Monday, June 18, 2007
SUNDAY 17 JUNE 07-- SOLO SAIL TO GATE AND BACK IN BEAUTIFUL EVE
Michael was going to come sailing with us at 3pm, but parking situation was too crazy, so he bailed and we delayed leaving port until almost 7 pm.
Winds were in the moderate range so we raised single-reefed main and hoped the winds wouldn't blow up more strongly. As we headed toward the central bay, we pulled out a small jib.
Winds were southerly initially, so we sailed directly toward the gate on close reach port tack, passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots.
A large center cockpit ketch passed to starboard, flying jib only-- probably neighbor boat THAI SAPPHIRE, but i'm not sure.
We tacked into the lee of pier 45 and then tacked away to the west again with the city behind us enjoying clear air and brilliant envening sunshine.
A bit later, SUMMER WIND passed us, also sailing jib only.
A few more tacks along the cityfront took us past the Ft. Mason piers and we noticed a sailboat sailing into the entrance of Gas House Cove.
A bit later on, this sailboat passed to port, heading east.
She eventually gybed and continued eastward on port tack.
Another couple of tacks took us to a point in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club building.
As we tacked away to the west again, we passed Crissy Field and the Palace of Fine Arts behind.
Way off to starboard, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was returning from the gate toward home port.
Behind us, the city was in quite clear air and enjoying brilliant sunshine.
In contrast, Sausalito and Mt. Tam were locked in heavy haze.
A few more tacks took us into much stronger winds approaching the gate we sailed out the gate between midspan and the north tower, and the north tower was gleaming in the late sunshine-- the sun angle making for the deepest and strongest hues of the paint on our magnificent bridge.
We just ducked out a short ways, sailing through some substantial ocean swells, and then came about, pulled out the jib to full and began blasting downwind on broad reach starboard tack, enjoying some surfing on the waves and swells, as the sun started to set behind the Marin Headlands.
Some of the financial district buildings were glowing with reflected sunlight as we blasted toward home.
As we sailed past Aquatic Park in softening winds, city lights began to come on-- magic time on the bay!
As we sailed past pier 45, the tops of the financial district buildings were still illuminated by some hazy sunlight and the air had become more hazy than earlier.
A large cutter named TILLIGO motored out of the fisherman's wharf area, and pulled out the jib, but continued to motorsail past us to starboard.
A lovely flock of pelicans was flying eastward through the dusky sky about sundown time.
We doused the jib by falling off and backwinding it to pull it in before we approached pier 35, and then we doused the main in the lee of pier 35, and readied ANTICIPATION for landing before motoring around the pier, enjoying the sunset color in the north as we did.
Outside pier 35, we spotted one flock of pelicans skimming over the surface of the sea.
Overhead, another flock was heading eastward with the dwindling sunset color as a backdrop-- I so love to have the pelicans adding to the beauty of the bay and environs!
It was twilight as we motored into the marina and landed, feeling great after enjoying a wonderful outing to the gate and back.
Michael was going to come sailing with us at 3pm, but parking situation was too crazy, so he bailed and we delayed leaving port until almost 7 pm.
Winds were in the moderate range so we raised single-reefed main and hoped the winds wouldn't blow up more strongly. As we headed toward the central bay, we pulled out a small jib.
Winds were southerly initially, so we sailed directly toward the gate on close reach port tack, passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots.
A large center cockpit ketch passed to starboard, flying jib only-- probably neighbor boat THAI SAPPHIRE, but i'm not sure.
We tacked into the lee of pier 45 and then tacked away to the west again with the city behind us enjoying clear air and brilliant envening sunshine.
A bit later, SUMMER WIND passed us, also sailing jib only.
A few more tacks along the cityfront took us past the Ft. Mason piers and we noticed a sailboat sailing into the entrance of Gas House Cove.
A bit later on, this sailboat passed to port, heading east.
She eventually gybed and continued eastward on port tack.
Another couple of tacks took us to a point in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club building.
As we tacked away to the west again, we passed Crissy Field and the Palace of Fine Arts behind.
Way off to starboard, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was returning from the gate toward home port.
Behind us, the city was in quite clear air and enjoying brilliant sunshine.
In contrast, Sausalito and Mt. Tam were locked in heavy haze.
A few more tacks took us into much stronger winds approaching the gate we sailed out the gate between midspan and the north tower, and the north tower was gleaming in the late sunshine-- the sun angle making for the deepest and strongest hues of the paint on our magnificent bridge.
We just ducked out a short ways, sailing through some substantial ocean swells, and then came about, pulled out the jib to full and began blasting downwind on broad reach starboard tack, enjoying some surfing on the waves and swells, as the sun started to set behind the Marin Headlands.
Some of the financial district buildings were glowing with reflected sunlight as we blasted toward home.
As we sailed past Aquatic Park in softening winds, city lights began to come on-- magic time on the bay!
As we sailed past pier 45, the tops of the financial district buildings were still illuminated by some hazy sunlight and the air had become more hazy than earlier.
A large cutter named TILLIGO motored out of the fisherman's wharf area, and pulled out the jib, but continued to motorsail past us to starboard.
A lovely flock of pelicans was flying eastward through the dusky sky about sundown time.
We doused the jib by falling off and backwinding it to pull it in before we approached pier 35, and then we doused the main in the lee of pier 35, and readied ANTICIPATION for landing before motoring around the pier, enjoying the sunset color in the north as we did.
Outside pier 35, we spotted one flock of pelicans skimming over the surface of the sea.
Overhead, another flock was heading eastward with the dwindling sunset color as a backdrop-- I so love to have the pelicans adding to the beauty of the bay and environs!
It was twilight as we motored into the marina and landed, feeling great after enjoying a wonderful outing to the gate and back.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:58 PM 
