Saturday, December 01, 2007
FRIDAY, 30 NOV. 07-- NICE SAILING TO THE GATE AND BACK AND A BEAUTIFUL SUNDOWN!
We headed out about 1:30 pm, with Bob from Kentfield, joining us again, for our 10th and last outing of the month of November-- far fewer than our usual 16 outings due to the oil spill event and lack of wind on some of our usual sailing days.
A light breeze of less than 5 knots was blowing as we headed out of port, but we had brilliant sunshine and tidal currents on the bay were light-- starting with a flood current that would turn to ebb around sunset.
PRIVATEER, the charter ketch from F dock, had steamed out of port ahead of us, put up full canvas, including the mizzen sail that is not deployed when winds are strong, and was heading west, looking good!
We also headed west on the southwest breeze with the flood current pushing us northward, sailed to near the shore of Alcatraz then tacked back toward the city, and tacked away to the west again as we approached the shore, the city behind us enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
As we sailed westward on close-hauled port tack, this lovely dark hulled sailboat was sailing downwind past the southern shore of Alcatraz.
A spill chaser boat with an odd looking bow sructure was steaming toward the city at high velocity for some unknown reason.
As we sailed westward, we began to approach a large inbound freighter that was just ghosting eastward and forced us to tack back toward the cityfront again.
When once again back sailing westward on port tack, we saw PRIVATEER already heading home and sailing along the south shore of Alcatraz.
The city always looks so beautiful from a distance, out on the water, on a clear sunny afternoon!
As we continued westward, a Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming toward the gate, passing us to starboard....
.... and in the west, we spotted this lovely Folkboat, sailing downwind to the north.
Behind us, a small sailboat, sailing main only, was now passing the south shore of Alcatraz...
... and a short time later, we spotted that same Folkboat heading on that same course-- they probably gybed onto starboard tack broad reach to head east.
We sailed westward to a point just west of Harding Rock and then tacked back to the south again as the winds in that region were softer, and we sailed past this sand dredge that was just about full and ready to head back to port.
A bit later, we spotted this lovely sailboat flying a rainbow colored asymmetrical spinnaker heading downwind and back from the gate.
Over by the shore, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was making one of its last runs of the season and heading home after a trip to the gate.
A bit later, we spotted the MetLife blimp heading our way from the north.
Winds in the south half of the bay had freshened to over 10 knots and we were soon making great headway on starboard tack, sailing to just inside the Blackaller buoy off the shoreline, where we had a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the headlands behind.
We tacked onto port tack and headed for the gate, pointing toward center span as this tourist helicopter shot the gate, diving under the bridge deck.
Residual flood current and a wind shift to more westerly forced us to sail to just inside the north tower of the bridge and from there we tacked onto starboard tack and headed out the gate near midspan.
The bridge and the headlands with its part sunkissed and part shaded cliff regions are breathtakingly beautiful! We never tire of experiencing these remarkable sights!
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, eventually encountering this small sailboat off starboard and heading for the gate.
A bit later, we spotted this Cal 25 sailing southward toward the gate and passing Horseshoe Cove and the buildings of Ft. Baker.
We thought she would probably shoot the gate, but not so... she denied herself that pleasure and retreated back toward Horseshoe Cove.
A small catamaran was also heading for the gate, but we later saw here just outside Horseshoe Cove, pointed into the wind with sails flogging-- so what gives with this chickening out on shooting the gate?
We were sailing to the northeast waiting for an outbound freighter to pass so we could head more to the north to await the sundown, and spotted that same Folkboat heading back toward her home port, the SF marina.
A small flock of pelicans flew past. We are seeing fewer and fewer as winter nears and soon there will be no more until next spring.
As we sailed northward, this lovely dark-hulled sailboat passed us to port, and a bit later a Coast Guard patrol boat, heading west, veered off to approach us, making us wonder if they intended to board us for a safety inspection, but they steererd away again, and were just playing around in the area-- just having fun out there????
As we continued to the north, awaiting sundown, another dark-hulled sailboat, flying spinnaker only, approached from our port side.
We eventually gybed and headed back toward home port, and with a couple of maneuvers, managed to position ourselves to watch the sundown into a fog bank on the horizon at about mid-span of the bridge.
Eventually, only the top region of the fog bank was illuminated by the sun as the sky above took on a dusky marmalade color.
A bit later, we spotted that spinnaker only sailboat heading back toward Sausalito, now flying jib only.
As skies darkened after sundown, city lights came up to create another magical evening on the bay.
Dusk gave way to twilight as we ghosted toward home port and city lights brightened on shore.
As we neared home port, skies were dark and city lights gleamed!
