Thursday, August 30, 2007
THURSDAY, 30 AUGUST 07-- 2 BRIDGE KISS ON A LOVELY WARM AFTERNOON
Steve joined us again and we headed out of port about 1:30 pm.
Winds over telegraph hill were moderate as we headed out toward the central bay.
As we entered the centrral bay, LOLA was heading home from a charter outing.
Off to starboard, PRIVATEER was also headed back toward home port after a charter sailing outing.
As we headed toward Alcatraz on a close reach with some residual flood current, this large sailboat passed to port with the city behind enjoying brilliant sunshine.
A bit later, another sailboat passed to port, sailing downwind and heavily reefed.
We tacked as we approached Alcatraz and sailed back toward the cityfront while the island behind us was enjoying the warm sunshine and clear air.
After approaching the cityfront near pier 45, we tacked away to the west again and sailed all the way across the bay, eventually watching this sailboat crossing the bay in the other direction
As we approached Yellow Bluff, the Golden Gate Bridge looked spectacular above the sun-sparkled bay waters.
We tacked as we neared Yellow Bluff and headed across the bay, watching this Coast Guard cutter steaming out to sea.
Off to port, this cutter-rigged sailboat flying main and trysail was headed across the bay.
About half way across the bay, we tacked and headed for the gate, and soon this windsurfer crossed in front of us and blasted awy toward Horseshoe Cove.
A couple of other windsurfers behind us were blasting across the bay waters in opposite directions.
We approached the north tower of the GGB and then tacked to sail parallel to the gate to near the south tower and then tacked out with Steve at the helm.
The GGB looked spectacular as usual in the mid-afternoon sunshine.
We just sailed out a short ways and then fell off and headed back inside, eventually passing our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, heading for the gate, as we were heading toward Raccoon Straits.
Winds softened too much in the lee of the headlands so we gybed and headed for the north side of Treasure Island, eventually watching PRIVATEER blasting across the bay toward Angel Island in strong winds.
As we approached the north shore of Treasure Island, we found some windsurfers playing around on the waters there, like this one....
...and this one, all of them apparently having entered the water off the shore of Tresure Island-- first time we have seen this happening.
We had light but steady winds all the way up the lee shore of Treasure Island, and soon could see that the causeway portion of the new east span of the Bay Bridge was virtually complete and all but one of the skycranes were gone, but they were constructing some more support pillars west of the highway sections cantilevered out from the last set of pillars.
Here's another view of the causeway portion of the new bridge.
Major support pillars have been constructed on Yerba Buena, perhaps part of the support for the suspension span.
We ghosted around the south shore of Yerba Buena Island, where our favorite little lighthouse was enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.
A couple of tacks took us through the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, and after sailing to the north a bit, we headed toward the city and approached the cityfront north of the Ferry Building.
After tacking back to the north again, we watched this sailboat raising its main sail before heading out for an evening sail.
A couple of tacks took us into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and prepare for landing before motoring around the pier and into the marina, happy to have enjoyed a lovely few hours on our magnificent bay.
Steve joined us again and we headed out of port about 1:30 pm.
Winds over telegraph hill were moderate as we headed out toward the central bay.
As we entered the centrral bay, LOLA was heading home from a charter outing.
Off to starboard, PRIVATEER was also headed back toward home port after a charter sailing outing.
As we headed toward Alcatraz on a close reach with some residual flood current, this large sailboat passed to port with the city behind enjoying brilliant sunshine.
A bit later, another sailboat passed to port, sailing downwind and heavily reefed.
We tacked as we approached Alcatraz and sailed back toward the cityfront while the island behind us was enjoying the warm sunshine and clear air.
After approaching the cityfront near pier 45, we tacked away to the west again and sailed all the way across the bay, eventually watching this sailboat crossing the bay in the other direction
As we approached Yellow Bluff, the Golden Gate Bridge looked spectacular above the sun-sparkled bay waters.
We tacked as we neared Yellow Bluff and headed across the bay, watching this Coast Guard cutter steaming out to sea.
Off to port, this cutter-rigged sailboat flying main and trysail was headed across the bay.
