Anyway, we managed to power through the mud and then we raised a single reefed main just outside the marina exit since winds on the bay were blowing about 25 knots. We headed out into the central bay, came about and headed down the cityfront toward the Bay Bridge, pulling out the jib to a small size.
Before long we were well past the Ferry Building as winds were strong in the lee of the city and we sailed along enjoying views of the city in brilliant sunshine.
A bit later, we were sailing under the A-B span of the Bay Bridge which was gleaming in the afternoon sun.
We had earlier spotted the ALMA south of the bridge and sailing first eastward and then back to the west, but now she was headed our way so we continued southward until she was getting close and then came about to head back north.
A small sailboat passed passed to port...
...with a lone skipper aboard.
Closer to the cityfront, a small sailboat was hugging the shore.
A nice Catalina passed us to starboard, carrying a bit more sail and sailing more off the wind than we were.
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She appeared to have a crew of three aboard.
ALMA was also sailing a bit more off the wind and was starting to pass us to starboard with a group of passengers in yellow foulies on the foredeck.
The financial district was framed by the Bay Bridge as we approached it from the south.
We were still ahead of the ALMA after passing under the A-B span of the bridge, and here is a video clip of her as she approached the bridge.
The winds were really strong in the central bay and were westerly rather than the usual southwesterly, so we were eventually forced to fall off the wind and head for the lee side of Angel Island, sailing through wind waves that sent spray over the bow and sometimes into the cockpit. Winds in the lee of Angel Island did not calm down and with the wind direction in the WNW, we had to beat our way to Raccoon Straits and then encountered a wind hole in the north half of the east entrance to the straits that took us many minutes to sail out of to get into the straits.
Once into the straits, we encountered wildly varying winds, gusty winds, shifty winds, but we sailed past Ayala Cove where only two boats were tied up at the small marina there.
The flood current was quite strong and each time we had to beat to the north, we lost some of our progress to the south, but we finally managed to sail out the west mouth of the straits. It took us at least an hour to sail through the straits.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we headed for the gate.
We had variable winds as we headed for the gate, but were able to sail straight toward there until we approached Horseshoe Cove and then the wind declined and there seemed to be wind holes distributed all over the gate, so we eventually gave up and headed home. After passing the yacht clubs on shore, we encountered some steady winds, and decided to shake the reef out of the main and try one more time to shoot the gate with full canvas. But the wind direction was not favorable and flood current was strong, so we again gave up and headed for home.
The city was enjoying the last rays of the sun as we approached pier 39...
... and the flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of about 15 knots.
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