SAILING ON S.F. BAY

2008-01-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

MONDAY, 31 DEC. 07-- WONDERFUL SUNSET SAIL -- BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

The day was sunny and cool, with a northeasterly wind blowing in the morning, then dying out in the early afternoon and finally freshening up again mid-afternoon.

When we headed out about 3 pm, only a light northeasterly was blowing, but the forecast was for freshening winds. This was our 175th sailing outing of 2007.

We headed out into the central bay and watched this sailboat heading east toward the Bay Bridge.

We headed west on a broad reach starboard tack and watched as this Islander sailboat blasted northward on a close reach starboard tack.

Pier 39 flags were fluttering more strongly as we passed with the wind freshening.

As we continued westward toward the gate, we enjoyed watching the city enjoying the clear air and brilliant sunshine.

Behind us, a lovely Beneteau was sailing northward on the choppy sea surface due to the flood current and long fetch out of the north.

In front of us, RAZZBERRY was blasting across the bay on close reach starboard tack in a breeze that now was blowing about 15 knots.

A bit later, VALENTINE crossed in front of us, also heading north across the bay.

Just off the south shore of Alcatraz, another sailboat was headed west.

Between us and the gate, this small sailboat was in the process of trimming sail after tacking to the north.

Over by Angel Island, a number of sailboats were enjoying the good winds-- the charter sloop RUBY was among them.

The city's hills-- Russian, Nob, and Pacific Heights-- were enjoying the brilliant sunshine.

As we continued west toward the gate, I wondered if we would see any wind or kite surfers, and sure enough, a lone windsurfer was out there, enjoying the 15-20 knot winds.

The LAURIE-EM, a center cockpit cutter out of pier 39, was motoring toward the gate.

The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands were vivid and beautiful in the clear air and brilliant late sunshine.

We sailed out the gate just north of the south tower, watching the surf hitting the shore near Fort Point. Didn't see any surfers there, but it's likely that there were some enjoying the surfing waves.

As we sailed out the gate, a large container ship was steaming out at the same time.

Outside the gate, this lovely cutter sailboat was heading back toward the gate.

We tacked and headed back toward the gate, sailing north, and then tacking before we hit the large wake of that freighter and sailing inside the gate to the southeast, then tacked to the north again and watched as this sailboat was crossing the bay in the opposite direction.

The sun was reflecting off the base of the north tower as we sailed north toward Richardson Bay.

That cutter had tacked to the southeast also, and then tacked inside the gate toward Horseshoe Cove.

As we continued northward, the sun was starting to drop down behind the cloud bank in the west.

The Golden Gate Bridge was standing proud near sundown.

Ahead of us, jet contrails made an X in the sky-- the sign of a kiss-- perhaps a good omen for the new year to come.

We continued northward in softening breeze, putting on foulie pants to keep warm as the temperature dropped nearing sundown, then we tacked and headed back toward the central bay, eventually being passed by that same cutter sailboat that was now heading toward Sausalito.

The city ahead of us was enjoying the last rays of the setting sun.

As we sailed toward home port on close reach port tack, we were watching as the sun began to set through the gate.

We tacked back to the west to enable us to continue to watch the sundown through the gate.

The last sun rays were filling the sky above with golden light.

We headed back toward home port to watch the sunset at it developed through and over the gate, the city and the headlands.

The brilliant sunset colors soon intensified-- the sky seemed to be on fire.

The sunset color on the underside of the clouds was like a deeply dyed carpet.

The sunset persisted for many minutes as he blasted toward home port in the good breeze.

Eventually, the sunset color began to fade toward the horizon, but retaining its vividness.

City lights began to brighten against the dusky sky.

As we approached home port, in darkening skies, the city lights were gleaming.

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2007-12-30T23:15:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, 30 DEC. 07-- AFTERNOON AND SUNSET SAIL IN LIGHT WINDS

Weather and winds have not been conducive for sailing for about a week now, but today turned out to be a nice sunny, though chilly, day with a northerly breeze that was blowing in the 5-10 knot range about mid-day.

However, when we left port about 3 pm, the breeze had softened to just a few knots out of the northeast.

