Monday, the skies brightened by midafternoon and some sun began to peek through the fog, so we headed out for a sail around 3 pm.
As we exited the marina, we noticed Flight Risk sailing downwind toward the Bay Bridge.
I pulled up a single reefed main and headed out into the bay, eventually coming about and heading downwind toward the Bay Bridge, passing a neighbor boat that was dousing sail.
I pulled out a small jib to begin with and eventually let the jib out to full for downwind power as winds were not that strong in the lee of the city. Behind us, ADVENTURE CAT 2 was heading out for a sail to the gate with quite a few passengers aboard.
The cruise ship tied up at pier 35 was getting ready to leave-- her flags were pulled in and her radars were rotating.
The sun peeked out for only a shot time and then the fog won out over the city and overcast skies grayed out the city.
Winds were southerly so we were heading toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge when Starbright crossed in front of us, heading for the A-B span.
Over the the shore of the city, the charter sloop Ruby was heading west with a few passengers aboard.
This Islander named Alberta 1 passed to port heading west with full canvas flying ....
... and a 3 person crew in the cockpit that seemed to know they were on candid camera, especially the broadly smiling woman.
A short time later, Sundance passed to port, heading west with full canvas flying. I wondered if these boats had to retreat or fall off the wind after encountering the stronger winds on the central bay.
The crew of Sundance was oblivious of my camera pointed at them as they approached us.
After we sailed under the Bay Bridge between the Echo tower and the shore of Yerba Buena island, I spotted in the distance a tall ship headed our way. I had seen her out on the bay on Saturday during the Master Mariners Regatta, and was happy to have a possibility of taking some good shots of her.
My favorite lightouse-- the one on Yerba Buena's south point-- briefly basked in some sun rays as we passed.
We continued sailing southeasterly until we started to pass the tall ship and then we came about and sailed alongside her for a while so we could get some good photos.
We stayed with her until she sailed under the Bay Bridge D-E span and then we came about again and headed around Yerba Buena.
A lovely Beneteau passed to port between us and the shore of the island, looking good...
... and having a cockpit full of family members, including adults and kids.
A short time later, the Master Mariner boat Polaris motored past, following the Beneteau.
Her solo skipper was probably heading back to her home port after spending the night at the Encinal Yacht Club that hosted the Regatta-- just a guess, but seems likely to be a good one. I'm also guessing that this wooden boat with a long boom that extends well past the back of the cockpit would look magnificent under sail!
As we sailed northeasterly around YBI, that tall ship was retreating back to the south bay area.
As we headed toward the channel that the Coast Guard wants us to use to traverse the east span of the Bay Bridge and avoid the construction area, we could see that there has been little progress on the contruction of the roadway of the suspension span since last we passed this way. Only one new section has been added, but it looks like this section as a bottom section that is lower than the adjacent sections....
... and this closeup confirms this.
On the other hand, that support structure on the eastern end of the suspension span area is now denuded of all the stuff that was mounted on and around it the last time we sailed past this area.
Here is what it looked like before.with some equipment mounted on the top. Perhaps they were just trying this stuff out and removed it until it was needed as the span neared completion?????
A sailboat heading for the estuary crossed in front of us before we reached the Bay Bridge east section channel.
After we sailed under the bridge, happy to have ebb current to assist us in the light air, since we had earlier reefed the jib down to a small size again in anticipation of strong winds on the central bay, I spotted this lovely large sailboat sailing fast down the east shore of the island and heading for the cove on the south side of Treasure Island.
The northeast shore of Treasure Island has become a launching site for windsurfers, and this one was heading back toward that spot...
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... as was this one.
Two of the group had already dropped their sails into the water and so I inferred that they were all quiting for the day and were about to go ashore.
As expected, the winds in the central bay were strong and windwaves sent spray over the boat, and we had good winds all the way past the platform at Southhamption Shoal, though we encountered some softening of the breeze in the lee of Angel so pulled the jib out to full again and continued on toward the Richmond San Rafael Bridge, thinking we might do a three bridge kiss if conditions were suitable.
As we sailed northwesterly, this lovely Beneteau passed to starboard, looking good and making fast headway with ebb current assist.
I watched as this smaller Ericson sailboat sailed under the Richmond bridge and then sailed past Red Rock, sailing off the wind but still well heeled over despite a well-reefed main.
Red Rock was basking in sunshine as we passed.
We sailed under the west transit span of the bridge and then fell off to DDW to shorten the jib again before coming about and heading back toward Angel Island on starboard tack close reach. I forgot to take a photo of the bridge to document our arrival there.
As we headed southeast, another Ericson sailboat passed us to starboard, flying full canvas on her downwind sail and looking good! It's unusual to spot two Ericsons on one outing.
We make good headway in the strong southwesterly winds and soon arrived near the east mouth of Raccoon Straits, where this catamaran had just exited the straits.
As we sailed toward the shore of Angel Island, I spotted a catamaran anchored in the cove on the northeast side of the island. It also looked like the dingy of the cat was on the beach.
We sailed to near the shore of the island and then tacked to the west. With two winds systems in the straits, one southwesterly and one westerly in the north half, we encountered some wind holes and had to do quite a few beats to get through the straits, passing Ayala Cove on one beat and noticiing that the cove was still quite well populated with boats at the buoy field.
Another Beneteau was sailing downwind through the straits and about to pass Ayala Cove.
We finally sailed out of the straits after I pulled the jib out to full again for more power in the light wind-- wind hole induced at the west mouth of the straits-- as fog piled up over the hills of Sausalito and already rolled down the hillside to obscure the town.
I reefed the jib again and headed toward the gate, tempted to try to complete a three bridge kiss since it was 7 pm and we had an hour and a half of daylight left, but I decided to forego the attempt and head back to home port to enjoy some wine and cheese and crackers in the warm salon of ANTICIPATION sooner rather than later. But ADVENTURE CAT 2 was heading for the gate on her sunset sail....
... and PRIVATEER was headed out on her sunset sail with full main, mizzen and trisail flying. I don't recall that PRIVATEER had a cutter type rig set up as her foresails, but maybe I just didn't notice it before. I checked some earlier photos and it looks like this babystay with a roller reefing is a new addition to the boat. I'll check with Eric or the skipper and verify this and report.
As we headed across the bay, this lovely sailboat passed to port, flying full canvas and looking good!
Eventually, the sun disappeared behind the fog bank strething out over the bay, creating a dramatic sky and sea scene!
A short time later, I spotted PRIVATEER heading back toward home port, and sailing much faster than we with all that canvas flying. After we passed Alcatraz, PRIVATEER was about 8 boat lengths ahead of us, and since we were now sailing off the wind more, I pulled the jib out to full to see if we cound close the gap, and we slowly did, but she was still a bit ahead of us as we sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail.
While motoring around the pier we enjoyed the view looking west, under the fog bank as sunset neared and some sunset color appeared on the bottom of the fog. The current was now flooding quite strongly, but I played it well as we landed in our slip-- practice makes almost perfect!
As we motored down the fairway, my nostrils were again beseiged by that awful smokey pollution odor that we seem to always encounter when returning at this time of evening-- a sickening odor that must be very unhealthy to breathe. After landing, I called pier security and asked them to send someone over to verify the bad pollution odor and report it to the pier. It seemed stronger than ever before and was giving me a headache. I got inside as quick as possible and indulged myself with deliciouis wine and cheese and crackers.. yummm!!!!!
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