Wednesday, May 30, 2007
SUNDAY 27 MAY 2007-- AROUND TREASURE AND ANGEL ISLANDS
Both Thursday and Saturday were taken up with helping my daughter prepare her apartment for moving in this coming weekend, so I was really looking forward to getting out for a sailing outing on Sunday.
Michael joined us around 3 pm, and we headed out under overcast skies with a moderate wind blowing.
We raised single reefed main and headed out into the central bay, gybed toward the Bay Bridge and pulled out the jib to full for our downwind sail, noticing behind us that Adventure Cat2 was heading out for a sail to the gate and back.
As we headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, this beautiful traditional ketch passed us looking good!
The city was grayed out by the overcast and misty air.
Another good looking ketch passed us as we continued on to the east.
As we closed on the D-E span, MAGICAL MOVES crossed in front of us, heading north.
Off to starboard, a J-World training boat was sailing nicely with full canvas.
A large freighter steaming through the D-E span forced us to continue eastward until it passed and then we gybed and headed for the lee side of Treasure Island.
Behind us, the Bay Bridge and the city were locked in haze, and that new building next to the bridge on the west end standing out more and more like a ugly sore thumb. [Whoever approved the construction of that building at that location should be sent into permanent exile along with the moron architect that designed it!]
Off in the northeast, a nice sailboat was heading toward Alameda, flying full canvas.
We had to divert around a major impediment involving a bunch of floating pipes extending way out from a barge and blocking a huge area of the bay, before sailing under the cantilever span and noticing that some progress has been made on the support pillars for the suspension span
of the new bridge.
The causeway portion of the new bridge is almost completed and the number of cranes still working has dwindled dramatically from just a few months ago.
As we sailed up the lee shore of Treasure Island in light winds, RUNNING TAB passed to starboard.
Off in the east a large barge seemed to contain some some structural steel that could be part of the new suspension span or pieces of a crane for assembling the span.
A bit later, a Catalina named SUNSHINE DAYDREAM passed us.
After sailing past the north end of Treasure Island, another Catalina passed to port on the lumpy seas of the bay.
We crossed the bay to the lee side of Angel Island in strong winds and seas, and eventually spotted this nice looking ketch heading north.
After sailing into Raccoon Straits, we passed Ayala Cove where a large number of boats were tied up at the buoy moorings.....
.....and at the docks of the small marina.
Although the sun was shining in this part of the bay, the air was chilled and Michael was in full foul weather gear as we tacked through the straits.
NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER was sailing down the straits and looking good.
Off to the south, in the central bay, a large sailboat was sailing across with full canvas and the port rail in the water.
The GGB was locked in haze.
Behind us as we exited the straits, a beautiful J105 named SABERTOOTH was headed our way, looking good and flying full canvas.
Another beautiful race boat named DELICATE BALANCE crossed behind us.
We sailed past this Santana flying full canvas and looking good.
Off in the west, a monster fog bank was slowly gobbling the hills of Sausalito and the Marin Headlands.
Behind us, as we beat to the west, another nice looking sailboat was headed up the weather shore of Angel Island.
The Golden Gate Bridge was still locked in haze as we reached a point far enough west to turn toward home port and have a beam to broad reach point of sail in the strong winds of the central bay.
We blasted across the cental bay toward home port, and the city was still locked in overcast and haze as we approached.
We were surprised to see the same ketch that we saw earlier when first starting out toward the Bay Bridge, now heading west again. She must have turned around at some point and ehaded back east again before turning around, or perhaps she diverted and sailed around Treasure Island.
As we approached pier 39, this well-reefed Tartan passed to starboard, heading west.
ADVENTURE CAT2 was raising her main in preparation for a sail to the gate and back as we passed pier 39.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready to land after a chilly, but enjoyable afternoon on the bay.
Both Thursday and Saturday were taken up with helping my daughter prepare her apartment for moving in this coming weekend, so I was really looking forward to getting out for a sailing outing on Sunday.
Michael joined us around 3 pm, and we headed out under overcast skies with a moderate wind blowing.
We raised single reefed main and headed out into the central bay, gybed toward the Bay Bridge and pulled out the jib to full for our downwind sail, noticing behind us that Adventure Cat2 was heading out for a sail to the gate and back.
As we headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, this beautiful traditional ketch passed us looking good!
The city was grayed out by the overcast and misty air.
Another good looking ketch passed us as we continued on to the east.
As we closed on the D-E span, MAGICAL MOVES crossed in front of us, heading north.
Off to starboard, a J-World training boat was sailing nicely with full canvas.
A large freighter steaming through the D-E span forced us to continue eastward until it passed and then we gybed and headed for the lee side of Treasure Island.
Behind us, the Bay Bridge and the city were locked in haze, and that new building next to the bridge on the west end standing out more and more like a ugly sore thumb. [Whoever approved the construction of that building at that location should be sent into permanent exile along with the moron architect that designed it!]
Off in the northeast, a nice sailboat was heading toward Alameda, flying full canvas.
We had to divert around a major impediment involving a bunch of floating pipes extending way out from a barge and blocking a huge area of the bay, before sailing under the cantilever span and noticing that some progress has been made on the support pillars for the suspension span
of the new bridge.
The causeway portion of the new bridge is almost completed and the number of cranes still working has dwindled dramatically from just a few months ago.
As we sailed up the lee shore of Treasure Island in light winds, RUNNING TAB passed to starboard.
Off in the east a large barge seemed to contain some some structural steel that could be part of the new suspension span or pieces of a crane for assembling the span.
A bit later, a Catalina named SUNSHINE DAYDREAM passed us.
After sailing past the north end of Treasure Island, another Catalina passed to port on the lumpy seas of the bay.
