Wednesday, July 04, 2007
SUNDAY 1 JULY 07-- MORE HELLACIOUS CENTRAL BAY WINDS
Michael joined us for our afternoon outing and we left port about 2 pm with moderate winds blowing at that time.
We headed north toward the lee side of Angel Island, hoping to be able to sail around the island, through Raccoon Straits, before heading back to home port. Behind us we could see the dredging activity on the east side of pier 35.
Behind us, an Ericson sistership was blasting eastward under full sail.
As we sailed between Alcatraz and Angel Island, this large double-reefed Catalina to port.
A bit later, this trimaran blasted past to port.
A small sailboat, perhaps a Hunter, blasted past to starboard.
Another sailboat with full canvas passed to port, looking great!
Winds softened in the lee of Angel Island, where there were a number of sailboats nearer the shore.
This OCSC sailboat passed to port in the softer breezes in the lee of the island.
We ran out of breeze and it was clear that we could not make it to Raccoon Straits without motoring, so we headed back toward the central bay, and having to turn on the engine to motor back into the wind, and eventually passing this sailboat and a small flotilla of fishing boats.
Another sailboat with double-reefed main, but full jib, passed to port, heading north.
A bit later, another Ericson sistership passed to port.
When we arrived again in the central bay, the winds were howling out of the SSW and we were blasting toward the bay bridge on starboard tack, taking spray, and hoping the winds wouldn't grow even stronger in velocity.
As we neared the Bay Bridge, this lovely Tartan sailboat passed in front of us, heading east under full canvas and looking great!
A somewhat odd-looking hybrid power-sailboat also passed in front of us.
Winds declined as we approached the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, so we shortened sail and headed back to the west toward home port, again entering hellacious wind areas and blasting toward home port, tacking after passing Blossom Rock and sailing toward the marina entrance, where we doused sails and prepared for landing.
Michael joined us for our afternoon outing and we left port about 2 pm with moderate winds blowing at that time.
We headed north toward the lee side of Angel Island, hoping to be able to sail around the island, through Raccoon Straits, before heading back to home port. Behind us we could see the dredging activity on the east side of pier 35.
Behind us, an Ericson sistership was blasting eastward under full sail.
As we sailed between Alcatraz and Angel Island, this large double-reefed Catalina to port.
A bit later, this trimaran blasted past to port.
A small sailboat, perhaps a Hunter, blasted past to starboard.
Another sailboat with full canvas passed to port, looking great!
Winds softened in the lee of Angel Island, where there were a number of sailboats nearer the shore.
This OCSC sailboat passed to port in the softer breezes in the lee of the island.
We ran out of breeze and it was clear that we could not make it to Raccoon Straits without motoring, so we headed back toward the central bay, and having to turn on the engine to motor back into the wind, and eventually passing this sailboat and a small flotilla of fishing boats.
Another sailboat with double-reefed main, but full jib, passed to port, heading north.
A bit later, another Ericson sistership passed to port.
When we arrived again in the central bay, the winds were howling out of the SSW and we were blasting toward the bay bridge on starboard tack, taking spray, and hoping the winds wouldn't grow even stronger in velocity.
As we neared the Bay Bridge, this lovely Tartan sailboat passed in front of us, heading east under full canvas and looking great!
A somewhat odd-looking hybrid power-sailboat also passed in front of us.
Winds declined as we approached the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, so we shortened sail and headed back to the west toward home port, again entering hellacious wind areas and blasting toward home port, tacking after passing Blossom Rock and sailing toward the marina entrance, where we doused sails and prepared for landing.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:17 AM 
