Wednesday, August 08, 2007
MONDAY, 6 AUGUST 07-- TO THE GATE AND BACK IN MODERATE WINDS
Moderate winds were blowing on the bay in the early afternoon, so we decided to head out for an afternoon sail about 2 pm.
Winds were in the 7-10 knot range as we exited the marina.
A folkboat under full canvas was sailing eastward as we headed out into the central bay.
As we sailed westward on a southwest breeze, the charter sloop RUBY motorsailed past to port.
A couple of J24s appeared to be racing each other around Alcatraz as we approached.
Another J24 was sailing eastward, and here's a video clip of her passing to port.
Way off to port, Adventure Cat was heading toward home port.
As we continued westward, a flock of pelicans flew over.
Behind us, a nice sailboat was also headed west on a parallel course, but soon tacked to sail across the bay.
We tacked a couple of times to sail in front of this sand dredge with another dredge a bit further north. Both seemed almost full.
We sailed on toward the headlands and then tacked to the south, passing this nice sailboat heading for Richardson Bay.
We sailed all the way across the gate with some flood current pushing us away, and watched antoher flock of pelicans swooping over the surface of the sea.
Soon some windsurfers using their larger sails in the moderate winds
came blasting by our port side, like this one....
... and this one.
After tacking toward the gate, we watched Adventure Cat shooting the gate near the north tower with the gate still under overcast skies.
As we continued on toward the gate, Adventure Cat passed to starboard, heading home again.
A short time later, Adventure Cat 2 motorsailed out the gate against the flood current, and here's a video clip of her passing the bridge and the cliffs of the headlands.
Eventually, she was ahead of us on the now sun-sparkled waters of the sea.
It took us several more tacks before we succeded in shooting the gate against the flood current, now enjoying vivid sunlit vistas, including our beautiful bridge.
We stayed outside the gate a short while, tempted to head for Pt. Bonita, but
eventually decided to head back inside, where we eventually encountered a lone windsurfer gliding over the sea in a light breeze.
Here's a video clip of the windsurfer passing us.
The city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine as we approached home port.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of about 8-10 knots, much more comfortable than the 25-30 knots usually blowing at this time of day in recent weeks.
The charter ketch PRIVATEER was heading out for an outing, with no sails deployed as yet.
We doused sails after passing the marina and watched as a couple of boats marked "SURVEY" running around the area between the marina breakwater and pier 35, one of them here.....
and the other here.
As we motored into the marina, we were delighted to have spent over 3 hours on the bay without encounering hellacious winds.
Moderate winds were blowing on the bay in the early afternoon, so we decided to head out for an afternoon sail about 2 pm.
Winds were in the 7-10 knot range as we exited the marina.
A folkboat under full canvas was sailing eastward as we headed out into the central bay.
As we sailed westward on a southwest breeze, the charter sloop RUBY motorsailed past to port.
A couple of J24s appeared to be racing each other around Alcatraz as we approached.
Another J24 was sailing eastward, and here's a video clip of her passing to port.
Way off to port, Adventure Cat was heading toward home port.
As we continued westward, a flock of pelicans flew over.
Behind us, a nice sailboat was also headed west on a parallel course, but soon tacked to sail across the bay.
We tacked a couple of times to sail in front of this sand dredge with another dredge a bit further north. Both seemed almost full.
We sailed on toward the headlands and then tacked to the south, passing this nice sailboat heading for Richardson Bay.
We sailed all the way across the gate with some flood current pushing us away, and watched antoher flock of pelicans swooping over the surface of the sea.
Soon some windsurfers using their larger sails in the moderate winds
came blasting by our port side, like this one....
... and this one.
After tacking toward the gate, we watched Adventure Cat shooting the gate near the north tower with the gate still under overcast skies.
As we continued on toward the gate, Adventure Cat passed to starboard, heading home again.
A short time later, Adventure Cat 2 motorsailed out the gate against the flood current, and here's a video clip of her passing the bridge and the cliffs of the headlands.
Eventually, she was ahead of us on the now sun-sparkled waters of the sea.
It took us several more tacks before we succeded in shooting the gate against the flood current, now enjoying vivid sunlit vistas, including our beautiful bridge.
We stayed outside the gate a short while, tempted to head for Pt. Bonita, but
eventually decided to head back inside, where we eventually encountered a lone windsurfer gliding over the sea in a light breeze.
Here's a video clip of the windsurfer passing us.
The city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine as we approached home port.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of about 8-10 knots, much more comfortable than the 25-30 knots usually blowing at this time of day in recent weeks.
The charter ketch PRIVATEER was heading out for an outing, with no sails deployed as yet.
We doused sails after passing the marina and watched as a couple of boats marked "SURVEY" running around the area between the marina breakwater and pier 35, one of them here.....
and the other here.
As we motored into the marina, we were delighted to have spent over 3 hours on the bay without encounering hellacious winds.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 4:06 PM 
