We left port around 2:15 pm and saw this J-boat heading west on main only. We raised full main and headed out into the central bay, sailing to the northeast on main only for a while, then gybing onto starboard tack and pulling out the jib to full to head for the A-B span of the bay bridge.
The city was enjoying sunshine but the north side of Telegraph Hill was in shadow.
In the distance, south of the Bay Bridge, I spotted the Lady Washington with some of her sails still out, and hoped she was just heading out for an afternoon sail.
Off to port, a couple of sailboats were sailing north on port tack close reach.
A bit later, this cruising J-boat named TRICKSTER passed to port heading north.
Way in the north, I spotted the Hawaiian Chieftain heading south toward us with sails flying.
The Bay Bridge was gleaming in the afternoon sun as we approached the A-B span.
Unfortunately, the Lady Washington was dousing sail so we weren't going to see her under sail.
It was now 3 pm on the Ferry Building clock.
One of the arms of the bow sculpture was gleaming in the mid-afternoon sun.
South of the Bay Bridge, this small sailboat was looking good except for a fender dangling over the starboard side.
We sailed under the A-B span and enjoyed views fo the city framed by the bridge.
Several crew members of the Lady Washington were up in the rigging tying up the square topsails. I was tempted ot continue southward and get a closer view, but decided to head back to the north and rendezvous with the Chieftain.
After passing back under the A-B span, we passed the Hawaiian Chieftain now motoring toward the A-B span with all sails doused. [My feeling is that her skipper is not a true sailor when he douses sail and motors when good sailing winds are available.]
A short time late, I spotted that small sailboat again, now heading toward the city on starboard tack
Off to port, the TRICKSTER was heading back toward the Bay Bridge...
....with her solo skipper enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
A tanker heading for the south bay and passing through the D-E span of the Bay Bridge was being escorted by a Coast Guard patrol boat.
This small sailboat was heading for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.
The winds had freshened and soon we were blastsing across the main bay heading toward the lee side of Angel Island on a course to put us way east of the island to stay out of the strong ebb current. When we arrived to the east of Angel Island, I spotted this sailboat heading east.
This sailboat ahead of us was heading toward Raccoon Straits.
We sailed past the platform at Southhampton Shoal and I decided to continue on toward the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and possible complete another three
As we continued sailing northward, we eventually were able to see the Golden Gate Bridge through Raccoon Straits.
I kept looking for a Vallejo ferry to come swooping past, and eventually spotted this one heading south. I decided to head for the western span of the RSR bridge, west of Red Rock, even though I knew the ebb current would be stronger there.
We managed to sail a little bit past Red Rock, but then the breeze softened and we were barely making any headway against the still strong ebb current, probably supplemented by the runoff from recent rains, and so probably flow at 3 knots or so. I decided to give up on sailing under the RSR bridge and headed back toward Raccoon Straits. It had taken us about a 40 minutes to sail from Raccoon Straits to this point near Red Rock.
We sailed back toward Raccoon Straits on starboard tack close reach, going fast with the current and a good breeze, while the sun went down behind the Tiburon Headlands....
... and we arrived at the mouth of Raccoon Straits in about 20 mintues.
We headed into the straits, where winds appeared to be light, but then I changed course and headed down the lee side of Angel Island, hoping to catch the sundown or sunset through the gate, meanwhile, watching the sundown over Tiburon.
We sailed past the historic immigration station buildings on Angel Island, making good headway in light winds but strong current.
Winds were now southwest on the central bay so we had to harden in the sails and sail on close reach starboard tack, making good headway and watching the sunset develop through the gate.
The sunset persisted for a while, and we watchd it as we sailed between Alcatraz and the cityfront.
City lights were brightening at dusk as we approached the cityfront.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and get ready for landing. It was twilight and city lights were bright as we headed around pier 35 toward the entrance to the marina. It was a great outing and so nice to be out on the bay for the second day in a row.
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