A small sailboat was sailing westward on starboard tack as we headed out toward the central bay.

As we motored out past the marina seawall, this sailboat passed to starboard, just ghosting along, and we later saw that her name was WAYFARER.

Her 2 person crew was enjoying the sunny afternoon, though in my opinion, it was not warm enough for a short sleeve shirt.

As we headed west on starboard tack, this catamaran crossed in front of us, heading north.

This small sailboat was heading west as well.

A small Hunter sailboat, named DUVAL, was motorsailing eastward....

....as was this Catalina named IRISH AYES.

Unfortunately, the light breeze began to soften down to almost no breeze, so we came about and headed east, going with the declining flood current, so we could eventually ride the ebb back toward home port if necessary, and soon spotted WAYFARER motorsailing back to the west.

Way over in the east, the cranes of the Port of Oakland were all lined up like a group of ravenous dinosaurs.

The Ferry Building was in shadow at about a half hour to sundown.

This small sailboat was motorsailing westward.

As sundown neared, the sun was glinting off a window on one of the financial district buildings.

At sundown, a cloud pattern in the southwest looked like a space alien running through the sky.

The clouds in the north and west were now painted with sunset colors.

The sunset in the southwest gradually intensified in color.

The breeze freshened again to a few knots and this sailboat passed to port, heading west....

....into the sunset.

Sunset color persisted in the southwest....

.... as city lights on shore began to brighten.

Lights on the Ferry Building came on.

The sunset began to fade toward the horizon.

City lights continued to brighten in the dusk sky....

...and brightened more at twilight.

It was dark on Telegraph HIll as we motored into port.

+++

2007-12-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

TUE., 18 DEC. 07-- SHORT SUNSET SAIL IN CHILLY HAZY AIR

A nice westerly wind was blowing in the late afternoon yesterday as we left port, but the air after the overnight and morning rain was heavy and hazy.

As we headed out into the central bay, we spotted this sailboat heading downwind to the east.

In the northwest, an inbound container ship was heading for the port of Oakland, but was using the normal outbound shipping lane for some unknown reason.

As we headed west against the waxing flood current, we noticed that the flags on teh end of pier 39 were fluttering lightly in the declining breeze.

The Alcatraz ferry was heading back to port with far fewer passengers than one would see in the warmer weather, and with puffy low clouds overhead.

A Red and White ferry passed with few passengers aboard.

A short time later, the sun went down behind the Presidio hills.

In the northwest, an inbound tanker's starboard hull was illuminated by the setting sun.

A bit of sunset color was showing up on the underside of the low clouds in the northwest, as a Blue and Gold ferry rounded Alcatraz.

The breeze was declining to just a couple of knots, so we tacked and headed back toward home port as the half moon brightened in the sky.

The Blue and Gold ferry passed to port, also carrying few passengers.

A heavily loaded container ship was steaming westward in the outbound sea lane.

As the sky darkened, the half moon brightened.

As we approached home port, the city lights began to shine in the dusky sky.

We doused sail as we approached the marina, and city lights were brightening as we steamed into port.

Later in the evening, the half moon was shining brightly in the night sky.

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2007-12-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY, 13 DEC. O7-- NICE AFTERNOON AND SUNSET SAIL!

In the early afternoon, a light westerly wind was blowing and the sun was shining brightly through a thin layer of cloud covering part of the sky.

We headed out of port about 2:30 pm, hoping to have enough wind to sail out to a position for watching the sundown through the gate and to then sail back to port, though at that time, the breeze was only a few knots in strength.

Out on the central bay, this sailboat was headed west, sailing with the waxing ebb current.

We headed northeast on a broad reach with the moderate ebb current dragging us northward as we sailed along, with the city receding behind us.

The air was a bit hazy, and out in the west, a sailboat was enjoying some time at the gate.

In the north, by the shore of Richmond, a couple of sailing yachts were visible, one headed west, after leaving port, and the other headed east, going back into port.

Over by Angel Island, a sailboat was sailing southward, heading toward us.

Way in the west, in the hazy air, we spotted a couple of other sailboats, one headed toward Sausalito and the other heading east across the bay.

