As we exited the marina, I spotted this inbound freighter carrying a large barge with a big crane mounted on it. The freighter was from China and I immediately remembered hearing or reading that only China had cranes of the size needed to build the large suspension tower for the new east span of the bay bridge. We'll soon find out if that is the mission for this crane and barge.
We raised full main and headed out into the central bay, came about and headed for the Bay Bridge, pulling the jib out to full. We sailed through the B-C span of the bridge and saw that inbound freighter preparing to drop anchor.
We sailed past the bridge a ways and then gybed toward Yerba Buena Island, watching as a fully loaded inbound freighter steamed through the D-E span of the bridge.
Behind us, a Beneteau sailboat was heading for the Bay Bridge with full main and reefed jib.
We sailed past the southern shore of Yerba Buena, enjoying views of the lighthouse there.
As we rounded the island, we could see that there were a couple of cranes on barges in the area of the suspension span of the new bridge.
What I guess is the deck of the new suspension span ha been extended further from the last time we passed this way. This bridge deck is being constructed from prefabricated truss sections brought there on barges.
I spotted a lone worker walking across the span.
The support structure on the east side of the suspension span location has been radically altered with a tall stairstep scaffold going up to the top...
...with some interesting structures mounted on the top of the tower. It will be interesting to see what all of these things are used for eventually. All of this looks very expensive! and undoubtedly it is!
The two separate bridge decks are in very different stages of construction.
I reefed the jib while in light air in the lee of Yerba Buena and was happy for that as we encountered strong winds in the central bay as we sailed between Treasure Island and the lee side of Angel Island. As we sailed up the lee shore, this empty tanker was heading our way and passed us heading south....
... as did this tug and barge. I had taken advantage of lighter winds in the lee of Angel Island to reef the main, and to make sure to clear that tug and barge, I pulled out the jib to full for more power in the lighter winds.
As we approached the east mouth of Raccoon Straits, I noticed that a sailbaot was anchored out in the cove on the northeast side of the island.
We began beating our way through the straits, passing beautiful Ayala Cove were a few boats were tied up at the buoy field and at the docks.
With ebb current assist, we were soon through the straights and ready to begin beating toward the gate. Before hitting the central bay again, I reefed the jib again in preparation for the strong winds in the bay. We were soon blasting across the bay and being dragged by the strong ebb current toward the gate. We sailed all the way across the bay, taking spray in the wind waves, and then tacked to head out the gate with our famous bridge looking great in the late afternoon sun.
We sailed out the gate between the south tower and midspan, enjoying views of the bridge and the headlands, coming about after sailing out a short ways.
We had seen some windsurfers out on the bay as we sailed across from Angel Island, and now we were passing through their course as they blasted past us, like this sailboarder....
....and this one.
A few kiteboarders were also out there enjoying the strong winds.
Some young people on dingies were sailing around in front of the yacht clubs.
The wind had shifted into the west from the southwest, so I furled in the jib so we could sail direct downwind and avoid gybing back and forth to get back to home port. As we approached home port, I spotted boat neighbor Chris out on his Laser, here sailing upwind.
Off in the north, a large dark-hulled sailboat was heading for the Bay Bridge.
vvvvvvvvv
The city was enjoying the late sunshine as we sailed between pier 45 and pier 39.
Chris was now sailing downwind.
As we approached pier 39, ADVENTURE CAT steamed out of port and raised her main sail as we sailed past.
The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering strongly in the winds of 15-20 knots.
Chris was now sailing toward the marina as we headed for the lee of pier 35....
... and ADVENTURE CAT was heading out for her sunset sail.
We doused the main in the lee of pier 35, and prepared ANTICIPATION for landing while motoring around the pier. We motored into port and played the ebb current well to land in the slip. We had 4 hours of great sailing and so were filled up with that lovely sailing pleasure!!!
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