest and negating having to gybe back and forth toward home port.
Rowers in an outrigger canoe were headed for the gate against the current and much closer to shore.
Fort Mason and Russian Hill were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine as we approached.
FDR's presidential yacht, the POTOMAC, steamed past to port, heading for the gate with a group of passengers on the foredeck.
The city was wearing sunset colors as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
A dramatic sun reflection hit us from a downtown building-- one of the hotels, I think.
As we passed pier 39, where the flags were fluttering in a moderate breeze, a brilliant sun reflection from the 101 California office tower came into view.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and ready ANTICIPATION for landing, then motored into the marina and landed fine by going in high and drifting down and straight into the slip with the flood current.
On the way to the marina restrooms after putting ANTICIPATION to rest, and before heading over to North Beach for dinner, we saw the garishly-lit SAN FRANCISCO BELLE heading out for an evening cruise.
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# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:09 AM 