Angel Island was enjoying the hazy mid-afternoon sunshine.

As we ghosted toward the northeast, this catamaran ferry, named MENDOCINO, blasted past, heading toward Vallejo probably.

A bit later, that sailboat over by Angel Island was passing the lee shore of Alcatraz....

....while that ketch out of Richmond was heading west toward Raccoon Straits....

...and that golden-hulled other sailboat was continuing toward the Richmond marina.

The city was almost hidden in haze as a sailboat passed, heading east.

We eventually headed up to the north as the breeze freshened out of the southwest and sailed almost all the way to the stationary navigation platform on Southhampton Shoal where a flock of birds was holding a convention.

Behind us, the far away city was still enjoying some hazy sunshine.

We came about and headed southeast on close reach starboard tack with a now-almost-southerly breeze, and then tacked over toward Angel Island, passing the buoy just east of the island.

The sun dropped behind the hill on Angel Island as we sailed westward toward it.

We then tacked to head southeast again out into the central bay, where the sun was beginning to set over the gate, but still had 10 or 15 minutes until sundown.

Wanting to catch the sundown through the gate, and zipping along on a good breeze, we decided to tack back to the northwest to kill some time while awaiting the sundown, and soon caught the sun dropping behind Angel Island again.

We then tacked back to the southeast and headed out into the central bay again, as the sun was dropping further toward the surface of the sea, outlining this outbound freighter.

The atmosphere over the southwestern horizon enlarged the setting sun to a size almost the height of the Golden Gate Bridge off the surface of the sea.

The setting sun stayed a hazy round ball as it began to drop into the ocean.....

....... but soon was distorted in shape by the atmospheric lens .....

...and again outlined that outbound freighter as it started to disappear in a blaze of sunset glory! [You can see the entire progress of the sundown and sunset in the photos on my photo album for this outing at this url:
http://cbergstedt.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album28

After sundown, a colorful sunset sky lingered above the horizon and over the Presidio Hills.

A sliver of moon was shining ever more brightly in the sky at dusk.

The sunset began to combine brilliant oranges with pale pinks....

...and the sun was brilliantly illuminating a jet contrail above the Presidio Hills.

City lights began to brighten at dusk-- magic time on the bay!!!!

The sunset color eventually receded toward the horizon as we sailed past Alcatraz.

The lights of the financial district buildings were bright and beautiful as we approached the shore of the city.

In the dark sky of the southwest, the sliver of the moon glowed like a silver bowl.

We motorsailed the last eighth of a mile or so to the cityfront, dousing sail as we went, then prepared for landing just west of pier 35 and motored into the marina filled with the pleasure of over 3 spectacular hours out on the bay and nature's grandeur!

2007-12-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY, 11 NOV. 07-- SHORT SAIL TOWARD THE BAY BRIDGE

A very strong northerly wind overnight had us rocking in the marina, but with morning light the wind started moderating. Michael joined us and we headed out for a few hours of sailing about 12:30 pm.

As we left port, the northeasterly breeze was blowing at about 5 knots or so.

Once out on the central bay, we headed east toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and watched as FULL TILT was sailing westward on a broad reach starboard tack, while we were on a close reach port tack. The fall and winter winds give us a nice variety of wind directions and sailing conditions.

As we continued on toward the east in a breeze that had freshened up to about 10 knots, we spotted this islander 36 blasting westward past the shore of Yerba Buena Island, sailing with the waxing ebb current, and looking good!

Later, we spotted this blue-hulled sailboat headed west with the current and also looking good.

With the sun in the southwest, the financial district buildings were mostly in shadow at this time of day, and some thn clouds covered portions of the city and the bay.

As we approached the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, we could see a barge positioned next to the Delta tower base in the shadow of the bridge-- apparently repairing the damage to the wooden fendering that the Cosco Busan had shattered during its sideswiping of the tower. Incidentally, the SF bar pilot in charge of the ship has had his license yanked finally after this last, and most serious, of several piloting blunders.

