TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 09 -- FIGHTING WIND AND CURRENT TO THE GATE AND RIDING THEM BACK TO HOME PORT

Bob joined us for our afternoon outing for the first time in several months. Skies had been overcast all day, but a bit of sun was now starting to peek out from time to time. We left port around 2:15 pm, raised single reefed main and put out reefed jib and headed out into the bay. We sailed westward through very lumpy seas created by the wind and the earlier ebb current and then tacked toward the shore again, then tacked away to the west again, taking spray and bumping through the waves.




As we were heading westward, this sailboat was sailing downwind and with the now waxing flood current. As the wind velocity continued to increase, we eventually had to fall off to dead downwind and reef the jib down to a postage stamp size to avoid being overpowered.




A few tacks later, we were sailing past the buoy guarding the rocks on the southwest side of Alcatraz, and this sailboat was heading west over closer to Angel Island.




As we sailed past Harding Rock, we were surprised to see a small flotilla of Optimist dingys heading out toward the middle of the bay in the strong wind and lumpy seas-- the wind now blowing around 25 knots.




As we continued beating toward the gate, we watched as this large sailboat was returning from the gate, sailing downwind under full canvas.




As far as we can see from this photo, the crew of the boat was a solo skipper.




This small Cal sailboat was heading out toward the central bay, sailing off the wind.




This sailboat was heading toward Sausalito in an area where the winds were not as strong.




As we headed across the bay, we saw this very large yacht steaming eastward...




...with passengers on the top deck of the MICHELLA ROSE.




We were on a tack toward Yellow Bluff as this large sailboat came out of Sausalito and was heading across the bay, sailing off the wind with full canvas flying.




We encountered some wind holes as we headed toward Yellow Bluff, so we tacked and sailed all the way across the bay to just inside the south tower, then tacked to try to sail out on port tack, and finally sailing out on starboard tack with Bob at the helm. It had taken us 4 hours to beat our way out the gate.




We just sailed out a short ways, then came about and headed back inside on port tack broad reach, eventually doing a chicken gybe to head for home port, pulling out the jib to full for downwind power. As we passed Aquatic Park, we saw this small sailboat with full canvas struggling to beat westward and flogging her sails drastically-- can't have been much fun on that boat!




The city was enjoying partial hazy sunshine...




....the charter power boat named NEPTUNE was heading out....




... and the charter ketch PRIVATEER was raising sails in the lee of pier 45.




Pier 39 flags were fluttering in a breeze of about 25 knots as we sailed past. Overall, winds on the bay were in the 25-35 knot range while we were out. Our return trip from the gate consumed less than a half hour of time, comparred to the 4 hours to beat there.

We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and prepare for landing, then motored around the pier and into the marina, landing fine in mostly slack current. A wind-challenged outing, but still it was great to be out there!