We doused sail after passing the marina, readied for landing and motored into port, landing nicely in a light ebb current and very pleased with having spent four delightful hours on our beautiful bay.
We headed out about 1:30 pm, with Bob from Kentfield, joining us again, for our 10th and last outing of the month of November-- far fewer than our usual 16 outings due to the oil spill event and lack of wind on some of our usual sailing days.
A light breeze of less than 5 knots was blowing as we headed out of port, but we had brilliant sunshine and tidal currents on the bay were light-- starting with a flood current that would turn to ebb around sunset.
PRIVATEER, the charter ketch from F dock, had steamed out of port ahead of us, put up full canvas, including the mizzen sail that is not deployed when winds are strong, and was heading west, looking good!
We also headed west on the southwest breeze with the flood current pushing us northward, sailed to near the shore of Alcatraz then tacked back toward the city, and tacked away to the west again as we approached the shore, the city behind us enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
As we sailed westward on close-hauled port tack, this lovely dark hulled sailboat was sailing downwind past the southern shore of Alcatraz.
A spill chaser boat with an odd looking bow sructure was steaming toward the city at high velocity for some unknown reason.
As we sailed westward, we began to approach a large inbound freighter that was just ghosting eastward and forced us to tack back toward the cityfront again.
When once again back sailing westward on port tack, we saw PRIVATEER already heading home and sailing along the south shore of Alcatraz.
The city always looks so beautiful from a distance, out on the water, on a clear sunny afternoon!
As we continued westward, a Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming toward the gate, passing us to starboard....
.... and in the west, we spotted this lovely Folkboat, sailing downwind to the north.
Behind us, a small sailboat, sailing main only, was now passing the south shore of Alcatraz...
... and a short time later, we spotted that same Folkboat heading on that same course-- they probably gybed onto starboard tack broad reach to head east.
We sailed westward to a point just west of Harding Rock and then tacked back to the south again as the winds in that region were softer, and we sailed past this sand dredge that was just about full and ready to head back to port.
A bit later, we spotted this lovely sailboat flying a rainbow colored asymmetrical spinnaker heading downwind and back from the gate.
Over by the shore, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was making one of its last runs of the season and heading home after a trip to the gate.
A bit later, we spotted the MetLife blimp heading our way from the north.
Winds in the south half of the bay had freshened to over 10 knots and we were soon making great headway on starboard tack, sailing to just inside the Blackaller buoy off the shoreline, where we had a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the headlands behind.
We tacked onto port tack and headed for the gate, pointing toward center span as this tourist helicopter shot the gate, diving under the bridge deck.
Residual flood current and a wind shift to more westerly forced us to sail to just inside the north tower of the bridge and from there we tacked onto starboard tack and headed out the gate near midspan.
The bridge and the headlands with its part sunkissed and part shaded cliff regions are breathtakingly beautiful! We never tire of experiencing these remarkable sights!
We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, eventually encountering this small sailboat off starboard and heading for the gate.
A bit later, we spotted this Cal 25 sailing southward toward the gate and passing Horseshoe Cove and the buildings of Ft. Baker.
We thought she would probably shoot the gate, but not so... she denied herself that pleasure and retreated back toward Horseshoe Cove.
A small catamaran was also heading for the gate, but we later saw here just outside Horseshoe Cove, pointed into the wind with sails flogging-- so what gives with this chickening out on shooting the gate?
We were sailing to the northeast waiting for an outbound freighter to pass so we could head more to the north to await the sundown, and spotted that same Folkboat heading back toward her home port, the SF marina.
A small flock of pelicans flew past. We are seeing fewer and fewer as winter nears and soon there will be no more until next spring.
As we sailed northward, this lovely dark-hulled sailboat passed us to port, and a bit later a Coast Guard patrol boat, heading west, veered off to approach us, making us wonder if they intended to board us for a safety inspection, but they steererd away again, and were just playing around in the area-- just having fun out there????
As we continued to the north, awaiting sundown, another dark-hulled sailboat, flying spinnaker only, approached from our port side.
We eventually gybed and headed back toward home port, and with a couple of maneuvers, managed to position ourselves to watch the sundown into a fog bank on the horizon at about mid-span of the bridge.
Eventually, only the top region of the fog bank was illuminated by the sun as the sky above took on a dusky marmalade color.
A bit later, we spotted that spinnaker only sailboat heading back toward Sausalito, now flying jib only.
As skies darkened after sundown, city lights came up to create another magical evening on the bay.
Dusk gave way to twilight as we ghosted toward home port and city lights brightened on shore.
As we neared home port, skies were dark and city lights gleamed!
We doused sail after passing the marina, readied for landing and motored into port, landing nicely in a light ebb current and very pleased with having spent four delightful hours on our beautiful bay.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:40 AM 
