Wednesday, September 26, 2007
TUESDAY, 25 SEPT. 07-- SUNNY, WARM SAIL TO BAY BRIDGE AND BACK
A brilliant'y sunny and warm day in San Francisco. with full moon comes a stong morning flood current, followed by a strong afternoon ebb current, and then a strong evening flood current again. Since afternoon winds were predicted to be light-- around 5 knots-- we decided to head out in the late morning to catch the last of the flood current to assist us in heading for the Bay Bridge, with the opportunity to have ebb current assist on the way back to home port.
As we turned the corner out of our fairway, a large group of seagulls was gathered at the end of E dock, probably because someone on the end of the dock was tossing food in the water earlier.
Only a very light northerly breeze was blowing when we left port.
We headed out into the central bay and turned right to head for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, ghosting along the cityfront and passing the large cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35.
Another large cruise ship was being docked south of the Bay Bridge, off pier 30-- can't recall seeing this happen before.
Behind us, another sailboat was motorsailing toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.
From a southeast exposure, Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower were gleaming in the late morning sun....
... as was the Transamerican Pyramid.
A small flock of pelicans flew past, flying only a few feet from the sea's surface, while at other times we saw larger flocks flying high over the land and the bay.
Way out in the northwest, the scow schooner ALMA was flying full canvas but probably having to motor to make much headway in the light breeze.
We ghosted past the pedestrian pier on a broad reach, and noticed several people fishing off the end of the pier.
The SAN FRANCISCO BELLE was tied up at the dock, awaiting her next outing-- she doesn't seem to be out there very much.
But the California Hornblower was heading out for her usual luncheon cruise.
We ghosted past the Ferry Building, and then sailed past the walkway on top of the breakwater just south of the Ferry Building.
The financial district was gleaming in the noonday sun.
We continued on past the bow and arrow sculpture on the cityfront shore....
...and it was now high noon, with the clock tower bells of the Ferry Building combining with the usual tuesday noon test of the emergency siren, accompanied by a P.A. announcement that this was just a test of the city's emergency warning system.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the noonday sun as we approached the A-B span.
I like this view of the Ferry Building and tower with Coit Tower in the background that you can see when you are just southeast of the Ferry Building.
That cruise ship at pier 30, south of the Bay Bridge, had completed her docking, and now the passengers were streaming down the gangplank to spend a few hours in the city before the ship left again that evening.
After sailing under the A-B span, we headed up to sail parallel to the bridge, and watch the city being framed by the towers and deck of the bridge.
Unfortunately, one cannot avoid also seeing that hideous, tall building they are building right next to the east end of the Bay Bridge-- a true eyesore-- the worst building architecture in the whole city, placedA where noone can ignore it.
Ahead of us was the cute lighthouse on the south shore of Yerba Buena island-- a treat for the eyes, by comparison.
We sailed past the D tower of the bridge and then, a bit later, tacked back to the west to sail under the D-E span and head for home port, sailing on close hauled starboard tack in a breeze of about 3-5 knots, with some waxing ebb current assist
As we approached the cityfront again, the charter sloop RUBY was steaming along, perhaps heading over to Sausalito to pick up charter passengers.
Way in the north, a couple of other sailboats, like this one, were trying to make headway in the light breeze.
The sea surface was ruffled a slight amount by the light breeze, but still the Financial District buildings were reflecting in the bay waters.
As we approached home port, the California Hornblower was also steaming toward home port.
We doused sail approaching pier 35 and the cruise ship tied up there, and then motored into the marina, pleased with having spent a couple of delightful, warm hours out on the bay, and having played the breeze and the currents successfully.
A brilliant'y sunny and warm day in San Francisco. with full moon comes a stong morning flood current, followed by a strong afternoon ebb current, and then a strong evening flood current again. Since afternoon winds were predicted to be light-- around 5 knots-- we decided to head out in the late morning to catch the last of the flood current to assist us in heading for the Bay Bridge, with the opportunity to have ebb current assist on the way back to home port.
As we turned the corner out of our fairway, a large group of seagulls was gathered at the end of E dock, probably because someone on the end of the dock was tossing food in the water earlier.
Only a very light northerly breeze was blowing when we left port.
We headed out into the central bay and turned right to head for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, ghosting along the cityfront and passing the large cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35.
Another large cruise ship was being docked south of the Bay Bridge, off pier 30-- can't recall seeing this happen before.
Behind us, another sailboat was motorsailing toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.
From a southeast exposure, Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower were gleaming in the late morning sun....
... as was the Transamerican Pyramid.
A small flock of pelicans flew past, flying only a few feet from the sea's surface, while at other times we saw larger flocks flying high over the land and the bay.
Way out in the northwest, the scow schooner ALMA was flying full canvas but probably having to motor to make much headway in the light breeze.
We ghosted past the pedestrian pier on a broad reach, and noticed several people fishing off the end of the pier.
The SAN FRANCISCO BELLE was tied up at the dock, awaiting her next outing-- she doesn't seem to be out there very much.
But the California Hornblower was heading out for her usual luncheon cruise.
We ghosted past the Ferry Building, and then sailed past the walkway on top of the breakwater just south of the Ferry Building.
The financial district was gleaming in the noonday sun.
We continued on past the bow and arrow sculpture on the cityfront shore....
...and it was now high noon, with the clock tower bells of the Ferry Building combining with the usual tuesday noon test of the emergency siren, accompanied by a P.A. announcement that this was just a test of the city's emergency warning system.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the noonday sun as we approached the A-B span.
I like this view of the Ferry Building and tower with Coit Tower in the background that you can see when you are just southeast of the Ferry Building.
That cruise ship at pier 30, south of the Bay Bridge, had completed her docking, and now the passengers were streaming down the gangplank to spend a few hours in the city before the ship left again that evening.
After sailing under the A-B span, we headed up to sail parallel to the bridge, and watch the city being framed by the towers and deck of the bridge.
Unfortunately, one cannot avoid also seeing that hideous, tall building they are building right next to the east end of the Bay Bridge-- a true eyesore-- the worst building architecture in the whole city, placedA where noone can ignore it.
Ahead of us was the cute lighthouse on the south shore of Yerba Buena island-- a treat for the eyes, by comparison.
We sailed past the D tower of the bridge and then, a bit later, tacked back to the west to sail under the D-E span and head for home port, sailing on close hauled starboard tack in a breeze of about 3-5 knots, with some waxing ebb current assist
As we approached the cityfront again, the charter sloop RUBY was steaming along, perhaps heading over to Sausalito to pick up charter passengers.
Way in the north, a couple of other sailboats, like this one, were trying to make headway in the light breeze.
The sea surface was ruffled a slight amount by the light breeze, but still the Financial District buildings were reflecting in the bay waters.
As we approached home port, the California Hornblower was also steaming toward home port.
We doused sail approaching pier 35 and the cruise ship tied up there, and then motored into the marina, pleased with having spent a couple of delightful, warm hours out on the bay, and having played the breeze and the currents successfully.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 9:58 AM 
