As we sailed to the WNW with flood current opposing us, this lovely Catalina was ahead of us, looking good with full canvas flying. Catalinas have a heavier displacement than Ericsons so can carry more canvas without being overpowered.
Behind us, this lovely large J129 was heading for the cityfton and also looking good!
We sailed out a ways and then tacked toward the lee of pier 45 with the flags on the end of pier 39 fluttering in a breeze of about 15 knots.
As we tacked away to the west again, this racing sled passed us, blasting downwind with a large kite flying off her bowsprit.
Off to port, a large cruising sailboat was heading downwind and flying a symmetrical kite poled out with a spinnaker pole.
Grant was at the helm as we blasted westward, quite well heeled over-- on the cusp of being overcanvassed.
We had to tack back to the south to stay away from an outbound tanker cutting the corner around Alcatraz, and after passing Alcatraz, we fell off to dead downwind and reefed the jib down to a hankie size, then came about and headed west again.
This lovely center cockpit ketch passed astern of us, trailing a dingy.
This lovely schooner passed to port, heading east and looking real good!
Behind us, this nice sailboat was sailing on parallel course and flying full canvas. She must be heavy displacement to carry that much canvas without being more heeled over than that shown here.
John had taken over the helm as we continued westward past Harding Rock and approaching the shore of Sausalito where we tacked toward the gate.
This small Cal sailboat passed astern of us.
This Santana passed to port as we were sailing westward.
As we were sailing across the gate, this lovely sailboat passed astern of us.
I was at the helm as we sailed across the gate, being pushed away by the flood currrent, and this lovely Catalina crossed in front of us, heading downwind to the east.
Another Catalina passed astern of us, also sailing downwind.
The lovely Blue Water Foundation sailboat was crossing the bay behind us, sailing a bit off the wind.
This sailboat was shooting the gate on starboad tack and in the shadow of the bridge deck.
We sailed to near the shore of the city and then tacked to head out the gate, Grant now at the helm again as we shot the gate between midspan and the north tower.
John and Kathy were enjoying their first time of shooting the gate. This was Kathy's first time on a sailboat.
We just sailed out a short distance and then came about and headed back inside the bay. I took the helm and pulled the jib back out to full for our downwind sail back to home port. As we sailed into the bay, this lovely small sailboat named OFEINA was heading for the gate with well-reefed main.
Behind us, this Express race boat was returning to the bay.
With flood current assist, we were soon leaving the GGB far behind.
Cool Change crossed in front of us, heading toward the shore of the city and looking good, carrying full canvas and nicely heeled over.
Off to port, this nice yellow-hulled sailboat was heading our way with full main and reefed jib, port rail in the water here. The small sailboat behind was sailing downwind under jib only.
This small Beneteau carrying full canvas, passed to port heading for the gate.
That yellow-hulled sailboat was looking good as she started to pass astern of us.
'This blue hulled sailboat was approaching us from the north on a collision course, so we luffed up to allow her to cross in front of us....
... and then sail away toward the shore of the city.
That airship that we haven't seen for several weeks lately passed nearly overhead on her way back to Oakland Airport. I had wondered if she had stopped flying for lack of passengers in the recession.
Off to starboard and ahead of us was a large center cockpit ketch heading east. We had seen her earlier sailing on port tack close reach and then tacking and falling off to sail downwind.
All her sails were reefed so we were soon catching up with her and passing her.
Over by the cityfront, we spotted a fleet of dingies doing a race.
This lovely small sailboat was sailing downwind off our port side and looking good!
That Blue Water Foundation boat was now beating upwind toward her home port at the SF marina.
A lovely red-hulled cruising sailboat, larger than Anticipation, passed us to port
As we sailed past pier 39, her flags were still fluttering in a breeze of about 15 knots.
As we headed for the lee of pier 35 to douse the main, having fulred in the jib while approaching pier 39, I spotted a boat neighbor paddling around outside the marina in his inflatale kayak.
We doused sail in the lee of pier 35 and then motored around the pier and into the marina, landing fine in a current that was now slightly ebbing. We had been out on the bay for a delightful few hours and all were smiling as we prepared to say goodby.
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