Monday, October 01, 2007
SATURDAY, 29 SEPT. 07-- NICE TRIP AROUND ANGEL ISLAND
Joe joined us around 12:30 for an afternoon sail. With a strong ebb current taking over the bay in the late afternoon, we wanted to get out early enough to take advantage of the flood current in case there was insufficient wind to sail against the ebb current, i.e. we could ride the flood toward the Bay Bridge and ride the ebb current back if necessary.
Winds were very light as we left port, blowing at most a few knots.
As we entered the central bay, we noticed that a cruise ship was exiting the gate-- unusual since they usually leave in the late afternoon.
The California Hornblower was heading home after a saturday brunch cruise.
A neighbor sailboat, the BECKY J, a recent addition to E dock, was heading west under full canvas, as we also tried to make headway to the west.
The cutter PROVIDENCE was also headed west and looking good, though just ghosting against the flood.
The race boat, PHANTOM MIST, was also headed west in the light breeze-- not racing today as she was a couple of weeks ago in the Rolex BBS.
No stronger breeze materialized, so we gybed and headed toward the Bay Bridge A-B span, passing to the east of Pier 35 where a large cruise ship was docked.
Several sailboats passed us, heading against the current, like this one.
As we ghosted toward the Bay Bridge with flood current assist, we enjoyed views of the financial district buildings in the clear air and brilliant sunshine.
A small sailboat passed to starboard with a crew enjoying the light winds and warm air.
After sailing under the A-B span, we gybed and headed eastward toward Yerba Buena Island, sailing parallel to the bridge, and WIRED passed in front of us, heading toward the D-E span of the bridge.
This nice looking yawl also crossed in front of us, flying only her asymmetrical spinnaker.
A bit later, we saw WIRED now heading southeast and flying her symmetrical spinnaker.
A small catamaran was sailing under the D-E span as we approached.
We were sailing under the D-E span of the bridge as this small sailboat with a happy crew passed astern.
Now the breeze started to freshen, so we decided to head north and see if the breeze would hold enough for us to sail around Angel Island, and eventually this large sailboat with a tall rig but a short boom crossed in front of us, heading west.
We sailed far to the east of Angel Island to stay in the stronger breeze and avoid any ebb current that might already be flowing there, and saw a number of sailboats in and approaching Raccoon Straits, like this sailboat with an unusual colored headsail that might have been either a large genoa or an asymmetrical spinnaker that was being used like a large genoa.
Way off in the northeast, a small fleet of race boats were holding a regatta along the shore of Richmond.
We sailed past the platform on Southampton shoal, and soon thereafter headed up to head for Raccoon Straits.
A group of race boats were headed down the straits under colorful spinnakers-- apparently heading for the buoy that is northeast of Angel Island as their leeward mark.
A couple of other race boats crossed in front of us, heading southeast across the mouth of the straits.
In the northwest, a couple of other race boats were flying their colorful asymmetrical spinnakers as genoas since they were sailing on a beam reach.
One of these race boats, the NIRVANA, fell off the wind and doused the spinnaker before resuming a southeasterly course.
The other boat, continued on her beam reach, but later doused her spinnaker as well.
We eventually tacked toward Angel Island and eventually caught sight of this sailboat heading westerly through the straits, perhaps a part of the regatta also.
A short time later, we saw the race boat NIRVANA now headed for the straits...
....followed by that other race boat that had been flying the colorful red and white spinnaker.
We tacked as we appraoched the island and headed up the straits to the west, passing Ayala Cove wee a number of boats were tied up at the buoy field....
...and the small marina was quite full of boats, and mostly sailboats.
Ahead of us, some race boats were headed for the finish line off the Tiburon shore, ghosting in a very light breeze.
Off the shore of Belvedere, a fleet of dingies was sailing downwind.
We were grateful for the ebb current that was now helping to drag us westward through the straits as two wind systems were colliding in the west half of the straits and creating a wind hole there with very little breeze, and we watched this small race boat heading for the straits.
This nice looking Jeanneau sailboat was sailing on a parallel course down the western shore of Angel Island.
We eventually picked up a nice strong westerly breeze again, and soon saw LOLA, a small charter sailboat out of pier 39, heading our way and looking good against the background of the city.
The charter ketch PRIVATEER out of pier 39 was also heading westward in the good breeze with a large complement of passengers.
We were grateful for the strong winds that enabled us to blast across the bay and fight the now strong ebb current flowing and trying to drag us westward as we watched this small race boat blasting eastward against the current.
We sailed past the weather side fo Alcatraz and then fell off to head for home port against the ebb current, watching this charter catamaran heading northward toward the lee side of Alcatraz.
This center cockpit ketch was blasting westward in the strong winds and eventually passed us to starboard.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of at least 15 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina, and then headed into port, watching a couple of other sailboats, like this one, headed east down the cityfront.
We motored into the marina, after preparing to land, and were well-pleased with our 4 hours or so on the bay in very nice conditions.
