Monday, December 03, 2007
SUNDAY, 2 DEC. 07-- SAILING WITH OLIVIER AND BROOKE ON CORTO MALTESE-- TO THE GATE AND BACK
Olivier and Brooke had already left port and were sailing over by Blossom Rock when I returned his earlier phone call, but offered to come back into port to pick me up if I wanted to join them for their outing. I arranged to meet them on the end of D dock and hustled to get ready to go over there for the rendezvous.
A nice easterly wind was blowing and skies were overcast as we left port.
We raised single reef main and pulled out a reefed jib and headed north with the overcast financial district receding behind us and the strong winds of the morning had rolled up some big wind waves that were on the beam of Corto Maltese and rocking us around.
The Islander 36 named Tenacious passed aft, sailing under main only.
The crew of Tenacious was well-bundled-up against the windy chill of the afternoon.
Brooke was at the helm as we blasted northward toward the lee side of Angel island.
As we passed the lee side of Alcatraz, a nice sailboat named SERENDIPITY passed to port, also sailing main only.
Off to starboard, a skiff-rigged small catamaran named ICATOR blasted past. Note that this boat has what appears to be a buoyancy bomb on the top of the mast as well as some anti-flip flaps on both the port an starboard sides, amidship-- probably to avoid a complete turtling of the boat if she flips, making her easier to right.
Behind us, a lovely J109 was blasting eastward with the port rail in the water.
A Catalina named ADVENTURE was heading toward the gate on port tack.
We eventually tacked and headed toward the gate on port tack close reach, and enjoyed watching this lovely traditional wooden ketch blasting past to starboard.
A bit later, this small sailboat passed, heading toward Raccoon Straits.
We had good winds all the way to just outside Horseshoe Cove, and on the way we passed this lovely dark-hulled Beneteau.
The Golden Gate Bridge was standing under overcast skies with some bright areas further in the south.
Winds near the gate were light and variable in direction and we had to tack several times before we were finally able to shoot the gate, and watching a freighter entering the bay with what looked like some giant propeller blades stacked on the bow.
We lingered in the light winds outside the gate, enjoying views of the bridge and the headlands and hoping for a freshening breeze that might enable us to sail out to Pt. Bonita, but with no luck, so we came about and headed back inside the gate.
A bit of blue sky showed itself in the southeast as we ghosted back toward the gate with some light flood current assist.
About a half mile inside the gate, we picked up the same strong southeaterly breeze that took us most of the way to the gate, and were soon blasting eastward while watching some brightening sky in the southeast and some dingies playing around near the shore.
Behind us, some lightening sky in the south created a lovely pattern of light and dark in the sky and on the sea surface.
A small flock of pelicans flew past close to the surface of the bay.
The city was still under overcast skies as we sailed past Aquatic Park.
We had to tack a couple of times but were soon passing pier 35, and watching this J120 raise her main and head out for a late afternoon sail, while another sallboat was sailing into the lee of pier 33.
As we headed into the lee of pier 33 to douse sails, this old gaff rigged small sailboat passed, heading downwind on the southeasterly breeze.
It was great to spend a few hours on the bay for the third day in a row.
Olivier and Brooke had already left port and were sailing over by Blossom Rock when I returned his earlier phone call, but offered to come back into port to pick me up if I wanted to join them for their outing. I arranged to meet them on the end of D dock and hustled to get ready to go over there for the rendezvous.
A nice easterly wind was blowing and skies were overcast as we left port.
We raised single reef main and pulled out a reefed jib and headed north with the overcast financial district receding behind us and the strong winds of the morning had rolled up some big wind waves that were on the beam of Corto Maltese and rocking us around.
The Islander 36 named Tenacious passed aft, sailing under main only.
The crew of Tenacious was well-bundled-up against the windy chill of the afternoon.
Brooke was at the helm as we blasted northward toward the lee side of Angel island.
As we passed the lee side of Alcatraz, a nice sailboat named SERENDIPITY passed to port, also sailing main only.
Off to starboard, a skiff-rigged small catamaran named ICATOR blasted past. Note that this boat has what appears to be a buoyancy bomb on the top of the mast as well as some anti-flip flaps on both the port an starboard sides, amidship-- probably to avoid a complete turtling of the boat if she flips, making her easier to right.
Behind us, a lovely J109 was blasting eastward with the port rail in the water.
A Catalina named ADVENTURE was heading toward the gate on port tack.
We eventually tacked and headed toward the gate on port tack close reach, and enjoyed watching this lovely traditional wooden ketch blasting past to starboard.
A bit later, this small sailboat passed, heading toward Raccoon Straits.
We had good winds all the way to just outside Horseshoe Cove, and on the way we passed this lovely dark-hulled Beneteau.
The Golden Gate Bridge was standing under overcast skies with some bright areas further in the south.
Winds near the gate were light and variable in direction and we had to tack several times before we were finally able to shoot the gate, and watching a freighter entering the bay with what looked like some giant propeller blades stacked on the bow.
We lingered in the light winds outside the gate, enjoying views of the bridge and the headlands and hoping for a freshening breeze that might enable us to sail out to Pt. Bonita, but with no luck, so we came about and headed back inside the gate.
A bit of blue sky showed itself in the southeast as we ghosted back toward the gate with some light flood current assist.
About a half mile inside the gate, we picked up the same strong southeaterly breeze that took us most of the way to the gate, and were soon blasting eastward while watching some brightening sky in the southeast and some dingies playing around near the shore.
Behind us, some lightening sky in the south created a lovely pattern of light and dark in the sky and on the sea surface.
A small flock of pelicans flew past close to the surface of the bay.
The city was still under overcast skies as we sailed past Aquatic Park.
We had to tack a couple of times but were soon passing pier 35, and watching this J120 raise her main and head out for a late afternoon sail, while another sallboat was sailing into the lee of pier 33.
As we headed into the lee of pier 33 to douse sails, this old gaff rigged small sailboat passed, heading downwind on the southeasterly breeze.
It was great to spend a few hours on the bay for the third day in a row.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 10:35 PM 
