Tuesday, July 24, 2007
SUNDAY 22 APRIL 07-- NICE SAIL TO GATE AND BACK IN MODERATE WINDS AND SOME SAILBOAT RACE ACTION AS WELL
Sunday morning started with some strong winds blowing at 8 am, which suggested that the winds would continue to build as the day wore on, but by late morning, the breeze had softened, so we headed out for a sail to the gate and back around noon.
Winds were only around 5 knots when we left port.
As we headed out toward the central bay, this race boat passed, apparently practicing since it was not part of any regatta.
As we headed west on the southwest breeze, ADVENTURE CAT was heading back to home port.
Off in the west, a heavy fog was hanging over the gate and between us and the gate a fleet of race boats covered the bay.
We soon passed this large ketch that was headed west with extremely poor sail trim and sails that were flogging drastically.
Here is the url of a short video showing the poor seamanship of the skipper of this vessel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex0qRZXvWaI
A bit later this small sailboat blasted past, looking good with excellent sail trim.
Way off in the west, the charter schooner BAY LADY was heading toward Raccoon Straits with Sausalito and Mt. Tam behind.
Another small sailboat crossed in front of us, also looking good!
A single tack took us past Horseshoe Cove, where we tacked to sail halfway across the gate and then tacked to head out the gate where the north tower was in clear air.
The south tower of the bridge was partly obscurred by some fog remnants.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, and once inside, we watched this sailboat headed our way and well heeled-over in the winds that were now in the 10-15 knot range.
This sailboat flashed past our stern, looking good!
A very large center cockpit sloop was returning to the bay as we headed downwind toward home port.
Here is a video of a sailboat passing and heading for the gate.
Here is the url of another video clip of a second sailboat passing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSLu1ezrD8
After passing the St. Francis Yacht Club, we began to see some race boats, like this Melges heading upwind.
This J105 was heading upwind also and passed to starboard, looking good.
A bit later, this Etchell race boat passed to starboard.
A bit later a group of Etchell race boats passed, all on port tack and sailing nicely!
Later this J24 passed to port-- a boat named SMALL FLYING PATIO FURNITURE-- a rather crazy name, eh?
This J24 passed to starboard....
....followed by a Melges and another J24.
Later, we saw the J105 fleet heading for the leeward mark under spinnaker, so we tacked out to the west again to watch some of the mark roundings like this.
After all the J105s had rounded the mark and headed upwind again, we came about again and headed for home port, soon encountering this lovely large race boat, perhaps a Farr 40, practicing, and took this nice video clip of her.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we approached home port.
This sailboat was also heading downwind on a parallel course as we passed the marina and we eventually had to fall off to slow down and then head up into the wind to pass behind them and sail into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and prepare ANTICIPATION for landing.
Another lovely few hours under ideal conditions on our beautiful bay.
Sunday morning started with some strong winds blowing at 8 am, which suggested that the winds would continue to build as the day wore on, but by late morning, the breeze had softened, so we headed out for a sail to the gate and back around noon.
Winds were only around 5 knots when we left port.
As we headed out toward the central bay, this race boat passed, apparently practicing since it was not part of any regatta.
As we headed west on the southwest breeze, ADVENTURE CAT was heading back to home port.
Off in the west, a heavy fog was hanging over the gate and between us and the gate a fleet of race boats covered the bay.
We soon passed this large ketch that was headed west with extremely poor sail trim and sails that were flogging drastically.
Here is the url of a short video showing the poor seamanship of the skipper of this vessel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex0qRZXvWaI
A bit later this small sailboat blasted past, looking good with excellent sail trim.
Way off in the west, the charter schooner BAY LADY was heading toward Raccoon Straits with Sausalito and Mt. Tam behind.
Another small sailboat crossed in front of us, also looking good!
A single tack took us past Horseshoe Cove, where we tacked to sail halfway across the gate and then tacked to head out the gate where the north tower was in clear air.
The south tower of the bridge was partly obscurred by some fog remnants.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, and once inside, we watched this sailboat headed our way and well heeled-over in the winds that were now in the 10-15 knot range.
This sailboat flashed past our stern, looking good!
A very large center cockpit sloop was returning to the bay as we headed downwind toward home port.
Here is a video of a sailboat passing and heading for the gate.
Here is the url of another video clip of a second sailboat passing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSLu1ezrD8
After passing the St. Francis Yacht Club, we began to see some race boats, like this Melges heading upwind.
This J105 was heading upwind also and passed to starboard, looking good.
A bit later, this Etchell race boat passed to starboard.
A bit later a group of Etchell race boats passed, all on port tack and sailing nicely!
Later this J24 passed to port-- a boat named SMALL FLYING PATIO FURNITURE-- a rather crazy name, eh?
This J24 passed to starboard....
....followed by a Melges and another J24.
Later, we saw the J105 fleet heading for the leeward mark under spinnaker, so we tacked out to the west again to watch some of the mark roundings like this.
After all the J105s had rounded the mark and headed upwind again, we came about again and headed for home port, soon encountering this lovely large race boat, perhaps a Farr 40, practicing, and took this nice video clip of her.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we approached home port.
This sailboat was also heading downwind on a parallel course as we passed the marina and we eventually had to fall off to slow down and then head up into the wind to pass behind them and sail into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and prepare ANTICIPATION for landing.
Another lovely few hours under ideal conditions on our beautiful bay.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 9:44 AM 
