Wednesday, May 02, 2007
SUNDAY 29 APRIL 2007-- AROUND TREASURE AND ANGEL ISLANDS
Michael and Maya joined us for an afternoon sail on Opening Day 2007-- well, opening for some people, perhaps-- and a blustery foggy day with not a large number of Opening Day sailors out there.
It was blowing like stink when we left port and raised a single-reefed main
before heading out into the central bay.
Behind us, a neighbor boat named CATBIRD was also raising a single-reefed main.
We headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and CATBIRD was behind us a ways.
Way off to port, the gorgeous gaff-rigged charter schooner named BAY LADY was heading west with a good complement of passengers and looking great!
This small J-24 blasted under the Bay Bridge heading west with full canvas flying.
On the other side of the Bay Bridge, a Santa Cruz 53 was heading east-- a boat that we have seen a few times on the bay the past six months.
As we approached the D-E span, this lovely J-105 came blasting past with full canvas and looking great!
After passing through the D-E span, the financial district in haze was framed by the bridge as the small catamaran that had been trailing us was behind us as we headed around the south shore of Yerba Buena.
We had decent winds all the way around YBI and after heading up the east shore of Treasure Island, a lovely SEA BEAR passed to starboard, looking good with full canvas flying.
A large ketch passed to port, also looking good.
After sailing up the east shore of Treasure Island, we blasted across the bay toward the lee side of Angel Island, where after a couple of tacks, we encountered MENDOTA heading down the lee shore of Angel Island.
Raccoon Straits was fairly quiet with moderate winds, and Ayala Cove had just a few boats tied up at the buoys and docks.
As we sailed up the straits, Angel Island was frosted with a bit of fog.
A couple of guys on an OCSC sailboat sailed past, fenders dragging-- not looking good.
A massive monster fog bank was pouring over the headlands in the west.
As we came out of Raccoon Straits, only parts of the north tower of the GGB and the was alll that was visible in the fog.
We were blasting toward home port on close reach, and a freighter was steaming out of the south bay-- we hoping to have enough speed to cross well in front of her, but she seemed to speed up and not give us a chance, so we had to tack back toward Sausalito to let it pass and then tack back toward home port again, as the fog was lifting a bit more.
Michael was at the helm, dressed for cold fog and wind sailing as we blasted toward home port.
The city was in partial sun and shadow as we approached.
We fell off after passing Alcatraz and pulled out the jib to full for the final downwind leg of the homebound trip, then pulled into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails. A good cold, foggy outing, but the fog kept lifting as the evening wore on and soon the moon was shining bright in the night sky
as the fog mostly disappeared.
Michael and Maya joined us for an afternoon sail on Opening Day 2007-- well, opening for some people, perhaps-- and a blustery foggy day with not a large number of Opening Day sailors out there.
It was blowing like stink when we left port and raised a single-reefed main
before heading out into the central bay.
Behind us, a neighbor boat named CATBIRD was also raising a single-reefed main.
We headed for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and CATBIRD was behind us a ways.
Way off to port, the gorgeous gaff-rigged charter schooner named BAY LADY was heading west with a good complement of passengers and looking great!
This small J-24 blasted under the Bay Bridge heading west with full canvas flying.
On the other side of the Bay Bridge, a Santa Cruz 53 was heading east-- a boat that we have seen a few times on the bay the past six months.
As we approached the D-E span, this lovely J-105 came blasting past with full canvas and looking great!
After passing through the D-E span, the financial district in haze was framed by the bridge as the small catamaran that had been trailing us was behind us as we headed around the south shore of Yerba Buena.
We had decent winds all the way around YBI and after heading up the east shore of Treasure Island, a lovely SEA BEAR passed to starboard, looking good with full canvas flying.
A large ketch passed to port, also looking good.
After sailing up the east shore of Treasure Island, we blasted across the bay toward the lee side of Angel Island, where after a couple of tacks, we encountered MENDOTA heading down the lee shore of Angel Island.
Raccoon Straits was fairly quiet with moderate winds, and Ayala Cove had just a few boats tied up at the buoys and docks.
As we sailed up the straits, Angel Island was frosted with a bit of fog.
A couple of guys on an OCSC sailboat sailed past, fenders dragging-- not looking good.
A massive monster fog bank was pouring over the headlands in the west.
As we came out of Raccoon Straits, only parts of the north tower of the GGB and the was alll that was visible in the fog.
We were blasting toward home port on close reach, and a freighter was steaming out of the south bay-- we hoping to have enough speed to cross well in front of her, but she seemed to speed up and not give us a chance, so we had to tack back toward Sausalito to let it pass and then tack back toward home port again, as the fog was lifting a bit more.
Michael was at the helm, dressed for cold fog and wind sailing as we blasted toward home port.
The city was in partial sun and shadow as we approached.
We fell off after passing Alcatraz and pulled out the jib to full for the final downwind leg of the homebound trip, then pulled into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails. A good cold, foggy outing, but the fog kept lifting as the evening wore on and soon the moon was shining bright in the night sky
as the fog mostly disappeared.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:06 AM 
