Tuesday, May 15, 2007
MONDAY 14 MAY 07-- EXTREME SAILING IN STRONG WINDS
Michael joined us about 1 pm for an early afternoon sail.
Winds were strong, in the range of 15-20 knots, when we left port and raised single-reefed main.
We headed out into the central bay, gybed the main and headed toward the Bay Bridge, pulled out the jib to full for our downwind sail, and sailed past the huge cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35.
A short time later, we passed another huge cruise ship tied up at pier 27.
The Bay Bridge was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we approached the A-B span.
We had some sailboat company out on the bay, including this Hunter....
.... this Ericson 32....
....and this large sailboat over by Yerba Buena Island, heading for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.
After passing under the A-B span, we fell off and reefed the jib before heading up and then tacking to head back to the north, watching this sailboat drop its sail in front of the ferry building.
When we arrived in the central bay, we found winds that had increased to 25-30 knots and we soon donned our foulies for the extreme sailing... Michael here at the helm as we blasted through lumpy seas, taking huge blasts of spray over the bow, and putting the starboard rail in the water in some of the gusts.
Winds softened as we arrived in the lee of the Marin Headlands with sunny skies with warmer temperatures, and a number of sailboats were enjoying the moderate conditions, like this one at the mouth of Richardson Bay.
This small sailboat was sailing along the shore of the Marin Headlands, heading for Sausalito.
A massive fog bank was hanging over the hills of the Marin Headlands and Sausalito.
Behind us a Valiant 42 named A CAPELLA was heading for the central bay from Tiburon, heavily canvassed and soon encountered the heavy wind and started struggling, tacked and seemed to be trying to reef the jib with some difficulty.
This small sailboat, sailing under main only, was heading toward Sausalito along the shore of the headlands.
We gybed around in very light winds and headed toward the gate in freshening winds, but decided to fall off and head for home port on broad reach starboard tack as the fog scudded over the bay and the GGB.
From the middle of the bay, the city was locked in a misty haze.....
... but as we approached the city, the air was more clear, though still a bit hazy.
We sailed past pier 35 into the lee of the large cruise ship to douse the sails and prepare for landing, and then motored around the end of pier 35 and into the marina, reflecting on the enjoyment of the usual varied sailing conditions on SF Bay.
Michael joined us about 1 pm for an early afternoon sail.
Winds were strong, in the range of 15-20 knots, when we left port and raised single-reefed main.
We headed out into the central bay, gybed the main and headed toward the Bay Bridge, pulled out the jib to full for our downwind sail, and sailed past the huge cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35.
A short time later, we passed another huge cruise ship tied up at pier 27.
The Bay Bridge was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we approached the A-B span.
We had some sailboat company out on the bay, including this Hunter....
.... this Ericson 32....
....and this large sailboat over by Yerba Buena Island, heading for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.
After passing under the A-B span, we fell off and reefed the jib before heading up and then tacking to head back to the north, watching this sailboat drop its sail in front of the ferry building.
When we arrived in the central bay, we found winds that had increased to 25-30 knots and we soon donned our foulies for the extreme sailing... Michael here at the helm as we blasted through lumpy seas, taking huge blasts of spray over the bow, and putting the starboard rail in the water in some of the gusts.
Winds softened as we arrived in the lee of the Marin Headlands with sunny skies with warmer temperatures, and a number of sailboats were enjoying the moderate conditions, like this one at the mouth of Richardson Bay.
This small sailboat was sailing along the shore of the Marin Headlands, heading for Sausalito.
A massive fog bank was hanging over the hills of the Marin Headlands and Sausalito.
Behind us a Valiant 42 named A CAPELLA was heading for the central bay from Tiburon, heavily canvassed and soon encountered the heavy wind and started struggling, tacked and seemed to be trying to reef the jib with some difficulty.
This small sailboat, sailing under main only, was heading toward Sausalito along the shore of the headlands.
We gybed around in very light winds and headed toward the gate in freshening winds, but decided to fall off and head for home port on broad reach starboard tack as the fog scudded over the bay and the GGB.
From the middle of the bay, the city was locked in a misty haze.....
... but as we approached the city, the air was more clear, though still a bit hazy.
We sailed past pier 35 into the lee of the large cruise ship to douse the sails and prepare for landing, and then motored around the end of pier 35 and into the marina, reflecting on the enjoyment of the usual varied sailing conditions on SF Bay.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:17 AM 
