SUNDAY, 21 JUNE 09 -- DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT UNTIL A GOOD WIND CAME UP, BUT THEN WE HAD TO GO IN

We headed out about 9:30 am, hoping to get in a couple of hours of morning sailing before having lunch and then going hiking with my daughter in the Marin Headlands. A light easterly breeze was blowing and a strong flood current flowing. We put out full canvas and headed out into the bay, hoping the wind would soon shift to the west and freshen to 10 knots or so.



We were mostly drifting eastward with the current with not enough wind to stem the current as PoleCat motorsailed westward and passed to starboard...




...her crew enjoying the warm sunshine, but hoping for some breeze. She continued motoring west for a while and then gave up and retreated back east.




The city was enjoying the brilliant morning sunshine.




Telegraph Hill residences were basking in sunshine, a foreign military vessel was tied up at pier 27, and the SF Police fastboat was motoring away from the vessel.




As we drifted, we saw several pelicans diving in for a fishcatch, like this one who had already swallowed his catch and was about to take off again...




...and here is taking flight again-- OMG, I love watching these beauties.




It was 10:20 am on the Ferry Building clock when I started the engine and begain motoring westward, hoping to find some freshening westerly wind.




Some kayakers were paddling against the current near the ends of the piers.




A woman was rowing her skiff eastward.




We found some flukey westerly wind as we approached the east marina and began to try to beat westward against wind and flood as this SF fireboat steamed past.




The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering moderately in the westerly wind.

We managed to sail just past the end of pier 39 and then the wind fluked out and we were driven back east again by the flood current.





Finally a freshening breeze came up out of the west and we began to make some good headway as we beat westward for a while. The winds came up stronger and stronger, and we ran out of time so came about and headed back, as neighbor boat PUKA DWAI headed out, sailing northward....



....her crew enjoying the warm sunshine and the freshening breeze.




A rainbow colored neighbor boat also came out, flying full canvas, and sailing well-heeled-over as the wind freshened even more.



I furled in the jib as we sailed past the marina and then doused the main between pier 35 and the east seawall before motoring into the marina.


Out 12-13 mile hike in the headlands was exhilarating and here are a some of my favorite photos from the hike.





Here, a lovely large ketch flying her kite is seen from a ridge on the headlands.




The Golden Gate Bridge from Slacker Ridge.




Race boats heading for windward mark as seen from Slacker Ridge.




A massive rock along the coastal trail.




A flowering succulent along the trail.




Rodeo Lagoon.




Rocks off Rodeo Beach.




Small lizard beside the trail.




Caterpillar crossing the path.




Angel Island in evening light.

After the hike, we gave a ride into the city to a man who had been waiting for a GG Transit bus for over an hour, and then had dinner at our favorite Vietnamese Restaurant in the Mission-- overall a fantastic Father's Day for me!