Monday, October 01, 2007
SUNDAY, 30 SEPT. 07-- LIGHT WINDS BECOME STRONG WINDS IN THE SLOT!
Michael joined us for a midafternoon sail and we left port around 3 pm.
As we entered the central bay, we headed northward for a while, and watched this lovely J-WORLD race boat heading west.
We gybed toward the A-B span of the Bay Bridge and spotted BIG CAT, a Catalina, heading west, and quite east of us.
Closer to us, this Santana 22 was also headed west against the flood current...
.... as was this nice Beneteau.
Along the cityfront, a J105 was sailing downwind toward the Bay Bridge.
Way off to our port side, this small sailboat was trying to fly a spinnaker, but having difficulty trimming the sail, and soon socked it again, though sometime later, we saw her flying the spinnaker successfully.
The sailboat RESTLESS was heading for the Bay Bridge along with us.
A bit later, we saw that same large sailboat that we saw the day before heading out to the west.
Another sailboat passed us, heading north and sailing on the sun-sparkled bay waters.
Way over by the D tower of the Bay Bridge, this lovely Catalina was heading northward.
Some of the crew of RESTLESS were now enjoying the foredeck as she approached the Bay Bridge.
Over by the D tower, this lovely cutter-rigged sailboat, flying its tri-sail on the baby stay, was headed east.
We sailed through the A-B span of the Bay Bridge and eventually gybed to sail parallel to the bridge toward Yerba Buena, eventually heading up to sail through the D-E span and head northwestward, eventually watching this sailboat pass to port.
As we approached the central bay, we were sailing parallel to this sailboat, and within a few minutes the wind velocity began to increase damatically toward 25 knots. This sailboat was drastically overcanvassed and being pulled to weather-- luffing up its sails. We were blasting westward, sometimes with the starboard rail in the water, hoping for some wind relief north of Alcatraz.
Indeed, north of Alcatraz, the winds calmed down to about 5 knots, and we were enjoying views of Angel Island with lovely cloud patterns overhead and in the north.
We were not ghosting westward with the ebb current dragging us along in the light wind, while this Catalina was heading northward toward the lee side of Angel Island.
We continued westward until we had passed Alcatraz and then tacked to head back toward home port, joining PRIVATEER as she was also headed home.
This sailboat was heading west in the light winds north of Alcatraz.
As we approached Alcatraz, the wind velocity started to increase dramatically again, and soon we were blasting along toward home port while, behind us, the GASLIGHT was ghosting eastward in the light winds.
South of Alcatraz, winds were strong and had rolled up some big wind waves to slog through, while in the distance, the city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine.
Off to port, a VESSEL ASSIST boat was blasting eastward, probably speeding to help a a vessel in some sort of distress-- needing a tow, fuel or something.
STRAY CAT was sailing along the cityfront, heading eastward toward home.
This sailboat was heading northward in the strong wind and still quite heeled over.
BIG CAT, that Catalina that we earlier saw heading west, was now heading home along the cityfront.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering strongly in the wind of 20-25 knots.
We doused sail after passing the marina and motored into port after a few hours of varied and highly enjoyable sailing on our wonderful bay.
Michael joined us for a midafternoon sail and we left port around 3 pm.
As we entered the central bay, we headed northward for a while, and watched this lovely J-WORLD race boat heading west.
We gybed toward the A-B span of the Bay Bridge and spotted BIG CAT, a Catalina, heading west, and quite east of us.
Closer to us, this Santana 22 was also headed west against the flood current...
.... as was this nice Beneteau.
Along the cityfront, a J105 was sailing downwind toward the Bay Bridge.
Way off to our port side, this small sailboat was trying to fly a spinnaker, but having difficulty trimming the sail, and soon socked it again, though sometime later, we saw her flying the spinnaker successfully.
The sailboat RESTLESS was heading for the Bay Bridge along with us.
A bit later, we saw that same large sailboat that we saw the day before heading out to the west.
Another sailboat passed us, heading north and sailing on the sun-sparkled bay waters.
Way over by the D tower of the Bay Bridge, this lovely Catalina was heading northward.
Some of the crew of RESTLESS were now enjoying the foredeck as she approached the Bay Bridge.
Over by the D tower, this lovely cutter-rigged sailboat, flying its tri-sail on the baby stay, was headed east.
We sailed through the A-B span of the Bay Bridge and eventually gybed to sail parallel to the bridge toward Yerba Buena, eventually heading up to sail through the D-E span and head northwestward, eventually watching this sailboat pass to port.
As we approached the central bay, we were sailing parallel to this sailboat, and within a few minutes the wind velocity began to increase damatically toward 25 knots. This sailboat was drastically overcanvassed and being pulled to weather-- luffing up its sails. We were blasting westward, sometimes with the starboard rail in the water, hoping for some wind relief north of Alcatraz.
Indeed, north of Alcatraz, the winds calmed down to about 5 knots, and we were enjoying views of Angel Island with lovely cloud patterns overhead and in the north.
We were not ghosting westward with the ebb current dragging us along in the light wind, while this Catalina was heading northward toward the lee side of Angel Island.
We continued westward until we had passed Alcatraz and then tacked to head back toward home port, joining PRIVATEER as she was also headed home.
This sailboat was heading west in the light winds north of Alcatraz.
As we approached Alcatraz, the wind velocity started to increase dramatically again, and soon we were blasting along toward home port while, behind us, the GASLIGHT was ghosting eastward in the light winds.
South of Alcatraz, winds were strong and had rolled up some big wind waves to slog through, while in the distance, the city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine.
Off to port, a VESSEL ASSIST boat was blasting eastward, probably speeding to help a a vessel in some sort of distress-- needing a tow, fuel or something.
STRAY CAT was sailing along the cityfront, heading eastward toward home.
This sailboat was heading northward in the strong wind and still quite heeled over.
BIG CAT, that Catalina that we earlier saw heading west, was now heading home along the cityfront.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering strongly in the wind of 20-25 knots.
We doused sail after passing the marina and motored into port after a few hours of varied and highly enjoyable sailing on our wonderful bay.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:59 PM 
