Thursday, June 21, 2007
TUESDAY 19 JUNE 07-- SURVIVAL IN ALMOST GALE FORCE BAY WINDS
Michael joined us for our afternoon outing and we headed out of port about 3 pm.
Wind velocity was already in the 15-20 knot range and, as usual, we expected velocity to increase, so we raised double-reefed main and put out small jib before heading out into the central bay.where a flood current resisted our progress as we began beating westward.
A J-boat was sailing downwind with full canvas.
Winds were gusty with major changes in velocity, and the flags on the end of pier 39 were already quite pegged out.
A sand dredge was steaming toward home after filling up the barge with sand from the sea bottom.
After a few tacks, we were heading west toward the weather side of Alcatraz,
the flood current keeping the seas relatively calm despite gusty winds, but we were still taking some spray into the cockpit. From the lee of pier 45, we were just barely able to sail past the buoy guarding the rocks on the weather side of Alcatraz. Then the winds began to increase drastically in velocity as we sailed between Alcatraz and Harding Rock, also shifting more into the west. Ahead of us, it was clear that there were no lee spots ahead.
With westerly winds, we thought we might be able to tack and head for the gate, but the winds were still increasing in velocity so we fell off the wind a bit and headed back toward home port. The winds had whipped up the sea, the bigger gusts pulled us to weather a bit as we sailed southeasterly toward the weather side of Alcatraz again. Winds now seemed to be 25-30 knots sustained with gusts to 35-40. It felt a bit like survival mode out there as we blasted along, falling off and easing out the sails after passing Alcatraz. A bit of surfing as we headed for the lee of pier 35 where there were few lee spots to douse the sails.
It was a bit of relief to motor around pier 35 after readying ANTICIPATION for landing and motor into port where the winds were also quite strong, but quieter as we neared our slip near the pier itself.
Michael joined us for our afternoon outing and we headed out of port about 3 pm.
Wind velocity was already in the 15-20 knot range and, as usual, we expected velocity to increase, so we raised double-reefed main and put out small jib before heading out into the central bay.where a flood current resisted our progress as we began beating westward.
A J-boat was sailing downwind with full canvas.
Winds were gusty with major changes in velocity, and the flags on the end of pier 39 were already quite pegged out.
A sand dredge was steaming toward home after filling up the barge with sand from the sea bottom.
After a few tacks, we were heading west toward the weather side of Alcatraz,
the flood current keeping the seas relatively calm despite gusty winds, but we were still taking some spray into the cockpit. From the lee of pier 45, we were just barely able to sail past the buoy guarding the rocks on the weather side of Alcatraz. Then the winds began to increase drastically in velocity as we sailed between Alcatraz and Harding Rock, also shifting more into the west. Ahead of us, it was clear that there were no lee spots ahead.
With westerly winds, we thought we might be able to tack and head for the gate, but the winds were still increasing in velocity so we fell off the wind a bit and headed back toward home port. The winds had whipped up the sea, the bigger gusts pulled us to weather a bit as we sailed southeasterly toward the weather side of Alcatraz again. Winds now seemed to be 25-30 knots sustained with gusts to 35-40. It felt a bit like survival mode out there as we blasted along, falling off and easing out the sails after passing Alcatraz. A bit of surfing as we headed for the lee of pier 35 where there were few lee spots to douse the sails.
It was a bit of relief to motor around pier 35 after readying ANTICIPATION for landing and motor into port where the winds were also quite strong, but quieter as we neared our slip near the pier itself.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:20 PM 
