THURSDAY, 27 AUGUST 09 -- LATE AFTERNOON OUTING-- THREADING THROUGH 505 RACE FLEET THEN HEADING FOR SAUSALITO AND BACK AT SUNSET

We headed out around 5 pm for a late afternoon sail with beautiful cloud patterns over the bay that suggested we might have a lovely sunset. Winds were moderate, so we were tempted to use full canvas, but decided to stick with single reefed main and full jib as we headed out into the bay.




We immediately found ourselves in the middle of a large fleet of 505 race boats beating upwind toward the finish line. The boats are participating in the SAP 505 World Championship hosted by the St. Francis YC, so there are boats from the USA and many other countries of the world, like this one from Denmark between us and Alcatraz....




... but eventually passing us, heading for the shore of the city.




We were dodging boats while beating westward ourselves, and at one point this boat passed and the crew saw us taking a photo and one of them waived.




Here's a group of 505s are beating upwind in front of pier 39, one from Germany, one from Australia and one from the USA. I saw several Aussie boats in the fleet.




This 505 was from Great Britain and was sailing west on port tack.




Here's a USA boat also heading west on port tack with one of the 2 crewmen hiked way out to balance the boat for maximum speed.











Here, two Aussie boats are heading west on port tack, and we ducked the closest one-- not insisting on our starboard tack right of way.




Eventually we passed in front of this group of boats in the fleet, all heading west on port tack.




This 505 passed close to us and so we caught this close-up shot of the crew




This German boat passed astern of us, looking good as they sailed west on port tack.




The wind velocity was variable, so the hiking out crew members had to adjust their hiked out position to keep the boat level. Here, the hiker is more inboard when the breeze is lighter.




This 505 is apparently from Bermuda and is on a beat toward the shore on starboard tack.















We ducked behind this group of four boats in front of Aquatic Park, the nearest two on starboard tack and the more distant two on port tack.




We passed in front of this 505 with one crew member hiked out only part way-- not laying flat out like some we saw...




.... including this one.




This race boat was one of the laggers in the fleet, here heading west with the beautiful cloud patterns in the west and overhead giving us the possibility of a beautiful sunset.




The wind velocity increased as evening wore on so these lagging boats had more wind and this one was not able to flatten the boat even though one of the crew was hiked way out.




After almost all of the 505 fleet had passed us, we headed across the bay on beam reach, enjoying our views of the sensational cloud patterns over the bay.




As we continued toward the mouth of Richardson Bay, we spotted PRIVATEER heading back toward home port.




She was sailing close hauled and well heeled-over in the strong winds.




Big puffy clouds extended overhead between us and the gate.




The sun was lowering in the sky toward the hills of the Sausalito and the Marin Headlands.




We reached the mouth of Richardson Bay and then came about and headed back toward home port, initially sailing close hauled in the lighter breeze and gradually falling off as the wind velocity increased. Eventually, ADVENTURE CAT, our old pal, passed astern of us, heading for the gate on her sunset sail.




As the sun continued to lower in the sky, whispy lower clouds were pushed over the bay by the strong winds.




With strong winds all the way across the bay, we were soon approaching the shore of the city which was still enjoying some evening sunshine.




Beautiful puffy clouds extended over the bay and over Alcatraz.




As we sailed between Alcatraz and the cityfront, this Pilot boat blasted past us, heading for the and creating a big wake for us to bang through.




This lovely dark-hulled sailboat was heading west with full canvas and looking good.




Several flocks of pelicans flew past, some way overhead like this flock.




Soon we were sailing past the end of pier 39, where the flags were fluttering in a breeze now at about 10 knots.




I pulled in the jib all the way so we could sail around with main only to watch the sundown and sunset and eventually spotted the CALIFORNIA HORNBLOWER heading out on a cruise.




We sailed past the east marina and then heaed back out into the bay again to watch the sunset, and this neighbor boat was heading toward the marina entrance.




As the sun continued to drop behind the headlands, we could see that some nice sunset color was beginning to develop.




PRIVATEER was now heading out for her sunset sail with quite a few passengers aboard.




As we beat westward with main only, the sunset continued to develop.




The puffy clouds over the city were beginning to take on a bit of sunset color.




This flock of pelicans was flying quite low over the water....




.... while this lone pelican flew overhead and was spotted diving for fish from time to time.





As the sun set in the west, some brilliant color began to develop on the clouds over the headlands and the gate.




As skies began to darken, the half moon brightened in the evening sky....




... and sunset color developed on the clouds all over the bay and the city, giving us a 360 degree sunset display.




Eventually, spectacular sunset colors developed on the cloud bank in the west...




... and eventually faded toward the horizon as ADVENTURE CAT approached home port.


We then headed into the marina and landed fine in the light ebb current, keeping the main up as we sailed and motorsailed into port.