Joe joined us around 12:30 for an afternoon sail. With a strong ebb current taking over the bay in the late afternoon, we wanted to get out early enough to take advantage of the flood current in case there was insufficient wind to sail against the ebb current, i.e. we could ride the flood toward the Bay Bridge and ride the ebb current back if necessary.
Winds were very light as we left port, blowing at most a few knots.
As we entered the central bay, we noticed that a cruise ship was exiting the gate-- unusual since they usually leave in the late afternoon.
The California Hornblower was heading home after a saturday brunch cruise.
A neighbor sailboat, the BECKY J, a recent addition to E dock, was heading west under full canvas, as we also tried to make headway to the west.
The cutter PROVIDENCE was also headed west and looking good, though just ghosting against the flood.
The race boat, PHANTOM MIST, was also headed west in the light breeze-- not racing today as she was a couple of weeks ago in the Rolex BBS.
No stronger breeze materialized, so we gybed and headed toward the Bay Bridge A-B span, passing to the east of Pier 35 where a large cruise ship was docked.
Several sailboats passed us, heading against the current, like this one.
As we ghosted toward the Bay Bridge with flood current assist, we enjoyed views of the financial district buildings in the clear air and brilliant sunshine.
A small sailboat passed to starboard with a crew enjoying the light winds and warm air.
After sailing under the A-B span, we gybed and headed eastward toward Yerba Buena Island, sailing parallel to the bridge, and WIRED passed in front of us, heading toward the D-E span of the bridge.
This nice looking yawl also crossed in front of us, flying only her asymmetrical spinnaker.
A bit later, we saw WIRED now heading southeast and flying her symmetrical spinnaker.
A small catamaran was sailing under the D-E span as we approached.
We were sailing under the D-E span of the bridge as this small sailboat with a happy crew passed astern.
Now the breeze started to freshen, so we decided to head north and see if the breeze would hold enough for us to sail around Angel Island, and eventually this large sailboat with a tall rig but a short boom crossed in front of us, heading west.
We sailed far to the east of Angel Island to stay in the stronger breeze and avoid any ebb current that might already be flowing there, and saw a number of sailboats in and approaching Raccoon Straits, like this sailboat with an unusual colored headsail that might have been either a large genoa or an asymmetrical spinnaker that was being used like a large genoa.
Way off in the northeast, a small fleet of race boats were holding a regatta along the shore of Richmond.
We sailed past the platform on Southampton shoal, and soon thereafter headed up to head for Raccoon Straits.
A group of race boats were headed down the straits under colorful spinnakers-- apparently heading for the buoy that is northeast of Angel Island as their leeward mark.
A couple of other race boats crossed in front of us, heading southeast across the mouth of the straits.
In the northwest, a couple of other race boats were flying their colorful asymmetrical spinnakers as genoas since they were sailing on a beam reach.
One of these race boats, the NIRVANA, fell off the wind and doused the spinnaker before resuming a southeasterly course.
The other boat, continued on her beam reach, but later doused her spinnaker as well.
We eventually tacked toward Angel Island and eventually caught sight of this sailboat heading westerly through the straits, perhaps a part of the regatta also.
A short time later, we saw the race boat NIRVANA now headed for the straits...
....followed by that other race boat that had been flying the colorful red and white spinnaker.
We tacked as we appraoched the island and headed up the straits to the west, passing Ayala Cove wee a number of boats were tied up at the buoy field....
...and the small marina was quite full of boats, and mostly sailboats.
Ahead of us, some race boats were headed for the finish line off the Tiburon shore, ghosting in a very light breeze.
Off the shore of Belvedere, a fleet of dingies was sailing downwind.
We were grateful for the ebb current that was now helping to drag us westward through the straits as two wind systems were colliding in the west half of the straits and creating a wind hole there with very little breeze, and we watched this small race boat heading for the straits.
This nice looking Jeanneau sailboat was sailing on a parallel course down the western shore of Angel Island.
We eventually picked up a nice strong westerly breeze again, and soon saw LOLA, a small charter sailboat out of pier 39, heading our way and looking good against the background of the city.
The charter ketch PRIVATEER out of pier 39 was also heading westward in the good breeze with a large complement of passengers.
We were grateful for the strong winds that enabled us to blast across the bay and fight the now strong ebb current flowing and trying to drag us westward as we watched this small race boat blasting eastward against the current.
We sailed past the weather side fo Alcatraz and then fell off to head for home port against the ebb current, watching this charter catamaran heading northward toward the lee side of Alcatraz.
This center cockpit ketch was blasting westward in the strong winds and eventually passed us to starboard.
The pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of at least 15 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina, and then headed into port, watching a couple of other sailboats, like this one, headed east down the cityfront.
We motored into the marina, after preparing to land, and were well-pleased with our 4 hours or so on the bay in very nice conditions.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:32 PM 
