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!
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