Tuesday, October 23, 2007
SUNDAY, 21 OCT. 07-- WARM, SUNNY DAY AND LIGHT WINDS
Sunday morning started out with a nice northerly breeze in the range of 5-10 knots and we hoped it would stick around for our late morning and afternoon outing. My east bay friends joined us about 11 am for an outing. We were initially intending to sail over to Angel Island for a picnic there, but we ended up picnicking while ghosting along in the light winds east of Angel Island.
We left port about 11:30 am with a very light northwesterly wind blowing.
We headed northeast toward the east side of Angel Island and we were joined out on the bay by a number of other sailboats enjoying the warm and very clear air, like this sailboat headed west on starboard tack...
...and these two sailboats also headed west.
The air was so clear and visibility so good that you could actually see the houses poplulating the lower regions of Mt. Tam from 10 miles away-- very unusual.
As we ghosted northward way east of the Angel Island shore, we saw a number of sailboats headed in the opposite direction, like this ketch.
This J105 race boat crossed in front of us, sailing beautifully under full canvas.
The BAY LADY, charlter schooner out of the South Bay Marina also crossed in front of us, looking great!
The race boat, STEWBALL, was flying downwind under spinnaker...
...as was this raceboat flying a golden spinnaker to go with her golden hull.
A Hans Christian cutter, named APPLE II, was sailing southward toward the central bay.
Mt. Tam was towering over the Tiburon Headlands north of Raccoon Straits.
We continued sailing northward and this nice Ranger was sailing on a parallel course.
At some point, we tacked and headed for Raccoon Straits, having to motor a bit into the straits as the ebb current carried us too far to the south.
We were then ghosting through the straits on a southwesterly breeze, watching as the ferry ANGEL ISLAND was steaming toward the dock in Ayala Cove with a load of passengers for the island.
This lovely small sailboat, named BANANA REPUBLIC, was crossing the straits toward Ayala Cove.
The buoy field in Ayala Cove was well-populated with boats, some of them rafted together.
The small marina there seemed entirely full as we passed.
The air was so clear that everything in the distance seemed closer, like the Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the middle of Raccoon Straits.
As we ghosted down the straits with the ebb current, we saw APPLE II again, but this time motorsaiing eastward through the straits, now with a double reef in the main that suggested that wind velocities had increased on the central bay.
Way ahead of us, close to the shore of Belvedere, we spotted a group of Optimist dingys playing around on the sunny bay waters.
The Corinthian Yacht Club building was gleaming in the brilliant sunshine and
club members were enjoying a repast on the deck overlooking the straits.
As we approached the shore of Belvedere, we spotted this group of Optimist dingies being towed toward home port, looking like a string of small ducks following their mother.
Each of the dingys was being sailed by a young boy or girl, probably just learing to sail and having a great time on the water.
Nearing Belveder, we tacked to head southeast toward home port and this lovely sailboat was sailing on a parallel course to ours.
We had consistent winds all the way to the north side of the central bay where we spotted LOLA, a charter boat out of pier 39 heading our way and passing to starboard.
The cutter, ENTICER, also passed us but on our port side.
Way off in the southwest, a beautiful gaff-rigged schooner was sailing across the gate, probably after finishing the Jessica Cup regatta.
Other sailboats like this one were flying downwind under spinnaker.
Winds in the north half of the central bay were blowing in the 10-15 knot range now, so we were making good headway toward home port and were soon past Alcatraz where we spotted our buddy ADVENTURE CAT2 heading out for an afternoon outing.
Alcatraz was gleaming in the brilliant afternoon sunshine as we sailed pats the south shore fo the island.
Visitors to the island were enjoying the warm sunshine on the courtyard outside the prison buildings.
This Islander 36 was sailing westward past the island and looking good!
As we continued on toward home port, this Catalina was sailing eastward on the sparkling bay waters.
Another, but smaller, Catalina was sailing toward the cityfront.
The city was basking in the warm afternoon sunshine and clear air!
That same Catalina 30 was looking great as she passed us, sailing westward on port tack close reach.
A bit later, we spotted Tim on CHEWINK, a pier 39 boat neighbor, heading northward and looking good!
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of under 10 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port. After landing, we broke out a couple of more bottles fo wine and sat in the cockpit of ANTICIPATION, chatting away and having some cheese and crackers with wine to finish off our lovely afternoon. Another day of peak pleasure!
