THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 09 -- BEATING TO THE GATE IN STRONG WINDS, THEN AROUND ANGEL ISLAND AND TO THE BAY BRIDGE AT SUNSET

Thursday began with mostly overcast skies and a moderate westerly blowing. By noon, skies were mostly clear and the wind was blowing at about 10-15 knots out of the WSW. We headed out at 3 pm, raised full main just outside the marina exit, and pulled out double reefed jib as we headed toward the central bay.



Out on the central bay, the Hawaiian Chieftan was motoring east, heading for the Bay Bridge. [Sorry for the poor quality -- faulty camera setting.]




The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in that 10-15 knot breeze.

As we sailed westward, we eventually arrived at Alcatraz shoal where the winds and ebb current had rolled up some big wind waves and we had to fall off to avoid banging through them head on, and eventaully we tacked back toward the city to sail parallel to those waves. The wind kept freshening and was blowing between 15 and 20 knots as we approached the Ft. Mason piers, so I fell off to dead downwind and reefed the jib down to a hankie size before continuing to beat toward the gate.




As we approached Anita Rock, we saw that there were a number of windsurfers out on the bay enjoying the strong winds, like these kiteboarders here....




... and this sailboarder crossing in front of us as we saied westward.




We were on starboard tack sailing toward the South Tower of the GGB as thie kiteboarder was heading toward the gate...




.... and looking good as he approached the gate with the beautiful Marin Headlands behind.




We tacked to head out the gate as this sailboarder headed our way on a big board and a big sail.




We sailed out the gate about midspan with a quite strong ebb current flowing and the sun brilliantly illuminating our famous bridge.




We sailed out a short ways, enjoying our views of the bridge and the headland cliffs.




The Marin Headlands had greened up quite a bit....




....and green and colored flora was even covering portions of the cliffs.




After sailing out a short ways, we fell off and headed back inside on port tack broad reach, going fast over the water, but fighting the strong ebb current so taking quite a while to get back inside and to pass the lighthouse just inside the south tower.




The hills of the headlands above Ft. Baker are now really green in sports and the sun was still hitting the entrance to the rainbow tunnel.




After passing Horseshoe Cove, we were out of the strongest ebb current and making better headway over the bottom and I also pulled out a bit more jib for more power. I had spotted this smaller saiboat heading out from Sausalito under main only but then she gybed and pulled out her jib to full, but didn't trim it well so we quickly caught up with her.




Her three-person crew was enjoying the afternoon sunshine as we passed her.






Ahead of us, the houses on Belvedere were basking in the afternoon sunshine....




... as were the buildings on the west side of Angel Island.


The winds declined and so I pulled the jib out to full as we headed into Raccoon Straits.




We passed just to the north of the buoy off the northwest point of Angel Island with the city in the background.




The nav platform on that oit of the island needs some paint.




As we entered the western mouth of the straits, we spotted a couple of lasers playing around in front of the marina of the Corinthian YC in Tiburon.




As we ghosted down the straits, I noticed that the cliffs on Angel Island have dramatically greened up due to the recent heavy rains- great to see!




The island was beautiful as always in the afternoon sunshine.




Ahead of us, a small race boat was flying downwind under spinnaker at the northeastern mouth of the straits.




Beautiful clouds hung over the straits and in the distance Mt. Tam was enjoying clear skies.




Over by the shore of Tiburon, one of two small race boats had capsized.




We finally picked up some good winds and made good headway down the straits, passing Ayala Cove where one lonely boat was tied up at the buoy field with no boats at the small marina.

We gybed in lighter winds approaching the northeast mouth of the straits and headed for the lee side of Angel Island, reefed the jib in the lighter winds and finally headed out into the strong wind of the central bay again. The winds were not that strong and were out of west, so I pulled the jib out to full again and blasted toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.




Eventually, I spotted the sun reflecting brightly off some of the buildings of the Financial District.




As we continued on toward the Bay Bridge, the sun began to go down over the city.




We made fast headway and we soon approaching the D-E span of the Bay Bridge as sundown neared.




Sunset color developed over Telegraph Hill as we sailed under the D-E span.




Sunset color was persisting over the city and the Financial District was framed by the bridge.




I fell off to dead downwind and reefed the jib down to a hankie size before heading up to sail parallel to the bridge toward the A-B span and, after sailing under that span on starboard tack, we tacked to the north to sail along the cityfront, passing the Hills Bros Coffee building where we used to enjoy the fragrance of coffee roasting, but no more unfortunately.




Behind us, the lights on the Bay Bridge were now on....





... and city lights were brightening as sunset gave way to dusk.




Wind were variable in the lee of the city but we made quite good headway with the current now basically slack, and lights of the city were brightening all the time and it was near dark as we sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails there and get ready for landing. We then motored around the pier and into the marina, landing fine with basically slack conditions, perhaps a modicum of flood. My body was filled with the pleasure of spending 4 hours on our winderful bay in almost summer-weight winds!!!!