About half way across the bay, we tacked and headed for the gate, and soon this windsurfer crossed in front of us and blasted awy toward Horseshoe Cove.
A couple of other windsurfers behind us were blasting across the bay waters in opposite directions.
We approached the north tower of the GGB and then tacked to sail parallel to the gate to near the south tower and then tacked out with Steve at the helm.
The GGB looked spectacular as usual in the mid-afternoon sunshine.
We just sailed out a short ways and then fell off and headed back inside, eventually passing our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, heading for the gate, as we were heading toward Raccoon Straits.
Winds softened too much in the lee of the headlands so we gybed and headed for the north side of Treasure Island, eventually watching PRIVATEER blasting across the bay toward Angel Island in strong winds.
As we approached the north shore of Treasure Island, we found some windsurfers playing around on the waters there, like this one....
...and this one, all of them apparently having entered the water off the shore of Tresure Island-- first time we have seen this happening.
We had light but steady winds all the way up the lee shore of Treasure Island, and soon could see that the causeway portion of the new east span of the Bay Bridge was virtually complete and all but one of the skycranes were gone, but they were constructing some more support pillars west of the highway sections cantilevered out from the last set of pillars.
Here's another view of the causeway portion of the new bridge.
Major support pillars have been constructed on Yerba Buena, perhaps part of the support for the suspension span.
We ghosted around the south shore of Yerba Buena Island, where our favorite little lighthouse was enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.
A couple of tacks took us through the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, and after sailing to the north a bit, we headed toward the city and approached the cityfront north of the Ferry Building.
After tacking back to the north again, we watched this sailboat raising its main sail before heading out for an evening sail.
A couple of tacks took us into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and prepare for landing before motoring around the pier and into the marina, happy to have enjoyed a lovely few hours on our magnificent bay.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
SATURDAY 25 AUGUST 07-- AFTERNOON SAIL TO THE GATE AND BACK
Michael joined us for our afternoon sail and we left port about 1:30 pm.
Skies were starting to break up from the high fog but the air was hazy and winds were moderate as we headed out toward the central bay.
A cute red-hulled folkboat was heading downwind to the east as we entered the central bay where a light ebb current was flowing.
As we headed to the northwest, this sailboat passed-- bouncing in the wind waves.
We sailed out a ways and then tacked back toward the city to catch a good view of a sailboat named HARRY heading downwind under spinnaker and looking good as she approached us.....
... and then passed astern.
We sailed to near the Ft. Mason piers and then tacked to the west, passing our old pal ADVENTURE CAT as she headed back toward home port.
A race boat flying spinnaker passed us with the racing skiffs in the background
A short time later another sailboat flying spinnaker passed us.
Our port tack took us toward Horseshoe Cove where we encountered this Cataline returning to the bay from the ocean and, as the windward boat, they had to change course to give us right-of-way.
Outside Horseshoe Cove we tacked to head out the gate and sailed out between midspan and the south tower as this smaller Ericson was heading back inside the bay.
Outside the gate we encountered this large trimaran flying an actual kite in front of the boat as it's only sailpower. We've only seen this sort of sight once before on the bay.
We just sailed out the gate a short distance and then came about and headed back inside, accompanied by this ketch entering the bay near the north tower.
A short ways inside the gate, we gybed and headed for home port, passing this windsurfer in the process of getting up after falling with a kite surfer in the background.
Another windsurfer approached, and eventually passed astern.
A bit later, a large sailboat passed to starboard, heading for the gate.
Later, we saw a small racing fleet headed across the bay toward the finish line, including this one that passed astern of us.....
... and this one that passed in front of us.
The city was enjoying somewhat hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Pier 39 flags were fluttering moderately in the breeze of 10 knots or so as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and readied for landing, happy to have enjoyed a few hours of mostly moderate winds and great views on our beautiful bay.
Michael joined us for our afternoon sail and we left port about 1:30 pm.
Skies were starting to break up from the high fog but the air was hazy and winds were moderate as we headed out toward the central bay.
A cute red-hulled folkboat was heading downwind to the east as we entered the central bay where a light ebb current was flowing.
As we headed to the northwest, this sailboat passed-- bouncing in the wind waves.
