Friday, June 01, 2007
MONDAY 28 MAY 07-- AROUND ANGEL ISLAND AND OUT THE GATE WITH OLVIER AND BROOKE ON 'CORTO MALTESE'-- SOME EXTREME SAILING!
Olivier and Brooke brought Corto Maltese over to a slip on E dock near the pier to install a new jib in less wind than they would have in their slip on C dock. Then we headed out for a sail.
Winds were howling as we exited the marina and raised single-reefed main-- velocity in the 20-25 knot range.
Olivier pulled out a reefed jib and we headed out toward the lee side of Alcatraz, sailing a bit off the wind, and passing the charter sloop RUBY heading southeast past the shore of Alcatraz.
They then fell off toward the lee side of Angel Island, sailing on very wind tossed seas, and watched this lovely cutter-rigged sailboat with tanbark sails heading across the bay in the opposite direction with a person on the bow at risk of getting blasted with spray from the large wind waves they were blasted through.
As we approached the lee shore of Angel Island, this lovely Beneteau named MORNING DEW was headed toward us from the south and sailing closer to the wind.
She passed astern, also heading for Raccoon Straits.
Closer to the lee shore of Angel, some large sailboats, including a Santa Cruz 52, were experiencing very light lee winds, so we fell off to the northeast to stay in better winds.
ALLERA was also heading up the lee shore of Angel Island and looking good. In the background, a number of sailboats were anchored out on the lee shore of the island.
This beautiful ketch, flying full canvas, passed to port, heading toward the central bay-- wonder if they later regretted having so much canvas up.
This beautiful sailboat was sailing in our same direction and look ing great!
As we approached the east mouth of Raccoon Straits, after passing through some very light winds, we encountered some very strong winds howling through the straits and began chasing this small yawl, finally catching up with it.
Here is a brief video clip of our chasing down this boat.
Ayala Cove was filled with beautiful boats as we passed.
As we exited the straits after a few tacks, we saw the Golden Gate Bridge with fog behind, and a few sailboats braving the gale-force winds.
Behind us, an old Hunter-- the well-built kind-- was sailing down the straits.
As we headed toward the central bay, this beautiful cutter-rigged sailboat, passed us, flying full canvas.
I took the helm for the trip across the central bay, and we were blasting through wind waves, churned up by winds sustained at 25 and gusting to 30-35, getting pulled to weather a bit in the stronger gusts and putting the port rail in the water from time to time, but sailing a bit off the wind and still taking spray-- wishing i had put on my foulie bottoms as well as jacket. It was, to say the least, extreme sailing!!!!
Olivier took the helm after we tacked toward the gate and as we approached the gate, we began seeing windsurfers blasting across the lumpy seas, like this one.
This windsurfer passed close to us, passing astern-- note all the windsurfers in the background.
We sailed out the gate with less wind near the gate, sailing over to Kirby Cove and then heading back inside the gate, Brooke at the helm and enjoying the downwind sailing.
Inside the bay, the kite surfers were still blasting across the sea surface.
After several gybes downwind, we were approaching home port with the city enjoying the brilliant sunshine and clear air.
This Catalina name LOON was also sailing down the cityfront and looking good....
...as did this pocket cruiser.
As we passed the end of pier 39, the flags were pegged out in the strong winds.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready to land. It was a spectacular outing.
Olivier and Brooke brought Corto Maltese over to a slip on E dock near the pier to install a new jib in less wind than they would have in their slip on C dock. Then we headed out for a sail.
Winds were howling as we exited the marina and raised single-reefed main-- velocity in the 20-25 knot range.
Olivier pulled out a reefed jib and we headed out toward the lee side of Alcatraz, sailing a bit off the wind, and passing the charter sloop RUBY heading southeast past the shore of Alcatraz.
They then fell off toward the lee side of Angel Island, sailing on very wind tossed seas, and watched this lovely cutter-rigged sailboat with tanbark sails heading across the bay in the opposite direction with a person on the bow at risk of getting blasted with spray from the large wind waves they were blasted through.
As we approached the lee shore of Angel Island, this lovely Beneteau named MORNING DEW was headed toward us from the south and sailing closer to the wind.
She passed astern, also heading for Raccoon Straits.
Closer to the lee shore of Angel, some large sailboats, including a Santa Cruz 52, were experiencing very light lee winds, so we fell off to the northeast to stay in better winds.
ALLERA was also heading up the lee shore of Angel Island and looking good. In the background, a number of sailboats were anchored out on the lee shore of the island.
This beautiful ketch, flying full canvas, passed to port, heading toward the central bay-- wonder if they later regretted having so much canvas up.
This beautiful sailboat was sailing in our same direction and look ing great!
As we approached the east mouth of Raccoon Straits, after passing through some very light winds, we encountered some very strong winds howling through the straits and began chasing this small yawl, finally catching up with it.
Here is a brief video clip of our chasing down this boat.
Ayala Cove was filled with beautiful boats as we passed.
As we exited the straits after a few tacks, we saw the Golden Gate Bridge with fog behind, and a few sailboats braving the gale-force winds.
Behind us, an old Hunter-- the well-built kind-- was sailing down the straits.
As we headed toward the central bay, this beautiful cutter-rigged sailboat, passed us, flying full canvas.
I took the helm for the trip across the central bay, and we were blasting through wind waves, churned up by winds sustained at 25 and gusting to 30-35, getting pulled to weather a bit in the stronger gusts and putting the port rail in the water from time to time, but sailing a bit off the wind and still taking spray-- wishing i had put on my foulie bottoms as well as jacket. It was, to say the least, extreme sailing!!!!
Olivier took the helm after we tacked toward the gate and as we approached the gate, we began seeing windsurfers blasting across the lumpy seas, like this one.
This windsurfer passed close to us, passing astern-- note all the windsurfers in the background.
We sailed out the gate with less wind near the gate, sailing over to Kirby Cove and then heading back inside the gate, Brooke at the helm and enjoying the downwind sailing.
Inside the bay, the kite surfers were still blasting across the sea surface.
After several gybes downwind, we were approaching home port with the city enjoying the brilliant sunshine and clear air.
This Catalina name LOON was also sailing down the cityfront and looking good....
...as did this pocket cruiser.
As we passed the end of pier 39, the flags were pegged out in the strong winds.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the sails and get ready to land. It was a spectacular outing.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:36 AM 
