Thursday, May 17, 2007
TUESDAY 15 MAY 07-- MORE EXTREME SAILING-- AROUND ANGEL ISLAND
Michael joined us for an afternoon outing and we headed out about 2 pm, raised single-reefed main and headed out into the central bay.
It was blowing like stink on the bay with winds in the central bay in the 25-30 knot range, but we came about and headed toward the Bay Bridge initially, pulled out the jib to full, and blasted downwind in blustery, gusty winds toward the A-B span, passing the Ferry Building about 15 minutes later.
The SFBAYSAIL.COM charter sailboat out of the south bay passed to starboard, sailing main only.
It was about 2:30 pm when we approached the Bay Bridge A-B span-- a very fast trip against some ebb current.
After passing under the A-B span, we fell off to dead downwind and reefed the jib down to a postage stamp size before heading up and then tacking to the north to head for the lee side of Angel Island, soon passing this well-reefed sailboat blasting down the cityfront.
As we entered the central bay, sailing on a beam to broad reach, the strong winds had us blasting northward at 9-11 knots over the bottom with some ebb current assist.
Winds softened a bit in the lee of Angel Island and we pulled out some additional jib for a bit more power as we watched this large sailboat-- perhaps a motorsailer-- crossing in front of us and heading for Raccoon Straits.
Way off to starboard, another sailboat was heading toward the south, east of Southhampton shoal.
We eventually hardened in the sails and headed up toward Raccoon Straits, encountering freshening winds as we approached the straits, and entering the straits in the north half and then tacked toward Angel Island, passing Ayala Cove and seeing only a few boats in the small marina there.
We sailed on starboard tack to near the Angel Island shore west of Ayala Cove and then tacked toward Belvedere, encountering stronger winds, but now crossing in front of that large sailboat that earlier beat us to Raccoon Straits.
We reefed the jib back down to a postage stamp again in the lee of Belvedere, and then tacked to head for home port. Michael was at the helm as we blasted southeastward toward the weather side of Alcatraz in very strong winds and building seas-- very invigorating sailing conditions!
I took the helm for the remainder of our sail from Alcatraz to home port, encountereing large breaking waves on Alcatraz shoal, doing some surfing on them, and eventually sailing into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and ready ANTICIPATION for docking. We motored around pier 35 and headed into port after enjoying another few hours of fantastic sailing on SF Bay!
Michael joined us for an afternoon outing and we headed out about 2 pm, raised single-reefed main and headed out into the central bay.
It was blowing like stink on the bay with winds in the central bay in the 25-30 knot range, but we came about and headed toward the Bay Bridge initially, pulled out the jib to full, and blasted downwind in blustery, gusty winds toward the A-B span, passing the Ferry Building about 15 minutes later.
The SFBAYSAIL.COM charter sailboat out of the south bay passed to starboard, sailing main only.
It was about 2:30 pm when we approached the Bay Bridge A-B span-- a very fast trip against some ebb current.
After passing under the A-B span, we fell off to dead downwind and reefed the jib down to a postage stamp size before heading up and then tacking to the north to head for the lee side of Angel Island, soon passing this well-reefed sailboat blasting down the cityfront.
As we entered the central bay, sailing on a beam to broad reach, the strong winds had us blasting northward at 9-11 knots over the bottom with some ebb current assist.
Winds softened a bit in the lee of Angel Island and we pulled out some additional jib for a bit more power as we watched this large sailboat-- perhaps a motorsailer-- crossing in front of us and heading for Raccoon Straits.
Way off to starboard, another sailboat was heading toward the south, east of Southhampton shoal.
We eventually hardened in the sails and headed up toward Raccoon Straits, encountering freshening winds as we approached the straits, and entering the straits in the north half and then tacked toward Angel Island, passing Ayala Cove and seeing only a few boats in the small marina there.
We sailed on starboard tack to near the Angel Island shore west of Ayala Cove and then tacked toward Belvedere, encountering stronger winds, but now crossing in front of that large sailboat that earlier beat us to Raccoon Straits.
We reefed the jib back down to a postage stamp again in the lee of Belvedere, and then tacked to head for home port. Michael was at the helm as we blasted southeastward toward the weather side of Alcatraz in very strong winds and building seas-- very invigorating sailing conditions!
I took the helm for the remainder of our sail from Alcatraz to home port, encountereing large breaking waves on Alcatraz shoal, doing some surfing on them, and eventually sailing into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and ready ANTICIPATION for docking. We motored around pier 35 and headed into port after enjoying another few hours of fantastic sailing on SF Bay!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:09 AM 
