Sunday, April 29, 2007
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!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:36 PM 
