Tuesday, January 01, 2008
MONDAY, 31 DEC. 07-- WONDERFUL SUNSET SAIL -- BEAUTIFUL SUNSET
The day was sunny and cool, with a northeasterly wind blowing in the morning, then dying out in the early afternoon and finally freshening up again mid-afternoon.
When we headed out about 3 pm, only a light northeasterly was blowing, but the forecast was for freshening winds. This was our 175th sailing outing of 2007.
We headed out into the central bay and watched this sailboat heading east toward the Bay Bridge.
We headed west on a broad reach starboard tack and watched as this Islander sailboat blasted northward on a close reach starboard tack.
Pier 39 flags were fluttering more strongly as we passed with the wind freshening.
As we continued westward toward the gate, we enjoyed watching the city enjoying the clear air and brilliant sunshine.
Behind us, a lovely Beneteau was sailing northward on the choppy sea surface due to the flood current and long fetch out of the north.
In front of us, RAZZBERRY was blasting across the bay on close reach starboard tack in a breeze that now was blowing about 15 knots.
A bit later, VALENTINE crossed in front of us, also heading north across the bay.
Just off the south shore of Alcatraz, another sailboat was headed west.
Between us and the gate, this small sailboat was in the process of trimming sail after tacking to the north.
Over by Angel Island, a number of sailboats were enjoying the good winds-- the charter sloop RUBY was among them.
The city's hills-- Russian, Nob, and Pacific Heights-- were enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
As we continued west toward the gate, I wondered if we would see any wind or kite surfers, and sure enough, a lone windsurfer was out there, enjoying the 15-20 knot winds.
The LAURIE-EM, a center cockpit cutter out of pier 39, was motoring toward the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands were vivid and beautiful in the clear air and brilliant late sunshine.
We sailed out the gate just north of the south tower, watching the surf hitting the shore near Fort Point. Didn't see any surfers there, but it's likely that there were some enjoying the surfing waves.
As we sailed out the gate, a large container ship was steaming out at the same time.
Outside the gate, this lovely cutter sailboat was heading back toward the gate.
We tacked and headed back toward the gate, sailing north, and then tacking before we hit the large wake of that freighter and sailing inside the gate to the southeast, then tacked to the north again and watched as this sailboat was crossing the bay in the opposite direction.
The sun was reflecting off the base of the north tower as we sailed north toward Richardson Bay.
That cutter had tacked to the southeast also, and then tacked inside the gate toward Horseshoe Cove.
As we continued northward, the sun was starting to drop down behind the cloud bank in the west.
The Golden Gate Bridge was standing proud near sundown.
Ahead of us, jet contrails made an X in the sky-- the sign of a kiss-- perhaps a good omen for the new year to come.
We continued northward in softening breeze, putting on foulie pants to keep warm as the temperature dropped nearing sundown, then we tacked and headed back toward the central bay, eventually being passed by that same cutter sailboat that was now heading toward Sausalito.
The city ahead of us was enjoying the last rays of the setting sun.
As we sailed toward home port on close reach port tack, we were watching as the sun began to set through the gate.
We tacked back to the west to enable us to continue to watch the sundown through the gate.
The last sun rays were filling the sky above with golden light.
We headed back toward home port to watch the sunset at it developed through and over the gate, the city and the headlands.
The brilliant sunset colors soon intensified-- the sky seemed to be on fire.
The sunset color on the underside of the clouds was like a deeply dyed carpet.
The sunset persisted for many minutes as he blasted toward home port in the good breeze.
Eventually, the sunset color began to fade toward the horizon, but retaining its vividness.
City lights began to brighten against the dusky sky.
As we approached home port, in darkening skies, the city lights were gleaming.
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The day was sunny and cool, with a northeasterly wind blowing in the morning, then dying out in the early afternoon and finally freshening up again mid-afternoon.
When we headed out about 3 pm, only a light northeasterly was blowing, but the forecast was for freshening winds. This was our 175th sailing outing of 2007.
We headed out into the central bay and watched this sailboat heading east toward the Bay Bridge.
We headed west on a broad reach starboard tack and watched as this Islander sailboat blasted northward on a close reach starboard tack.
Pier 39 flags were fluttering more strongly as we passed with the wind freshening.
As we continued westward toward the gate, we enjoyed watching the city enjoying the clear air and brilliant sunshine.
Behind us, a lovely Beneteau was sailing northward on the choppy sea surface due to the flood current and long fetch out of the north.
In front of us, RAZZBERRY was blasting across the bay on close reach starboard tack in a breeze that now was blowing about 15 knots.
A bit later, VALENTINE crossed in front of us, also heading north across the bay.
Just off the south shore of Alcatraz, another sailboat was headed west.
Between us and the gate, this small sailboat was in the process of trimming sail after tacking to the north.
Over by Angel Island, a number of sailboats were enjoying the good winds-- the charter sloop RUBY was among them.
The city's hills-- Russian, Nob, and Pacific Heights-- were enjoying the brilliant sunshine.
As we continued west toward the gate, I wondered if we would see any wind or kite surfers, and sure enough, a lone windsurfer was out there, enjoying the 15-20 knot winds.
The LAURIE-EM, a center cockpit cutter out of pier 39, was motoring toward the gate.
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands were vivid and beautiful in the clear air and brilliant late sunshine.
We sailed out the gate just north of the south tower, watching the surf hitting the shore near Fort Point. Didn't see any surfers there, but it's likely that there were some enjoying the surfing waves.
As we sailed out the gate, a large container ship was steaming out at the same time.
Outside the gate, this lovely cutter sailboat was heading back toward the gate.
We tacked and headed back toward the gate, sailing north, and then tacking before we hit the large wake of that freighter and sailing inside the gate to the southeast, then tacked to the north again and watched as this sailboat was crossing the bay in the opposite direction.
The sun was reflecting off the base of the north tower as we sailed north toward Richardson Bay.
That cutter had tacked to the southeast also, and then tacked inside the gate toward Horseshoe Cove.
As we continued northward, the sun was starting to drop down behind the cloud bank in the west.
The Golden Gate Bridge was standing proud near sundown.
Ahead of us, jet contrails made an X in the sky-- the sign of a kiss-- perhaps a good omen for the new year to come.
We continued northward in softening breeze, putting on foulie pants to keep warm as the temperature dropped nearing sundown, then we tacked and headed back toward the central bay, eventually being passed by that same cutter sailboat that was now heading toward Sausalito.
The city ahead of us was enjoying the last rays of the setting sun.
As we sailed toward home port on close reach port tack, we were watching as the sun began to set through the gate.
We tacked back to the west to enable us to continue to watch the sundown through the gate.
The last sun rays were filling the sky above with golden light.
We headed back toward home port to watch the sunset at it developed through and over the gate, the city and the headlands.
The brilliant sunset colors soon intensified-- the sky seemed to be on fire.
The sunset color on the underside of the clouds was like a deeply dyed carpet.
The sunset persisted for many minutes as he blasted toward home port in the good breeze.
Eventually, the sunset color began to fade toward the horizon, but retaining its vividness.
City lights began to brighten against the dusky sky.
As we approached home port, in darkening skies, the city lights were gleaming.
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