Wednesday, December 12, 2007
TUESDAY, 11 NOV. 07-- SHORT SAIL TOWARD THE BAY BRIDGE
A very strong northerly wind overnight had us rocking in the marina, but with morning light the wind started moderating. Michael joined us and we headed out for a few hours of sailing about 12:30 pm.
As we left port, the northeasterly breeze was blowing at about 5 knots or so.
Once out on the central bay, we headed east toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and watched as FULL TILT was sailing westward on a broad reach starboard tack, while we were on a close reach port tack. The fall and winter winds give us a nice variety of wind directions and sailing conditions.
As we continued on toward the east in a breeze that had freshened up to about 10 knots, we spotted this islander 36 blasting westward past the shore of Yerba Buena Island, sailing with the waxing ebb current, and looking good!
Later, we spotted this blue-hulled sailboat headed west with the current and also looking good.
With the sun in the southwest, the financial district buildings were mostly in shadow at this time of day, and some thn clouds covered portions of the city and the bay.
As we approached the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, we could see a barge positioned next to the Delta tower base in the shadow of the bridge-- apparently repairing the damage to the wooden fendering that the Cosco Busan had shattered during its sideswiping of the tower. Incidentally, the SF bar pilot in charge of the ship has had his license yanked finally after this last, and most serious, of several piloting blunders.
The breeze declined in the lee of Yerba Buena island and, after several attempts of gybing back and forth, and getting a few puffs that would give us some headway against the current, we gave up on sailing through the D-E span and around Treasure island, and headed back toward the cityfront on broad reach starboard tack, eventually watching as the little blue hulled sailboat was retreating eastward.
She also got stalled out in the stronger current along the shore of Yerba Buena and probably had to begin motoring to make headway against the current.
We headed up, hardened in the sail and headed for home port with the ebb current assisting our progress, so that on that one tack and quite soon we were in the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and prepare for landing. It was an enjoyable few hours on the bay, even though we didn't manage to sail as far as we would have liked.
A very strong northerly wind overnight had us rocking in the marina, but with morning light the wind started moderating. Michael joined us and we headed out for a few hours of sailing about 12:30 pm.
As we left port, the northeasterly breeze was blowing at about 5 knots or so.
Once out on the central bay, we headed east toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and watched as FULL TILT was sailing westward on a broad reach starboard tack, while we were on a close reach port tack. The fall and winter winds give us a nice variety of wind directions and sailing conditions.
As we continued on toward the east in a breeze that had freshened up to about 10 knots, we spotted this islander 36 blasting westward past the shore of Yerba Buena Island, sailing with the waxing ebb current, and looking good!
Later, we spotted this blue-hulled sailboat headed west with the current and also looking good.
With the sun in the southwest, the financial district buildings were mostly in shadow at this time of day, and some thn clouds covered portions of the city and the bay.
As we approached the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, we could see a barge positioned next to the Delta tower base in the shadow of the bridge-- apparently repairing the damage to the wooden fendering that the Cosco Busan had shattered during its sideswiping of the tower. Incidentally, the SF bar pilot in charge of the ship has had his license yanked finally after this last, and most serious, of several piloting blunders.
The breeze declined in the lee of Yerba Buena island and, after several attempts of gybing back and forth, and getting a few puffs that would give us some headway against the current, we gave up on sailing through the D-E span and around Treasure island, and headed back toward the cityfront on broad reach starboard tack, eventually watching as the little blue hulled sailboat was retreating eastward.
She also got stalled out in the stronger current along the shore of Yerba Buena and probably had to begin motoring to make headway against the current.
We headed up, hardened in the sail and headed for home port with the ebb current assisting our progress, so that on that one tack and quite soon we were in the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and prepare for landing. It was an enjoyable few hours on the bay, even though we didn't manage to sail as far as we would have liked.
# posted by charlie bergstedt @ 2:47 PM 
