SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 09 -- HELLACIOUS WINDS ON THE BAY AND FEW BOATS, BUT SOME SAILBOAT RACING

For our afternoon outing, we were joined at 2 pm by Michael, from Canada, and Blake from SF. Michael owns and races an Ericson 35 sailboat on Lake Ontario.
We headed out a little after 2 pm, raised single reefed main and put out small jib before heading out into the central bay where a strong wind of 20+ knots was already blowing and a rather strong flood current was flowing.



Michael was at the helm as we headed west, leaving the city behind, and thankful for the flood current keeping the sea from being too roiled up into wind waves.


We sailed past the lee side of Alcatraz where we were blasted with some huge wind gusts and then continued on toward Sausalito with the flood current pushing us northward. We watched several race boats pass us flying their spinnakers downwind, but I had a bad setting on the camera and the photos were irredemably washed out.



We arrived in softer winds on the weather side of Angel Island, so tacked back toward the central bay and into the stronger winds and then began to encounter the same race boats now blasting upwind, like Scorpio here.




She was followed by ASTRA with all her crew on the rail also....




... and looking good as she passed astern of us.




... and looking good as she passed astern of us.




We continued beating toward the gate, alternately in soft and very strong winds, and eventually this Ericson 34 passed in front of us, heading toward the central bay with probaby too much canvas for the strong winds there.




A third race boat with no name printed on the side passed us...




...looking good in the strong winds.




We beat our way to just outside Horseshoe Cove and then headed across the gate in winds that proved too strong for the amount of canvas we had out-- we would have needed another reef in the main to be safe-- so we fell off and headed toward home port, eventually passing in front of this saiboat crossing the bay...




... and passing astern of this one...




... and she soon had her rail in the water in the gusty winds.




We were sailing past Alcatraz when we started to encounter some kiteboarders like this one that were further east on the bay than we usually find them.




They were taking full advantage of the strong winds.





As we sailed past the end of pier 39, the flags there were fluttering in a breeze of 25+ knots.




Futher to the east, a lovely schooner, probably the BAY LADY, was headed south toward the Bay Bridge.




As we sailed toward the lee of pier 35 to douse sails, the charter sloop RUBY passed us, heading west with full canvas and not many passngers visible on deck.


We doused sail in the lee of pier 35 and then motored around and into the marina, landing fine in current that was pretty slack at that time. It was warm and sunny in the lee of pier 39, so we had some wine [courtesy of Michael] and some cheese and crackers in the cockpit and discussed a wide range of topics, including many of the lies that are told in the US about the Canadian heath care system, and the fact that the Canadians and other countries think the US is crazy for sticking with the for-profit health insurance programs that we are saddled with these days. It's always interesting to hear the views of people from other countries on political issues facing the US.

SATURDAY, 27 JUNE 09 -- TO BAY BRIDGE AND AROUND ANGEL ISLAND, RETURNING AT SUNSET

We headed out for a late afternoon sail around 5:30 pm, raised single reefed main and headed out into the bay, gybed toward the Bay Bridge and then pulled the jib out to full for downwind power.



Financial district buildings, including the Pyramid-- my favorite, were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. The air was fairly clear despite the 'spare the air' day and the temperatures were warm-- shirtsleeve sailing.




We had variable winds as we sailed down the cityfront, passing pier 27 where the NOAO research trawler named MILLER FREEMAN was tied up.




As we headed toward the A-B span, this Ranger sailboat passed to port.




The noisy nuisance Rocket Boat was heading back toward her home port.




A small Catalina named Tahiti passed to port, heading north.




The Ferry Building clock read about 6:05 as we approached.




The sculpture on shore was enjoying the early evening sunshine.




That same working boat was over by the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and it looked as if that large crane brought from China was assisting her with something.




A Ranger sailboat named Shearwater passed to starboard as we ghosted toward the A-B span of the bridge in light air, after having quite steady winds for most of the journey.




We managed to sail under the A-B span and then reefed the jib down to a hankie size and then came about and headed north, now sailing with the current as the Bay Bridge basked in early evening sunshine.




A couple of sailboats were heading east along the shore of Yerba Buena.





A large sailboat was sailing toward the Bay Bridge and passing pier 27 as we continued westward.




We tacked into the lee of pier 35 to reef the jib down to a postage stamp before heading back out into the bay as this sailboat left the marina for an outing.




Winds were too strong and seas too rough to sail westward toward the gate, so we fell off for the lee of Angel Island, eventually being passed by this race boat flying full canvas and looking good! As we passed astern of her, we watched as she often luffed up her main in the gusts so she wouldn't be overpowered. The wind seemed to be at least 25 knots.




Behind us, a couple of other sailboats were also headed for the lee of Angel.




As we sailed up the lee shore of the island in lighter winds, we pulled the jib out to full for more power and watched as several sailboat passed us, heading in the opposite direction, like this one....




... and this one...




...with crew enjoying the evening air and good winds.... the boat was named Dora.




This small sailboat was heading east toward Berkeley and the city behind was hazed out.




We managed to beat our way into Raccoon Straits in the light winds, passing this sailboat at anchor in the cove off Pt. Simpson.




As we sailed into the straits just off the shore of Angel Island, I noticed this yellow kayay on shore and then also saw the couple on shore.




As we tacked away from the shore of the island, a lovely ketch motored into the straits, heading for Ayala Cove.




As we sailed past Ayala Cove on a breeze that shifted from the west into the southwest, we could see that only a few boats were still tied up at the small marina...




.. but the buoy field was crowded with boats.




After the wind shift, a single tack took us the rest of the way through the straits, and we then spotted this large ketch heading for Tiburon....




.... and this old wooden yawl heading toward the straits with the city ghostly in the background, seeming close, but actually several miles away.




Ahead of us, SEAWARD was heading toward home port.




After sailing past Belvedere Point, we tacked and headed for home port, enjoying views of the GGB and the headlands as sunset neared.




The old brick building on Angel Island was still in sunshine, but the other buildings on the hill were in shadow.




This lovely ketch was also heading home after a charter outing.




We encountered ADVENTURE CAT as we approached the weather side of Alcatraz and she was returning from a sunset sail to the gate.




City lights were coming on as we sailed past Alcatraz and toward home port.




The city was enjoying the evening dusky skies.




PRIVATEER was heading out for an evening sail with half a dozen passengers aboard.




This nice J boat was sailing down the cityfront approaching pier 39.




Adventure Cat beat us to home port, as expected, and had doused sails and was heading into port as we approached.




Behind us a lovely marmalade sky had developed.




Overhead, the almost half moon was shining brightly as skies darkened.




The 20+ knot winds north of Alcatraz gave way to much lighter winds as we approached pier 39 where her flags were fluttering in a breeze under 10 knots.




I pulled in the jib as we sailed past the east marina, then doused the main between pier 35 and the east seawall of the marina. It was almost dark as we motored into the marina after preparing for landing and lights on Telegraph Hill were brightening in the dark sky.


We motored into the marina and landed fine in the ebb current then flowing. I would have liked to do a 2 bridge kiss, but the wind and seas did not cooperate. The alternative of sailing around Angel Island is also a pleasant outing, so we had fun out there as always!