Wednesday, August 01, 2007
SUNDAY 29 JULY 07-- 2 BRIDGE KISS IN REASONABLE WIND CONDITIONS
We left port about 1 pm hoping that the winds would not blow up to 25-30 knots as they often have done most days this summer so far.
Winds were less than 10 knots when we left port and the sun was shining brightly.
As we headed out toward the central bay, LOLA was returning to port after a charter outing.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we sailed west on the nice breeze.
A lovely race boat named GAMBLER shot past us to starboard, looking great with perfect sail trim on her full canvas.
Off to port, another nice sailboat was heading downwind with full canvas.
Alcatraz was also enjoying brilliant sunshine as we passed, enjoying the southwest breeze that enabled us to point right toward the gate.
This small pocket cruiser passed in front of us, sailing a bit more off the wind that we.
Here's a video of her as she sails nicely with full canvas on her fractional rig.
Ahead of us, a ketch which I initially mistook for the pier 39 charter ketch, PRIVATEER, was crossing the bay in now somewhat overcast conditions with a freshening wind.
The wind shifted more into the west, so we were now headed toward the headlands north of the gate, enjoying our view of the bridge partially obscured in fog.
Winds had increased in velocity such that we were overcanvassed for a run toward the gate, so we fell off toward Sausalito, enjoying views of the fog and sun on the headlands.
Our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT2, was heading for the gate and passed to starboard.
We found a softer wind spot and shortened sail and then headed back toward the gate, sailing across the gate with a slight ebb current assist, and watched as that same ketch we saw earlier fell off the wind to give us right of way since we were on starboard tack.
Here's a brief video of the ketch heading for Horseshoe Cove as another sailboat is heading for the gate.
After this ketch passed, we tacked and headed out the gate, just ducking out and then coming about and heading back inside, eventually spotting this sailboat heading for the gate and looking good.
A bit later, the tourist helicopter shot the gate as we often see it do.
As we sailed downwind, we noticed that the tanker steaming toward the gate was pumping blasts of something out of her hull--- not polluting stuff we hope.
As we headed downwind toward home port, a race boat named SCORPIO passed to port sailing beautifully.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering moderately as we passed.
We decided to continue sailing on toward the Bay Bridge and as we headed east, a flock of pelicans passed to port.
The financial district was enjoying the brilliant mid-afternoon sunshine as the charter schooner, BAY LADY, motored up the cityfront toward the central bay, probably waiting to raise sails until more wind became available.
Off to port, this beautiful classic race boat was heading north under full canvas and looking great!
A nice looking Catalina was headed toward the A-B span as well.
As we sailed toward the Bay Bridge in flukey wind conditions, a pelican flew almost directly overhead and we caught this great shot of this magnificent seabird!
A bit later, this Santana 22 passed and we initially mistook her for neighbor boat GO DOG GO since we didn't notice the outboard motor on her stern.
This lovely J boat passed to starboard, looking good...
... as did this Islander.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sun as we approached.
We shortened sail a bit as we passed under the A-B span and then gybed to head back upwind, eventually passing this great looking J105 heading down the cityfront.
A bit later, this lovely sailboat, flying a colorful asymmetrical spinnaker, passed in front of us, heading east.
Another pocket cruiser of the same make as the one we spotted earlier, was heading downwind toward the Bay Bridge.
We eventually ducked behind pier 35 to douse sail and prepare for landing, feeling very content and pleased with our 3.5 hour outing on the bay.
We left port about 1 pm hoping that the winds would not blow up to 25-30 knots as they often have done most days this summer so far.
Winds were less than 10 knots when we left port and the sun was shining brightly.
As we headed out toward the central bay, LOLA was returning to port after a charter outing.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we sailed west on the nice breeze.
A lovely race boat named GAMBLER shot past us to starboard, looking great with perfect sail trim on her full canvas.
Off to port, another nice sailboat was heading downwind with full canvas.
Alcatraz was also enjoying brilliant sunshine as we passed, enjoying the southwest breeze that enabled us to point right toward the gate.
This small pocket cruiser passed in front of us, sailing a bit more off the wind that we.
Here's a video of her as she sails nicely with full canvas on her fractional rig.
Ahead of us, a ketch which I initially mistook for the pier 39 charter ketch, PRIVATEER, was crossing the bay in now somewhat overcast conditions with a freshening wind.
The wind shifted more into the west, so we were now headed toward the headlands north of the gate, enjoying our view of the bridge partially obscured in fog.
Winds had increased in velocity such that we were overcanvassed for a run toward the gate, so we fell off toward Sausalito, enjoying views of the fog and sun on the headlands.
Our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT2, was heading for the gate and passed to starboard.
We found a softer wind spot and shortened sail and then headed back toward the gate, sailing across the gate with a slight ebb current assist, and watched as that same ketch we saw earlier fell off the wind to give us right of way since we were on starboard tack.
Here's a brief video of the ketch heading for Horseshoe Cove as another sailboat is heading for the gate.
After this ketch passed, we tacked and headed out the gate, just ducking out and then coming about and heading back inside, eventually spotting this sailboat heading for the gate and looking good.
A bit later, the tourist helicopter shot the gate as we often see it do.
As we sailed downwind, we noticed that the tanker steaming toward the gate was pumping blasts of something out of her hull--- not polluting stuff we hope.
As we headed downwind toward home port, a race boat named SCORPIO passed to port sailing beautifully.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering moderately as we passed.
We decided to continue sailing on toward the Bay Bridge and as we headed east, a flock of pelicans passed to port.
The financial district was enjoying the brilliant mid-afternoon sunshine as the charter schooner, BAY LADY, motored up the cityfront toward the central bay, probably waiting to raise sails until more wind became available.
Off to port, this beautiful classic race boat was heading north under full canvas and looking great!
A nice looking Catalina was headed toward the A-B span as well.
As we sailed toward the Bay Bridge in flukey wind conditions, a pelican flew almost directly overhead and we caught this great shot of this magnificent seabird!
A bit later, this Santana 22 passed and we initially mistook her for neighbor boat GO DOG GO since we didn't notice the outboard motor on her stern.
This lovely J boat passed to starboard, looking good...
... as did this Islander.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sun as we approached.
We shortened sail a bit as we passed under the A-B span and then gybed to head back upwind, eventually passing this great looking J105 heading down the cityfront.
A bit later, this lovely sailboat, flying a colorful asymmetrical spinnaker, passed in front of us, heading east.
Another pocket cruiser of the same make as the one we spotted earlier, was heading downwind toward the Bay Bridge.
We eventually ducked behind pier 35 to douse sail and prepare for landing, feeling very content and pleased with our 3.5 hour outing on the bay.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:47 AM 
