Thursday began with sunny skies and little or no breeze. A nice breeze came up midafternoon and so we headed out for a sunset sail around 4:30 pm. I raised full main just outside the marina exit and then headed out toward the central bay pulling the jib out to full as we motored along.
Once out in the central bay, we headed west on the southwest breeze while noticiing this sailboat heading north along the west shore of Treasure Island.
As we sailed past the end of pier 39, we noted that the flags there were fluttering moderately in a breeze of just a few knots.
We tacked into the lee of pier 45 and then tacked to the west again, leaving behind the city basking in late afternoon sunshine and clear air.
In front of us, this sailboat was crossing the bay from the north.
As we continued westward, that same sailboat had come about near the shore and was heading back toward Sausalito.
Behind us, Alcatraz was also drenched in sunshine.
That sailboat heading toward Sausalito came closer....
... as did a Hunter sailboat approaching from the north....
... and passed behind us, crossing between us and Alcatraz.
I spotted the HAWAIAN CHIEFTAN and the LADY WASHINGTON sailing down the cityfront and tacked to get a bit closer, the LADY WASHINGTON having already having doused its main sail.
The HAWAIAN CHIEFTAIN still had full canvas as she sailed eastward....
...but soon began dousing sails also.....
.... as did the LADY WASHINGTON.
I hope we will see these ships out on the bay this weekend and get closer to them to watch them engaging in mock sea battles.
Along the shore, a fleet of small sailboats were practicing sailing skills.
That oft-present airship passed us, heading for the gate.
Off in the north, this sailboat was heading toward Sausalito.
I spotted this small sailboat flying her kite and tacked back toward the shore to get some closer shots.
This sailboat, a Santana 22, was looking GREAT as she approached us....
... and passed to starboard....
...with her crew enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.
We sailed past this menacing timber in the water off starboard, an eight foot length shoing above the water and to the right of that another of equal or greater length mostly submerged. I called the Coast Guard to report this navigation hazzard and the Coastie taking the report said they would broadcast an advistory, but I never heard one come on the air.
Ahead of us, this lovely Catalina was heading toward the gate.
We tacked back to the west again to get in position to watch the sundown through the gate, initially catching the sun setting over Ft. Point.
This inbound bulk carrier was heading for the deep water channel.
The sun went down into the thick cloud bank in the west as that Catalina sailed back across the gate, heading back toward home port.
We did some wing and wing and some gybing back and forth to head for home port as the skies darkened and city lights began to brighten on shore.
It was almost dark as we approached pier 39 and city lights were now bright against the dark sky.
I doused sails in front of pier 39 and then motored toward the marina entrance while preparing for landing. Lights on Coit Tower were bright as we headed for the marina entrance.
We landed fine in the slip-- playing the flood current by going in high and letting it push us back into the slip. It was great to get out on the bay for the first time this week, especially since more rain is expected over the next few days.
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