SATURDAY, 30 MAY 09 -- BEATING AGAINST WIND AND FLOOD OUT THE GATE AND ALMOST TO POINT BONITA

We were joined on our afternoon outing by Ted, a sfsailing.com contact trom Canada, and Wayne and his wife, Tracy, for her first outing on the bay. We left port around 2:15 pm, raised single-reefed main just outside the marina, pulled out reefed main and headed out into the bay.




Skiff racing was heppening on a course between pier 39 and pier 45, and we immediately saw some of the action, like this Harken skiff blasting downwind behind their blue kite.




A large Santa Cruz 50 was sailing eastward past the marina.




A small Beneteau was heading upwind with full canvas flying.




We soon spotted the West Marine skiff blasting toward the leeward mark.




As we beat westward against a waxing flood current, ADVENTURE CAT 2 was returning home after an outing to the gate.




After rounding the leeward mark, the Harken skiff was sailing upwind...




...followed by the West Marine skiff, headed right for us at one point....




... but passing astern of us.




The Hans Christian cutter named SANCTUARY crossed in front of us, heading toward the shore.



Off to starboard, FRONT PAGE NEWS was heading east and flying her kite.




Interlude passed us to starboard, flying full canvas and looking good.



Ahead of us, a small trimaran was blasting around the bay.




After a few tacks, we were sailing westward past the western shore of Alcatraz, while a small Catalina named Kanala was heading in the opposite direction.





ADVENTURE CAT 2 passed us to starboard, heading out on another sail to the gate.




We eventually sailed northwestward toward Belvedere, and a lovely full canvas sailboat was sailing down the shore of Angel Island.




A lone kayaker was also paddling down the shore of Angel Island.





We eventually tacked to head for the gate on the westerly breeze, while a couple of dingy racers were racing each other.




We sailed all the way across the bay, resisted by the flood current and ended up sailing past Blacaller Buoy before tacking toward the gate to sail out on port tack-- the gate being grayed out by the overcast marine layer.




We sailed out between midspan and the north tower and then tacked to the south, gradually leaving the GGB behind with a happy crew well clothed against the afternoon chill.




A small sailboat was heading out the gate as we sailed southward....





We sailed toward the shore west of the Seacliff neighborhood, and then tacked toward Pt. Bonita as the fog frosted the hills of the Marin Headlands.





The flood kept us from reaching directly to Pt. Bonita, so we came about as we neared the shore of the headlands and headed back toward the gate, gybing to sail under the GGB again on port tack. We sailed toward Angel Island that was still enjoying sunshine, while were were locked under a fog layer.




We eventually gybed again toward home port, and eventually passed this well-reefed sailboat heading west.




As we approached home port, another small sailboat crossed in front of us, heading northward.




The city was dismal under the overcast skies and the air was very chill.




Flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of about 10+ knots as we sailed past.


We sailed into the lee of pier 35, doused sail and then motored around and into the marina, landing fine in mostly slack current. It was a chilly, but enjoyable outing.

FRIDAY, 29 MAY 09 -- TWO BRIDGE KISS IN SUN AND FOG, SAILBOARD RACING AND BEER CAN RACING

We headed out for a late afternoon and evening sail around 4:30 pm, putting up single-reefed main and heading out into the bay, then gybing toward the Bay Bridge and pulling out a full jib for downwind power.



After passing pier 27, we spotted a couple of vessels that were probably research vessels tied up there. One was smaller and looked newer while the other was a bit of a rust bucket.




Way ahead of us, I spotted the Rocket Boat stopped just north of the Bay Bridge with one of the crew persons pointing toward the financial district and perhaps giving a sightseeing lecture.




The financial district buildings were enjoying hazy sunshine.




It was almost 5 pm as we approached the Ferry Building.












Soon the Rocket Boat was blasting past to port.




The Bay Bridge was bathed in late afternoon sunshine as we approached the A-B span.




I reefed the jib as we sailed under the A-B span and then came abotu and headed back north toward the central bay, passing this Hunter sailboat port to port.




South of the Bay Bridge, a small sailboat was heading south with the giant cranes of the Port of Oakland in the background.




Winds were highly variable as we sailed northward, and eventually a fishing boat passed to starboard, towing some kike of apparatus.




Another Hunter sailboat flying two postage stamp sails was heading for the A-B span of the bridge.




Out in the central bay again, we still encountered variable winds of less veloctiy than we expected, so we pulled the jib out to full and watched as the police fast boat blasted around on the bay, seemingly out for a joyride, not on police business-- or perhaps just keeping the boat in shape for when needed.



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The pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of less than 15 knots.




We began beating westward with mostly slack current, and the city was enjoying brilliant sunshine as we tacked away from the lee of pier 45.




Behind us, a sailboat was heading toward the shore of the city and she looked like she might be a Beneteau or a Catalina.




Way behind us, a small sailboat was heading downwind toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge.




We continued beating westward, and eventually spotted a skiff practicing for the racing in front of pier 39 on Saturday and Sunday. She was blasting downwind with patriotic kite flying.




A Knarr sailboat was sailing downwind near the shore.




Later that skiff was sailing toward the shore on port tack with the crew hiked way way out! Seems like an exciting ride!




A group of sailboarders was lined up here for the start of one of their friday night races, and here is a video clip of them charging westward after the start.







This sailboarder seemed not to be part of the race....




... whereas this one was, I think.




Way across the bay, west of Angel Island, flotilla of boats were having a beer can race and I thought we might head over there after shooting the gate if the race was still happening.




As we sailed toward the gate on port tack, an outbound freighter was steaming toward the gate.




We tacked before hitting the wake of the freighter and outran it as we sailed toward the shore, and then eventually sailed through it, moderated, as we headed out the gate on port tack close reach.




The gate was covered by the marine layer, and we just ducked out before falling off and heading back inside on port tack broad reach, sailing toward the beer can race course and the windward mark of the course.




A cruising boat was heading for Sausalito while some of the race boats that had already rounded the windward mark were heading downwind.




A charter schooner out of Sausalito passed to starboard, heading toward the gate and carrying quite a few passengers.




Ahead of us, I could see through the rigging some boats rounding the windward mark.




We gybed to sail eastward on starboard tack broad reach and watch the race boats, like the two here, one having rounded the mark while the other was approaching it with other racers in the background.




Here, Ragtime is rounding the mark and heading downwind while a traiing boat approaches the mark.




Here, a group of boats is sailing downwind toward a leeward mark.





Now the boats headed for the windward mark were behind us, like these two on opposite tacks.




Don't know if this Cal 20 was part of the race or not, but she was heading for the mark.



Sometimes there would be a bit of a traffic jam at the mark, like here.




Off in the distance, a tanker was steaming toward the gate and we had to be sure to be well out of her way as she approached.




We eventually spotted the race boat TIBURON heading downwind behind her kite. We've seen her a lot recently in the races on the bay.




We left the race boats behind as we headed for home port, and spotted ADVENTURE CAT 2 heading westward on her sunset sail with just a few passengers on deck. Perhaps there were more in the cabin, out of the wind.




The fog and near-setting-sun created some interesting pastel grays behind us as we sailed toward home port.




The city was grayed out by the overcast marine layer.




Flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of about 10 knots as we passed.

We sailed into the lee of pier 35 and doused sail, and then motored around and into the marina, landing fine in the now slight ebb current. Three lovely hours on the bay left us happy and we added to that by going below for some wine and cheese and crackers before having a very late dinner.