Friday, September 21, 2007
THURSDAY 20 SEPT. 07-- NICE SAIL TO THE GATE AND BACK IN LIGHT WINDS.
Tuesday-- our usual sailing day-- it was blowing like stink on the bay again, and on Wednesday, it was blowing even stronger, so we stayed in port. Wednesday evening, some storm clouds started moving in, and some rain fell in the area in the morning. By mid-afternoon, skies were clear and blue and the southeasterly [rain direction] wind and shifted back into the southwest again, and was blowing at a moderate velociy.
We left port about 4 pm and the flags on land were fluttering lightly.
We headed into the central bay, sailing to the west on a southwest breeze that was fluttering the flags on the end of pier 39 moderately, but stronger than those on land.
As we headed west, a small sailboat was crossing the bay toward the Bay Bridge.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine and clear slkies..
...as was Alcatraz.
A beautiful pelican flew closely overhead.
A tug and barge with dredgings crossed in front of us, heading for the Alcatraz shoal dumping ground.
Mt. Tam and Sausalito were enjoying hazy sunshine.
Angel Island was also enjoying sunshine and less haze.
Way over by Belvedere, a charter schooner was sailing to the east, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
A single tack took us all the way from pier 39 past Horseshoe Cove and the small marina there with the Marin Headlands behind in shadow and sunshine.
We enjoyed our view of the Golden Gate Bridge from that vantage point,
and a short time later we tacked to sail across the gate.
This pelican was preparing to go into a power dive for a fish.....
....and splashed in, with some seagulls hovering nearby, and some pelicans swooping overhead.
Another pelican was flying overhead and looking very smart.
Another pelican was resting on the lovely blue water of the bay.
Over the city, the half moon was shining.
The bay waters near the gate were loaded with foam-- first time I can recall seeing foam in this location.
We sailed almost all the way across the gate and then tacked to sail out the gate between midspan and the north tower.
That charter schooner out of Sausalito was heading back to port as we were sailing out the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge was bathed in the late afternoon sunshine.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, passing this small lighthouse just inside the south tower.
This two-engine jet flew over the bay toward the gate at an altitude of less than 1000 feet, and it doesn't look to me like a commercial aircraft-- what are those pods under the wings? and that large pod on the underbelly?
At about the same time, this Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming toward the gate.
Behind us, this lovely Beneteau was crossing the bay and looking good!
Over by the cityfront, three small sailboats were sailing around-- perhaps part of a youth sailing program.
After sailing past Ft. Mason piers, we sailed past this sandharvesting dredge, which shortly later was turning toward home port.
This small 20 foot sailboat passed to port, enjoying the light evening winds...
....with a two-person crew.
A couple of sailboats were heading for the Bay Bridge.
The city was enjoying the early evening sunshine as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill were rendered vivid by the late sunshine and clear air.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in the moderate winds as we passed.
The floats near the entrance to the west marina were loaded with sea lions-- visible through the east marina entrance on the northwest side of the pier.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port, pleased to have spent several pleasant hours on our magnificent bay in benign wind conditions.
Tuesday-- our usual sailing day-- it was blowing like stink on the bay again, and on Wednesday, it was blowing even stronger, so we stayed in port. Wednesday evening, some storm clouds started moving in, and some rain fell in the area in the morning. By mid-afternoon, skies were clear and blue and the southeasterly [rain direction] wind and shifted back into the southwest again, and was blowing at a moderate velociy.
We left port about 4 pm and the flags on land were fluttering lightly.
We headed into the central bay, sailing to the west on a southwest breeze that was fluttering the flags on the end of pier 39 moderately, but stronger than those on land.
As we headed west, a small sailboat was crossing the bay toward the Bay Bridge.
The city was enjoying brilliant sunshine and clear slkies..
...as was Alcatraz.
A beautiful pelican flew closely overhead.
A tug and barge with dredgings crossed in front of us, heading for the Alcatraz shoal dumping ground.
Mt. Tam and Sausalito were enjoying hazy sunshine.
Angel Island was also enjoying sunshine and less haze.
Way over by Belvedere, a charter schooner was sailing to the east, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
A single tack took us all the way from pier 39 past Horseshoe Cove and the small marina there with the Marin Headlands behind in shadow and sunshine.
We enjoyed our view of the Golden Gate Bridge from that vantage point,
and a short time later we tacked to sail across the gate.
This pelican was preparing to go into a power dive for a fish.....
....and splashed in, with some seagulls hovering nearby, and some pelicans swooping overhead.
Another pelican was flying overhead and looking very smart.
Another pelican was resting on the lovely blue water of the bay.
Over the city, the half moon was shining.
The bay waters near the gate were loaded with foam-- first time I can recall seeing foam in this location.
We sailed almost all the way across the gate and then tacked to sail out the gate between midspan and the north tower.
That charter schooner out of Sausalito was heading back to port as we were sailing out the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge was bathed in the late afternoon sunshine.
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, passing this small lighthouse just inside the south tower.
This two-engine jet flew over the bay toward the gate at an altitude of less than 1000 feet, and it doesn't look to me like a commercial aircraft-- what are those pods under the wings? and that large pod on the underbelly?
At about the same time, this Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming toward the gate.
Behind us, this lovely Beneteau was crossing the bay and looking good!
Over by the cityfront, three small sailboats were sailing around-- perhaps part of a youth sailing program.
After sailing past Ft. Mason piers, we sailed past this sandharvesting dredge, which shortly later was turning toward home port.
This small 20 foot sailboat passed to port, enjoying the light evening winds...
....with a two-person crew.
A couple of sailboats were heading for the Bay Bridge.
The city was enjoying the early evening sunshine as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill were rendered vivid by the late sunshine and clear air.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in the moderate winds as we passed.
The floats near the entrance to the west marina were loaded with sea lions-- visible through the east marina entrance on the northwest side of the pier.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port, pleased to have spent several pleasant hours on our magnificent bay in benign wind conditions.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 1:08 AM 
