The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering lightly and I hoped for freshening breezes further west.
Behind us, one small sailboat was following us, while another was heading north along the shore of Yerba Buena Island.
Between the Sheets was sailing eastward and passed to starboard.
A Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming eastward, probably heading for Coast Guard Island on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary.
The city was enjoying the brilliant afternoon sunshine, though the temperatures were in the low 50s.
This lovely Tartan sailboat passed between us and the cityfront, looking good!
Her name on her transom-- Andantino.
Off to starboard, this Hunter sailboat was also heading east with a freighter steaming into the bay behind her.
Delightful Lady was her name.
A bit later, this Ranger sailboat passed between us and the city.
Look at how high out of the water the bow bulb on this inbound freighter is sticking....
... creating a large wake of about 3-4 feet.
Behind us, this sailboat was sailing close to the shore between pier 39 and pier 45.
The airship has become a regular sight now-- she passed almost directly overhead again today. Wonder how many people on board were taking our picture from above. Would like to see how beautiful we look from up there!
The buildings on the west side of Telegraph Hill were drenched in the mid-afternon sunshine as we ghosted westward against the flood current and that small sailboat that was sailing now motorsailed past us.
Off to starboard, this lovely Catalina was motorsailing to the west.
Wow! look how lightly loaded is this inbound freighter with so few containers on deck! Is this a sign of the deep recession that we are in these days?
Ahead of us, this small sailboat was also ghosting westward and we were gradually catching up with her.
I was so surprised to see a sailboarder out there in such light winds. Even with the largest sail, he was mostly drifting around. Had to be a beginner. No esperienced boarder would be out in those conditions.
That small sailboat tacked and headed north across the bay and out by the gate we spotted a couple of other sailboats.
The crew of the small boat was well bundled against the afternoon chill.
A small private plane also passed directly overhead.
With soft winds and a waning flood current, it seemed unlikely that we would be able to make it to the gate, so I decided to head to the north to try to get out far enough to the north to watch the sun go down into the ocean.
That small sailboat had tacked again and was now headed west again on starboard tack.
Fort Mason and the buildings on Russian Hill were enjoying the brilliant late afternoon sunshine.
Off in the west, the magnificent Mt. Tam was towering over the village of Sausalito, now in shadow.
That airship was now heading west on its second afternoon voyage. I wonder how many passengers they are attracting for these flights.
I eventually turned on the engine to motor for a while to the north, both to get out of the way of another inbound freighter and to get far enough north to watch the sundown.
The city was still enjoying the late sunshine.
On the north side of Alcatraz the buildings were in shadow and we found some light wind there and so turned off the engine to ghosts around for a while.
Angel Island looks especially beautiful in the late sunshine.
We were still well south of the outbound sea lane, so were well out of the way of this outbound freighter that seemed to be quite full of containers, though quite of bit of her bottom was also showing. Could our international trade deficit be getting smaller these days?
A cloud bank from the west was now moving slowly over the bay.
Here comes that airship again-- on her third trip around the bay-- the ship now colored by the setting sun.
The sun was now starting to set between the sea and the overhead cloud bank....
... as the half moon overhead started to brighten.
We caught the last rays of the sun through the gate.
A dramatic sunset began to develop shortly thereafter.
Sunset color over the sea was intense and dramatic.
Brilliant yellows and oranges near the horizon and pinks on the oerhead cloud bank.
Sunset colors also extended over the city.
Dramatic sunset color persisted in the southwest as we ghosted back toward home port, finding a bit stronger puffs south of Alcatraz.
Brilliant sunset color extended over the city while overhead clouds took on various shades of pink and blue and gray.
The brilliant color over the horizon through the gate seemed to persist an unusually long time...
... as did that over the city.
It was dark overhead as we finally approached the city shore and, overhead, the half moon was now shining brightly.
The sunset in the southwest was now beginning to fade.
I turned on the engine as we approached pier 45 and motored the rest of the way home, dousing the jib as we motored along and dousing the main after passing the marina. We motored into the marina and landed fine in the now moderate ebb current. Fortunately the surge was moderate as we landed in our slip.
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