We sailed out a ways and then tacked back toward the city to catch a good view of a sailboat named HARRY heading downwind under spinnaker and looking good as she approached us.....
... and then passed astern.
We sailed to near the Ft. Mason piers and then tacked to the west, passing our old pal ADVENTURE CAT as she headed back toward home port.
A race boat flying spinnaker passed us with the racing skiffs in the background
A short time later another sailboat flying spinnaker passed us.
Our port tack took us toward Horseshoe Cove where we encountered this Cataline returning to the bay from the ocean and, as the windward boat, they had to change course to give us right-of-way.
Outside Horseshoe Cove we tacked to head out the gate and sailed out between midspan and the south tower as this smaller Ericson was heading back inside the bay.
Outside the gate we encountered this large trimaran flying an actual kite in front of the boat as it's only sailpower. We've only seen this sort of sight once before on the bay.
We just sailed out the gate a short distance and then came about and headed back inside, accompanied by this ketch entering the bay near the north tower.
A short ways inside the gate, we gybed and headed for home port, passing this windsurfer in the process of getting up after falling with a kite surfer in the background.
Another windsurfer approached, and eventually passed astern.
A bit later, a large sailboat passed to starboard, heading for the gate.
Later, we saw a small racing fleet headed across the bay toward the finish line, including this one that passed astern of us.....
... and this one that passed in front of us.
The city was enjoying somewhat hazy sunshine as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Pier 39 flags were fluttering moderately in the breeze of 10 knots or so as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and readied for landing, happy to have enjoyed a few hours of mostly moderate winds and great views on our beautiful bay.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
THURSDAY 23 AUGUST 07-- MORE SKIFF RACING
Steve joined us at 1 pm for an afternoon outing and we headed out in some pretty strong winds and some knarly seas.
This Nordic Tug was steaming around out there and initially I thought it was Norma Jean from G dock, but then later realized that it clearly was not her.
We sailed out to the west and then tacked back toward the leeward mark to watch some skiff leaders round the mark, like these two, the Pegasus Racing skiff in process of dousing its spinnaker.
Here's the DeLonghi skiff approaching the mark and just beginning to douse its spinnaker.....
....and here pulling down the spinnaker into the boat....
....and then rounding the mark, looking good!
Another skiff was approaching the mark under spinnaker....
...and here is a video clip of this TMF skiff dousing her spinnaker and rounding the mark, looking good!
Later, we watched these two skiffs racking each other upwind and caught this video clip of the racing.
We eventually headed back downwind toward the leeward mark and spotted this disabled skiff with a broken top mast section. How frustrating that damage must have been to the crew!
The TMF skiff was sailing beautifully as it approached the mark again after dousing her spinnaker.
To add insult to injury, the disabled skiff flipped and the crew was struggling to right her.
Winds continued to increase in velocity, and the racing was over, so we headed for home port, noticing the city enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35, happy to have a lee spot to douse the sails away from the stong winds on the bay.
Steve joined us at 1 pm for an afternoon outing and we headed out in some pretty strong winds and some knarly seas.
This Nordic Tug was steaming around out there and initially I thought it was Norma Jean from G dock, but then later realized that it clearly was not her.
We sailed out to the west and then tacked back toward the leeward mark to watch some skiff leaders round the mark, like these two, the Pegasus Racing skiff in process of dousing its spinnaker.
Here's the DeLonghi skiff approaching the mark and just beginning to douse its spinnaker.....
....and here pulling down the spinnaker into the boat....
....and then rounding the mark, looking good!
Another skiff was approaching the mark under spinnaker....
...and here is a video clip of this TMF skiff dousing her spinnaker and rounding the mark, looking good!
Later, we watched these two skiffs racking each other upwind and caught this video clip of the racing.
We eventually headed back downwind toward the leeward mark and spotted this disabled skiff with a broken top mast section. How frustrating that damage must have been to the crew!
The TMF skiff was sailing beautifully as it approached the mark again after dousing her spinnaker.
To add insult to injury, the disabled skiff flipped and the crew was struggling to right her.
Winds continued to increase in velocity, and the racing was over, so we headed for home port, noticing the city enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35, happy to have a lee spot to douse the sails away from the stong winds on the bay.
