Thursday, July 19, 2007
THURSDAY 12 JULY 07-- NICE EVENING SAIL IN SOFT BREEZES
We left port about 6:45 pm for an evening sail.
Winds had softened to a velocity of about 5 knots as we headed out toward the central bay-- finally an evening summer breeze like those we enjoyed consistently 5-10 years ago, but now rarely experience as winds continue in the 15-25 knot range almost every evening.
The 24 hour a day dredging operations around pier 35 were continuing, but note the beautiful cloud pattern in the north-- unusual for this time of year.
As we entered the central bay, we were greeted by a couple of flocks of our favorite seabirds-- the pelicans-- one flock off to port...
...and one flock off to starboard.
An Ericson sistership passed in front of us as we headed out.
The beautiful radiating cloud pattern extended from north of Angel Island to the skies over us.
Our pier 39 neighbr, the charter vessel PRIVATEER was heading out for a sunset sail.
\\\
The city was enjoying late sunshine and very clear air as we pointed westward, but were pushed northward by the quite strong flood current.
As the breeze freshened a bit, we made better progress to the west than PRIVATEER, and the tanker that passed in front of us passed in front of, but much closer to PRIVATEER.
As we reached a position northeast of Alcatraz, the wind velocity increased to about 8-10 knots so we were able to make substantial progress westward against the flood current as we watched PRIVATEER sailing up toward the shore of Angel Island.
As the sun lowered in the sky, we reached a position north of Alcatraz where we were treated to a brilliant sun reflection off of the windows of the Bank of America tower.
After continuing west for a while longer, we tacked to sail toward the weather side of Alcatraz, hoping that the wind velocity would hold and enable us to point high enough to pass by the buoy guarding the rocks on the western shore of the island, and watching as a lovely Beneteau passed astern.
The waters of the bay were flood-flattened, and the GGB stood sentinel over the gate as sundown neared.
Behind us, the radiating clouds over Angel Island and the bay began to take on some sunset colors-- an unusual treat for this time of year.
The sunset colors gradually deepened and intensified as the sundown progressed.
As we passed to the weather side of Alcatraz, the sun was still illuminating the tops of the financial district buildings, but city lights were starting to come on as well.
We passed the southwestern shore of Alcatraz which was now bathed in dusky light and we just happened to catch the gleam of the light from the lighthouse in this photo.
City lights were brightening as we headed for home port--- magic time on the bay.
In the west, a dusky marmalade sky extended across the horizon outside the gate as we approached home port.
We doused sail while passing the marina so we could motor in past the dredging operations, and enter port, thrilled with being on the bay in some soft evening breezes for the first time in ages.
We left port about 6:45 pm for an evening sail.
Winds had softened to a velocity of about 5 knots as we headed out toward the central bay-- finally an evening summer breeze like those we enjoyed consistently 5-10 years ago, but now rarely experience as winds continue in the 15-25 knot range almost every evening.
The 24 hour a day dredging operations around pier 35 were continuing, but note the beautiful cloud pattern in the north-- unusual for this time of year.
As we entered the central bay, we were greeted by a couple of flocks of our favorite seabirds-- the pelicans-- one flock off to port...
...and one flock off to starboard.
An Ericson sistership passed in front of us as we headed out.
The beautiful radiating cloud pattern extended from north of Angel Island to the skies over us.
Our pier 39 neighbr, the charter vessel PRIVATEER was heading out for a sunset sail.
\\\The city was enjoying late sunshine and very clear air as we pointed westward, but were pushed northward by the quite strong flood current.
As the breeze freshened a bit, we made better progress to the west than PRIVATEER, and the tanker that passed in front of us passed in front of, but much closer to PRIVATEER.
As we reached a position northeast of Alcatraz, the wind velocity increased to about 8-10 knots so we were able to make substantial progress westward against the flood current as we watched PRIVATEER sailing up toward the shore of Angel Island.
As the sun lowered in the sky, we reached a position north of Alcatraz where we were treated to a brilliant sun reflection off of the windows of the Bank of America tower.
After continuing west for a while longer, we tacked to sail toward the weather side of Alcatraz, hoping that the wind velocity would hold and enable us to point high enough to pass by the buoy guarding the rocks on the western shore of the island, and watching as a lovely Beneteau passed astern.
The waters of the bay were flood-flattened, and the GGB stood sentinel over the gate as sundown neared.
Behind us, the radiating clouds over Angel Island and the bay began to take on some sunset colors-- an unusual treat for this time of year.
The sunset colors gradually deepened and intensified as the sundown progressed.
As we passed to the weather side of Alcatraz, the sun was still illuminating the tops of the financial district buildings, but city lights were starting to come on as well.
We passed the southwestern shore of Alcatraz which was now bathed in dusky light and we just happened to catch the gleam of the light from the lighthouse in this photo.
City lights were brightening as we headed for home port--- magic time on the bay.
In the west, a dusky marmalade sky extended across the horizon outside the gate as we approached home port.
We doused sail while passing the marina so we could motor in past the dredging operations, and enter port, thrilled with being on the bay in some soft evening breezes for the first time in ages.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:55 AM 
