Friday, November 02, 2007
THURSDAY, 1 NOV. 07-- HEAVY FOG POURING THROUGH THE GATE
We headed out at about 4 pm for a late afternoon and sunset sail, hoping to be able to make it to the gate and back and to watch the sundown in the ocean through the gate.
Winds were moderate as we left port, but seemed to be freshening a bit.
As we headed out into the cental bay, we noticed this sailboat in the northeast, sailing downwind along a finger of fog swooping into the bay.
Down by the Bay Bridge, another sailboat was heading southward.
Directly ahead of us, a large tanker heading for the southbay was dragging a tug boat behind her.
Out in the west, the fog finger was obscuring most of the gate--- another odd late season fog.
Here is a video of the fog finger invading the bay.
Alcatraz was partally obscurred by the fog finger flowing over the island.
These two sailboats were near the east shore of the island.
This Tartan, named EGRET, passed us to starboard as we sailed toward Alcatraz....
....with the skipper on the foredeck, perhaps rigging the jib sheets for unfurling her jib.
In the northeast, this tanker out of the south bay, was heading into the fog finger and about to disappear, with its fog horn blaring every 15 seconds or so.
We heard a fog horn blaring in the west, though no freighter was yet visible, so we tacked back toward the cityfront to make sure to be out of her way, but when she came out of the fog, she was heading right for us, but slow enough that we could easily sail clear of her without her blaring a warning at us.
This Islander, named LADY J, was heading downwind, sailing past the pier 39 marina.
The city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine as we tacked away to the west again.
Alcatraz was almost totally obscured by the fog finger at this time....
....but a short time later, the island was coming out of the fog again for a while.
Off in the northeast, a lovely large sailboat with a dark hull, was coming out of the fog bank, heading south.
A short time later, Alcatraz was disappearing into the fog again.
We continued beating westward against the moderate flood current, staying in the sunshine and clear air as the city continued to enjoy the brilliant sunshine and clear air.
At the entrance to the San Francisco Marina, we spotted several dingys with teenagers aboard practicing their sailing skills.
Eventually, as we continued beating westward, the sun was being swallowed up by the fog.
Way behind us, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was headed out for a sunset sail, soon to be swallowed up by the fog as she neared Alcatraz.
As we arrived under the fog bank, just west of the St. Francis Yacht Club, we continued tacking westward for a while, hoping the fog might lift, but it didn't, so we came about and headed back toward home port as telegraph hill continued to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.
That same Tartan sailboat, the EGRET, was now heading for the cityfront on starboard tack.
The sun was going down behind the thick fog bank and illuminating the top of the fog bank.
The motor yacht POTOMAC was steaming westward toward the fog, but soon turned to starboard and made a U turn to stay out of the fog.
EGRET passed us to port, heading toward the fog bank on a port tack....
...and eventually tacking onto starboard tack to sail toward the cityfront again.
A herring boat was running around just outside the cove at Aquatic Park.
The city was seeing the last of the setting sun on the tall financial district as we sailed past pier 41.
A large flock of pelicans was swooping westward against the sunset sky.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then readied for landing with fenders and dock lines before motoring into port as dusk was settling over the city. We enjoyed our couple of hours on the bay, even though the fog prevented us from reaching the gate and watching the sun go down through the gate.
We headed out at about 4 pm for a late afternoon and sunset sail, hoping to be able to make it to the gate and back and to watch the sundown in the ocean through the gate.
Winds were moderate as we left port, but seemed to be freshening a bit.
As we headed out into the cental bay, we noticed this sailboat in the northeast, sailing downwind along a finger of fog swooping into the bay.
Down by the Bay Bridge, another sailboat was heading southward.
Directly ahead of us, a large tanker heading for the southbay was dragging a tug boat behind her.
Out in the west, the fog finger was obscuring most of the gate--- another odd late season fog.
Here is a video of the fog finger invading the bay.
Alcatraz was partally obscurred by the fog finger flowing over the island.
These two sailboats were near the east shore of the island.
This Tartan, named EGRET, passed us to starboard as we sailed toward Alcatraz....
....with the skipper on the foredeck, perhaps rigging the jib sheets for unfurling her jib.
In the northeast, this tanker out of the south bay, was heading into the fog finger and about to disappear, with its fog horn blaring every 15 seconds or so.
We heard a fog horn blaring in the west, though no freighter was yet visible, so we tacked back toward the cityfront to make sure to be out of her way, but when she came out of the fog, she was heading right for us, but slow enough that we could easily sail clear of her without her blaring a warning at us.
This Islander, named LADY J, was heading downwind, sailing past the pier 39 marina.
The city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine as we tacked away to the west again.
Alcatraz was almost totally obscured by the fog finger at this time....
....but a short time later, the island was coming out of the fog again for a while.
Off in the northeast, a lovely large sailboat with a dark hull, was coming out of the fog bank, heading south.
A short time later, Alcatraz was disappearing into the fog again.
We continued beating westward against the moderate flood current, staying in the sunshine and clear air as the city continued to enjoy the brilliant sunshine and clear air.
At the entrance to the San Francisco Marina, we spotted several dingys with teenagers aboard practicing their sailing skills.
Eventually, as we continued beating westward, the sun was being swallowed up by the fog.
Way behind us, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was headed out for a sunset sail, soon to be swallowed up by the fog as she neared Alcatraz.
As we arrived under the fog bank, just west of the St. Francis Yacht Club, we continued tacking westward for a while, hoping the fog might lift, but it didn't, so we came about and headed back toward home port as telegraph hill continued to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.
That same Tartan sailboat, the EGRET, was now heading for the cityfront on starboard tack.
The sun was going down behind the thick fog bank and illuminating the top of the fog bank.
The motor yacht POTOMAC was steaming westward toward the fog, but soon turned to starboard and made a U turn to stay out of the fog.
EGRET passed us to port, heading toward the fog bank on a port tack....
...and eventually tacking onto starboard tack to sail toward the cityfront again.
A herring boat was running around just outside the cove at Aquatic Park.
The city was seeing the last of the setting sun on the tall financial district as we sailed past pier 41.
A large flock of pelicans was swooping westward against the sunset sky.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots as we passed.
We doused sail after passing the marina and then readied for landing with fenders and dock lines before motoring into port as dusk was settling over the city. We enjoyed our couple of hours on the bay, even though the fog prevented us from reaching the gate and watching the sun go down through the gate.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 12:11 AM 
