We raised a single reef main outside the marina and pulled out a reefed jib.before heading out into the bay.
As we headed out to the west, assisted by a bit of ebb current, we could see that, way out in the west, some race boats in the Stone Cup Regatta were heading downwind with kites flying.
Marcellin was at the helm, sailing in the warm afternoon air, with the city receding behind us, and with ANTICIPATION blasting through wind waves that send up spray.
Chat de Mer [french for Cat on the Sea] was heading east toward the Bay Bridge.
A catboat also passed to starboard.
We started beating toward the gate, and watched as this lovely cutter named Sabbatical crossed in front of us and then tacked toward the gate. She was carrying full canvas [has to be a heavy displacement boat to do that] and she was looking good!
Her two person crew was masterfully handling the heavy wind conditions with good sail trim.
We were keeping up with Sabbatical until we had to luff up to give right of way to ADVENTURE CAT 2 as she headed home from the gate with a moderate number of passengers aboard.
Soon Sabbatical was quite a few boat lengths ahead of us.
As we continued beating toward the gate, trying to stay in the strong wind slot -- yes there was a slot on sunday at that time-- this lovely small Valliant sailboat passed behind us.
As we were sailing on a southward tack, this sailboat was headed toward the gate on port tack.
We eventually started encountering some kiteboarders playing around on the bay like this one heading away from us....
... and this one crossing the bay near the gate.
Near the gate, the wind softened and this full canvassed sailboat was heading for the gate in these lighter winds and looking good.
We were on port tack heading toward the north tower of the gate as that sailboat was heading out the gate on starboard tack and a kiteboarder blasted through the wake of the sailboat.
Marcellin had been at the helm the whole time that we were beating toward the gate and was there as we shot the gate in the lighter winds, sailing on starboard tack.
A lovely dark-hulled sailboat passed us, heading back toward the bay and looking good as she sailed downwind.
Another cutter was heading out the gate toward the ocean also, but flying only one of her jibs.
As we beat westward, letting out the jib to full for more power, my boat neighbor Hal on WILD GOOSE passed to starboard....
. with Hal at the helm and perhaps single-handing, though the canvas on his lifelines could have been hiding other crew.
This small sailboat was also heading out toward the ocean...
... while this huge ketch, loaded with passengers was heading back toward the bay.
FORTUNA passed us to starboard on one of our tacks....
... and her two man crew was enjoying the light winds and brilliant sunshine of the afternoon.
We left the Golden Gate Bridge far behind as we headed out on the ocean.
We left the Golden Gate Bridge far behind as we headed out on the ocean.
In the light winds, we finally shook the reef out of the main and enjoyed full canvas sailing in the under 5 knot winds out on the ocean until we were out as far as Point Bonita and the lighthouse there.
We were the last boat out there on the ocean and, after passing Point Bonita, we shortly fell off and headed back toward the gate, assisted by a waxing flood current, sailing on starboard tack broad reach toward Baker Beach. We then gybed to sail back through the gate on port tack broad reach.
This lovely Catalina was heading toward the gate with full canvas and looking good on starboard tack close reach.
We did a chicken gybe in the stronger winds inside the bay and headed for home port on starboard tack broad reach, assisted by a quite strong flood current. The winds inside the bak were howling out of the southwest and we were screaming toward home port. After passing Alcatraz, we fell off to dead downwind to furl the jib all the way and then we hardened in the main so we could sail closer to the wind to sail the rest of the way to the lee side of pier 35 where we doused the main and then motored around pier 35 and into the marina, landing fine by correctly playing the flood current. It was a great outing with lots of different winds and it was super fun to sail full canvas out on the ocean.
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