We headed out promptly, raised single reefed main just outside the marina, then headed out into the central bay and pulled out a reefed jib before heading west on the southwest breeze, passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a moderate breeze of about 5-7 knots.
It was tempting to pull out more jib, but I resisted in case a storm cell moved through with increased winds. Tim was at the helm as we sailed westward in the mderate breeze and Rebecca on his right and Jenny on his left were enjoying the outing immensely. We were all happy that the rain that the morning started out with had left us for a while at least so we could get out on the bay.
The city was enjoying cloudy bright conditions as we sailed westward against a waxing flood current that was quite moderate.
About half way to the gate, we spotted our old pal ADVENTURE CAT heading back toward home port after a trip to the gate.
Rebecca took over the helm after a while and clearly enjoying the experience.
The wind shifted more into the west so we ended up sailing toward Yellow Bluff on the shore of the Marin Headlands, enjoying views of the gate and now happy to see some blue sky developing over the gate.
Ahead of us, a Coast Guard fast boat blasted past heading along the shore toward Richardson Bay.
South of us, this trimaran was heading east away from the gate....
... but later came about and headed back toward the gate, sailing much faster than we as one would expect, especially with our reduced sail.
We begain beating back and forth toward the gate, watching the blue sky grow larger and the tri continuing on toward the gate. In lighter breezes here, I pulled out the jib to full for more power in fighting the flood current.
After sailing past Horseshoe Cove, we began short tacking to stay in the lesser flood current, tacking into Horseshoe Cove and then making 6 quick tacks to finally sail out the gate between the North Tower and midspan.
Rebecca was at the helm the whole time that we were engaged in these maneuvers and all the crew were delighted at our shooting the gate-- Jenny didn't have sufficient warning of the shutter click to put a smile on her face like in the previous photo.
Winds outside the gate were moderate, so I decided to shake the reef out of the main as we sailed toward Kirby Cove, and then we came about and headed back toward the gate, the city in the distance now enjoying bright sunshine.
As we headed back inside, this sailboat motorsailing with jib only passed us to port... guess they were too lazy to put up the main or to tack out against the flood current.
Tim took the helm again after we returned to the bay sailing downwind on starboard tack broad reach while the city in the distance continued to enjoy somewhat hazy sunshine.
We had made good time to the gate and back, so we continued on down the cityfront, passing pier 39, and heading for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge to complete a 2 bridge kiss. The city was in shadow from the late afternoon sun.
Out in the east, Yerba Buena was in sunshine and some beautiful cloud patterns extended over the east bay hills. We had earlier had to wait to head up to sail closer to the shore of the city until that freighter had passed us. She was now headed for the D-E span of the bridge and the port of Oakland.
We had quite good winds all the way to the Bay Bridge and sailed under the A-B span.
We just sailed past the bridge a short ways and then came about and headed for home port. The wind had shifted more into the southwest as we were heading toward the Bay Bridge, but now had shifted back into the west, so we were sailinig northwestward on close reach port tack, on the verge of being overpowered with full canvas. This nice looking sailboat was heading for the Bay Bridge with full canvas flying.
Behind her was that same jib only sailboat that passed us outside the gate.
The foggy mist had now invaded the bay and erased all the western features and soon began to mist/drizzle on us. We tacked toward pier 29 and furled the jib in the lee there, then turned on the engine and motorsailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse the main and tie it up before motoring around the pier and into the marina, landing fine in the light flood current.
The three cellists took off to head back to their hotel and I got dressed up to rendezvous with them at a restaurant next to their hotel, printed off 3 copies of the photo of the three of them outside the gate and then took a cab over to near the rendezvous spot. They paid for my dinner and we enjoyed a nice repast couple with good conversation. Rebecca had managed to obtain a complimentary ticket to the 8 pm LSO concernt that evening, so I headed out on foot for Davies Symphony Hall after dinner, stopping on the way for a cup of cappacino to help me keep awake during the concert. I always tend to get sleepy after spending a few hours on the bay and eating something-- all that fresh air and exercise sprinkles sleep into my eyes.
The concert was wonderful, especially the two Prokofiev symphonies, neither of which I had ever heard before. Another full pleasure day: good sailing, good company, good dinner and good music!!!!
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