Out on the central bay, we found some sailboat company out there, like this smaller sailboat about a quarter mile east of us.
Ahead of us, this ketch was heading northeast.
We sailed out toward Alcatraz for a while and then tacked to head for the lee of pier 45, passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a breeze of 4 or 5 knots.
Off in the west, this Melges race boat was sailing downwind on starboard tack broad reach.
We tacked after passing the west marina seawall and headed west again, sailing away from the city that was drenched in sunshine.
In front of us, this saiboat with a blue and white striped genoa was sailing past the south shore of Alcatraz.
As we continued westward, we spotted that Melges sailboat now sailing westward on port tack close reach.
As we approached the south shore of Alcatraz, I noticed this small building on the southeast side-- one that I can't recall noticing before. But, it needs paint and looks like it has been there for a long time. I wonder what was the function of this building while the island was a prison.
On the other hand, this building on the island looks brand new, or else newly painted. Perhaps it's a shed for construction work being done on some of the historic buildings.
This ramp leading to the building with wondows removed looks like it could be new as well.
A man was walking down the steps that leads from the exercise yard toward the factory buildings.
This building is on the southwest point of the island. I wonder what it was used for while the island was a prison.
On the corner of the exercise yard is this cage that I never noticed before. Wonder what its function was.
After a couple of beats, we were continuing westward on port tack close reach, and this military jet blasted overhead, heading northeast....
... and then turned to the north.
A mile or so away in the north, this light blue-hulled sailboat was sailing westward along the south shore of Angel Island.
That golden-hulled Melges raceboat was continuing westward, sailing a bit more off the wind than we were.
We continued westward until we approached the buoy at Harding Rock where the breeze was softening, and then we tacked to the south to sail across the bay.
I watched as this blue-hulled sailboat headed out of the San Francisco Marina and put out sails and then headed across the bay on port tack beam reach with a dozen kids sitting on the rail. She is the Blue Water Foundation boat that takes teens out on the bay.
As we continued on toward the San Francisco shore, this fishing boat was steaming eastward. I watched to see if we were on a collision course and determined that she would pass in front of us easily, so was surprised when she altered course to go behind us.
I was surprised to see this sailboarder on the water off the Crissy Field beach. Even with a huge sail, he wasn't able to do much sailing.
We tacked as we approached the shallows near the shore and headed for the gate on port tack close reach in a breeze that was now softer than earlier.
Fortunately, the waxing flood current was quite moderate and we were able to sail out the gate, just barely, in the even lighter breeze near the gate, after a couple of tacks.
We just ducked out and then fell off and headed back inside, passing this rogue buoy that might be one that is carried on ocean-going yachts to toss overboard to mark the spot of a man overboard.
The GGB and the headlands were taking on sundown color as we headed northward to position ourselves to watch the sundown through the gate.
A short time later, we were buzzed by this single engine airplane flying low over the water and dipping under the GGB-- an illegal manoeuver for a fixed wing aircraft, or so I've been told.
While at the gate, I called the CG traffic channel to ask the course and destination of this freighter that was approaching the gate at that time and was told that she would be using the eastbound traffic lane, so we were heading well out of her way.
As we ghosted northward with flood current assist, the sun began to set in the west, setting into a cloud bank over the horizon.
The city was enjoying the last rays of the sun and taking on some sundown color.
The sundown through the gate was beautiful and we gybed toward home port, picking up a freshening breeze.
The sun disappeared into a thick cloud bank just above the horizon.
The half moon above started to brighten in the darkening sky.
A gap in the clouds near the horizon allowed the sun to brilliantly illuminate the surface of the sea.
The sundown was continuing as we made good headway toward home port, sailing past Alcatraz.
The sundown was continuing as we made good headway toward home port, sailing past Alcatraz.
Now the moon overhead was shining ever more brightly.
City lights on shore were brightening as we approached the shore of the city....
... and the Ghiradelli sign was showing up brighter.
As we sailed into the lee of pier 35, city lights were growing brighter in the twilight sky.
We doused the sails there and then headed onto the marina, enjoying the view of Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower-- illuminated with green light. I heard on the radio that this green and green illumination of City Hall is in honor of some theater show.
It was great to be out on the bay for a few hours to enjoy the beauty of our bay and the surrounding geography as well as mother nature's paintings of a brilliant sunset.
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