Wednesday morning started out with light rain, but by late morning the skies were clearing and sunshine was lighting up the area. We headed out for a sail about 3:30 pm and raised full main just outside the marina exit and headed out toward the central bay.



Behind us, the flags on Telegraph Hill and the shore were fluttering moderately in the southerly breeze.



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We sailed past the end of pier 35 and then gybed the main and pulled out the jib to full to head east toward the D-# span of the Bay Bridge, enjoying the sunshine and the cloud patterns over the city.




The winds were variable in velocity from just a few knots to 10+ knots, and behind us, the Alcatraz Ferry was heading for home port.




Way off in the west, a beautiful schooner was sailing along the shore of Yellow Bluff, flying all of her canvas.




As we continued eastward, I noticed for the first time that the sun has moved far enough north to illuminate the northern side of the Ferry Building tower, the clock on it showing 3:55 pm.




Beautiful low clouds hung over the bay south of the Bay Bridge.





It was a little after 4 pm as we sailed under the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, so it had taken us only about 20 minutes to sail from pier 35 to the D-E span with a bit of flood current assist.




We sailed past the bridge a short distance and peeked at our favorite lighthouse on Yerba Buena. She was basking in the late afternoon sunshine.




We came about and headed back through the D-E span, heading directly west on port tack close reach. An inbound tanker pushed by a mamoth tunboat was heaidng for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.




The tug is nested into the stern of the barge. I wonder if this ship requires a pilot aboard and I wonder why she doesn't require a tug escort.




Beautiful low clouds hung over Yerba Buena Island.




This lovely cutter rigged sailboat passed to starboard, looking good! She seemed to be a sister ship to one of my neighbor's boats-- a Hans Christian, I think.





Beautiful clouds were also hanging over Telegraph Hill as we approached pier 35.




A bit later, we were sailing past the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering moderately-- the end of the pier being a lee shore and we had more wind out on the bay in some areas. It was now 4:30 pm so it had taken us about 30 minutes to sail there from the Bay Bridge.




The city was enjoying the late afternoon sunshine as we sailed between pier 39 and pier 45, and more cotton candy clouds lowered over the city.




A sailboat was crossing the bay toward the Fort Mason piers and then she was dousing sail right in front of the piers.




As we continued westward, pointing straight toward the gate and enjoying the cloud patterns stretching over the bay and the city.





In the southwest, the sun was getting lower in the sky and often hiding behind the thickening cloud distribution.




The sun went down behind a cloud above the thick countinuous clouds above the horizon and created a beautiful light and shadow pattern!




The thick clouds in the distance were sure to obscure the sundown and heralded the coming of another storm system.




We had to tack once to the southeast as the wind had shifted a bit more into the west, and then we tacked out the gate, sailing out about midspan. It was now about 5:10 pm so it had taken us just 40 minutes to sail to the gate from pier 39.





The headlands and the GGB were darkened by the sun being behind the clouds in the southwest.

vvvvvvvvv


We just sailed out a short ways and then came about and headed back inside as the sun continued to drop behind the clouds in the west.




Way in the east, some towering clouds hung behind the city, patly illuminated by the setting sun.




I kept hoping we might see some sunset color on the clouds over the bay, but none appeared and yet the cloud patterns with low and high cloud were beautiful in their own right.




As we passed Aquatic Park, the lights on the Ghiradelli building were already on.





The city was now experiencing an early dusk.





Pier 39 flags were still fluttering moderately as we sailed past. It was now 5:55 pm, so it had taken us 45 minutes to return from the gate.




Over by Treasure Island a large sailboat was sailing to the northwest.





I doused sail in front of pier 35 and then headed into the marina, noticing that a seagull was perched on the red nav light on the end of the marina seawall at the entrance-- 'red right returning'.




City lights were brightening as we motored into the marina. It was great to spend some refreshing time on the bay in between the rain storms!