Sunday morning started out with a nice northerly breeze in the range of 5-10 knots and we hoped it would stick around for our late morning and afternoon outing. My east bay friends joined us about 11 am for an outing. We were initially intending to sail over to Angel Island for a picnic there, but we ended up picnicking while ghosting along in the light winds east of Angel Island.
We left port about 11:30 am with a very light northwesterly wind blowing.
We headed northeast toward the east side of Angel Island and we were joined out on the bay by a number of other sailboats enjoying the warm and very clear air, like this sailboat headed west on starboard tack...
...and these two sailboats also headed west.
The air was so clear and visibility so good that you could actually see the houses poplulating the lower regions of Mt. Tam from 10 miles away-- very unusual.
As we ghosted northward way east of the Angel Island shore, we saw a number of sailboats headed in the opposite direction, like this ketch.
This J105 race boat crossed in front of us, sailing beautifully under full canvas.
The BAY LADY, charlter schooner out of the South Bay Marina also crossed in front of us, looking great!
The race boat, STEWBALL, was flying downwind under spinnaker...
...as was this raceboat flying a golden spinnaker to go with her golden hull.
A Hans Christian cutter, named APPLE II, was sailing southward toward the central bay.
Mt. Tam was towering over the Tiburon Headlands north of Raccoon Straits.
We continued sailing northward and this nice Ranger was sailing on a parallel course.
At some point, we tacked and headed for Raccoon Straits, having to motor a bit into the straits as the ebb current carried us too far to the south.
We were then ghosting through the straits on a southwesterly breeze, watching as the ferry ANGEL ISLAND was steaming toward the dock in Ayala Cove with a load of passengers for the island.
This lovely small sailboat, named BANANA REPUBLIC, was crossing the straits toward Ayala Cove.
The buoy field in Ayala Cove was well-populated with boats, some of them rafted together.
The small marina there seemed entirely full as we passed.
The air was so clear that everything in the distance seemed closer, like the Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the middle of Raccoon Straits.
As we ghosted down the straits with the ebb current, we saw APPLE II again, but this time motorsaiing eastward through the straits, now with a double reef in the main that suggested that wind velocities had increased on the central bay.
Way ahead of us, close to the shore of Belvedere, we spotted a group of Optimist dingys playing around on the sunny bay waters.
The Corinthian Yacht Club building was gleaming in the brilliant sunshine and
club members were enjoying a repast on the deck overlooking the straits.
As we approached the shore of Belvedere, we spotted this group of Optimist dingies being towed toward home port, looking like a string of small ducks following their mother.
Each of the dingys was being sailed by a young boy or girl, probably just learing to sail and having a great time on the water.
Nearing Belveder, we tacked to head southeast toward home port and this lovely sailboat was sailing on a parallel course to ours.
We had consistent winds all the way to the north side of the central bay where we spotted LOLA, a charter boat out of pier 39 heading our way and passing to starboard.
The cutter, ENTICER, also passed us but on our port side.
Way off in the southwest, a beautiful gaff-rigged schooner was sailing across the gate, probably after finishing the Jessica Cup regatta.
Other sailboats like this one were flying downwind under spinnaker.
Winds in the north half of the central bay were blowing in the 10-15 knot range now, so we were making good headway toward home port and were soon past Alcatraz where we spotted our buddy ADVENTURE CAT2 heading out for an afternoon outing.
Alcatraz was gleaming in the brilliant afternoon sunshine as we sailed pats the south shore fo the island.
Visitors to the island were enjoying the warm sunshine on the courtyard outside the prison buildings.
This Islander 36 was sailing westward past the island and looking good!
As we continued on toward home port, this Catalina was sailing eastward on the sparkling bay waters.
Another, but smaller, Catalina was sailing toward the cityfront.
The city was basking in the warm afternoon sunshine and clear air!
That same Catalina 30 was looking great as she passed us, sailing westward on port tack close reach.
A bit later, we spotted Tim on CHEWINK, a pier 39 boat neighbor, heading northward and looking good!
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of under 10 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port. After landing, we broke out a couple of more bottles fo wine and sat in the cockpit of ANTICIPATION, chatting away and having some cheese and crackers with wine to finish off our lovely afternoon. Another day of peak pleasure!
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 11:54 PM 