We crossed the bay to the lee side of Angel Island in strong winds and seas, and eventually spotted this nice looking ketch heading north.
After sailing into Raccoon Straits, we passed Ayala Cove where a large number of boats were tied up at the buoy moorings.....
.....and at the docks of the small marina.
Although the sun was shining in this part of the bay, the air was chilled and Michael was in full foul weather gear as we tacked through the straits.
NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER was sailing down the straits and looking good.
Off to the south, in the central bay, a large sailboat was sailing across with full canvas and the port rail in the water.
The GGB was locked in haze.
Behind us as we exited the straits, a beautiful J105 named SABERTOOTH was headed our way, looking good and flying full canvas.
Another beautiful race boat named DELICATE BALANCE crossed behind us.
We sailed past this Santana flying full canvas and looking good.
Off in the west, a monster fog bank was slowly gobbling the hills of Sausalito and the Marin Headlands.
Behind us, as we beat to the west, another nice looking sailboat was headed up the weather shore of Angel Island.
The Golden Gate Bridge was still locked in haze as we reached a point far enough west to turn toward home port and have a beam to broad reach point of sail in the strong winds of the central bay.
We blasted across the cental bay toward home port, and the city was still locked in overcast and haze as we approached.
We were surprised to see the same ketch that we saw earlier when first starting out toward the Bay Bridge, now heading west again. She must have turned around at some point and ehaded back east again before turning around, or perhaps she diverted and sailed around Treasure Island.
As we approached pier 39, this well-reefed Tartan passed to starboard, heading west.
ADVENTURE CAT2 was raising her main in preparation for a sail to the gate and back as we passed pier 39.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready to land after a chilly, but enjoyable afternoon on the bay.
TUESDAY 22 MAY 2007-- SAUSALITO AND BACK IN STRONG WINDS
Michael joined us for an afternoon sail and we left port about 2:15 pm with strong winds blowing as they have been most of the spring.
We raised a single-reefed main and pulled out a small jib and headed out into the central bay. The flags on the end of pier 35 were pegged out in the strong breeze.
As we headed west, on the southwest breeze, behind us the ALMA was sailing toward the cityfront.
Way over in the northeast, a sailboat was sailing along the shore of Treasure Island.
A small sailboat was following us.
After passing Harding Rock, we sailed in front of a sand harvesting barge and continued on toward Sausalito.
The residences on the hillside of Sausalito were enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
Since the strong winds were holding firm, even in the lee of the hills of Sausalito, we decided to sail up the shore of Richardson Bay, passing marinas like this one with the picturesque hillside behind it.
On the return trip, we passed the marina in which the Taj Mahal houseboat is docked. Haven't seen that structure in years!
Behind us, Mt. Tam was towering over Richardson Bay, which is filled with boats at buoy moorings and some anchored out.
We sailed past this restaurant on the south end of town, jutting out into the bay on a pier and pilings.
As we sailed southeasterly down the shore of the headlands, eventually the tops fo the GGB come into view over the tops of the hills.
A small Hunter sailboat passed to port, its jib flogging in the strong breeze.
Way over by Angel Island, another sailboat was sailing along the weather shore of the island.
Gradually, more of the towers of the GGB became visible over the hills...
.... and finally, the entire south tower came into view.
Ahead of us, another Hunter was sailing toward Raccoon Straits.
A small charter sailboat was also out enjoying the choppy waters and strong winds.
We had a great sail toward home port, sailing off the strong wind and blasting along, and eventually watching this small sailboat flying full canvas heading toward the cityfront.
A larger sailboat, also flying full canvas, passed to port, heading west and handling the strong winds quite nicely-- perhaps a heavy displacement boat with full keel.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready for landing, then motored around the pier and into port, pleased with another nice outing on a blustery bay.
Michael joined us for an afternoon sail and we left port about 2:15 pm with strong winds blowing as they have been most of the spring.
We raised a single-reefed main and pulled out a small jib and headed out into the central bay. The flags on the end of pier 35 were pegged out in the strong breeze.
As we headed west, on the southwest breeze, behind us the ALMA was sailing toward the cityfront.
Way over in the northeast, a sailboat was sailing along the shore of Treasure Island.
A small sailboat was following us.
After passing Harding Rock, we sailed in front of a sand harvesting barge and continued on toward Sausalito.
The residences on the hillside of Sausalito were enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
Since the strong winds were holding firm, even in the lee of the hills of Sausalito, we decided to sail up the shore of Richardson Bay, passing marinas like this one with the picturesque hillside behind it.
On the return trip, we passed the marina in which the Taj Mahal houseboat is docked. Haven't seen that structure in years!
Behind us, Mt. Tam was towering over Richardson Bay, which is filled with boats at buoy moorings and some anchored out.
We sailed past this restaurant on the south end of town, jutting out into the bay on a pier and pilings.
As we sailed southeasterly down the shore of the headlands, eventually the tops fo the GGB come into view over the tops of the hills.
A small Hunter sailboat passed to port, its jib flogging in the strong breeze.
Way over by Angel Island, another sailboat was sailing along the weather shore of the island.
Gradually, more of the towers of the GGB became visible over the hills...
.... and finally, the entire south tower came into view.
Ahead of us, another Hunter was sailing toward Raccoon Straits.
A small charter sailboat was also out enjoying the choppy waters and strong winds.
We had a great sail toward home port, sailing off the strong wind and blasting along, and eventually watching this small sailboat flying full canvas heading toward the cityfront.
A larger sailboat, also flying full canvas, passed to port, heading west and handling the strong winds quite nicely-- perhaps a heavy displacement boat with full keel.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready for landing, then motored around the pier and into port, pleased with another nice outing on a blustery bay.