The breeze declined in the lee of Yerba Buena island and, after several attempts of gybing back and forth, and getting a few puffs that would give us some headway against the current, we gave up on sailing through the D-E span and around Treasure island, and headed back toward the cityfront on broad reach starboard tack, eventually watching as the little blue hulled sailboat was retreating eastward.

She also got stalled out in the stronger current along the shore of Yerba Buena and probably had to begin motoring to make headway against the current.

We headed up, hardened in the sail and headed for home port with the ebb current assisting our progress, so that on that one tack and quite soon we were in the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and prepare for landing. It was an enjoyable few hours on the bay, even though we didn't manage to sail as far as we would have liked.

2007-12-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, 9 DEC. 07-- SAILING TOWARD THE BAY BRIDGE IN LIGHT WINDS

Sunday morning started with a light northeasterly breeze that eventually died out, but fortunately, around noontime, a light westerly started to blow. Michael joined us and we headed out for a few hours of sailing.

Only a few knots of breeze were ruffling the flags on shore as we left the marina, hoping that we would eventually see some freshening of the wind.

We headed out into the central bay and began sailing to the east, direct downwind on the light westerly, enjoying the beautiful cloud patterns radiating over the city and Telegraph Hill.

Way over by Yerba Buena Island, a nice looking sailboat was heading north, sailing with the waxing ebb current and making good headway despite light winds.

Near the Bay Bridge, this Hunter sailboat, named PERSEVERANCE, was also headed north, sailing with the current while we were ghosting along, sailing against the current.

A short time later, that sailboat that we saw heading north was retreating back to the south along the shore of Yerba Buena.

Behind us, this large C&C sailboat, named SHENANIGANS, was motorsailing along the cityfront.

A small sailboat was sailing down the cityfront, having just passed the pier 39 marina.

SHENANIGANS was continuing to motorsail along the cityfront ....

....with its crew enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

This catboat that earlier was sailing against the current was now heading back west, sailing with the current....

...followed a short time later by SHENANIGANS.

The breeze freshened up to 7 or 8 knots and we began to make some good headway toward the Bay Bridge, gybing back and forth between an east heading and and south heading, while in the meanwhile this sailboat over by Yerba Buena was struggling against the strong ebb and making very little headway.

Along the cityfront, this small sailboat was now motorsailing against the current.

Another small sailboat was motorsailing toward the Bay Bridge against the current.

The breeze started to decline and we gave up on reaching the Bay Bridge, and began ghosting toward the cityfront with the ebb current dragging us northward, and then we tacked to the north, passing this large sailboat motorsailing down the cityfront.

We sailed out into the central bay, with the current, making good headway and then tacking into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and then motor into port, happy to have spent a few hours on our beautiful bay.

After having a snack, I headed out for a walk along the waterfront to catch the sunset. While passing Aquatic Park, I spotted SIERRA II sailing down the cityfront, the homes of Tiburon wearing sunset color in the background.

Two other sailboats were headed west across the bay.

The buildings on Alcatraz were wearing sunset color also.

From the top of the hill at Fort Mason, the sun setting into the clouds over Presidio Heights was beautiful....

....and spread color over the southwestern sky.

Eventually, the ribbon of clouds in the west took on some brilliant sunset colors.

Brilliant golden sunset color near the horizon combined with grayish purples in the clouds above after sundown, as viewed through the trees near the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Sunset color near the horizon and twilight sky above greeted our eyes as we looked over the boats in the San Francisco Marina. It's more fun to watch all of this while out on the sea, but seeing it from the shore is nice also.

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2007-12-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, 8 DEC. 07-- SHORT SAIL IN LIGHT WINDS

All morning, it seemed as if there would be no breeze at all for sailing all day, but in the early afternoon a light westerly came up and we hurried to get out there and take advantage of it.

When we left port, the westerly had virtually died out again, but we hoped for some wind on the bay.

We headed out into the central bay and sailed to the northeast with the city receding behind, but the waxing ebb current dragging us northward.

Out in the west, a number of sailboats were probaby struggling with the ebb current.

A couple of sailboas were over by the shore fo Alcatraz, one sailing with the current and the other motorsailing against it.

This nice Catalina was motorsailing eastward against the current.

Off in the northeast, a couple of sailboats were sailing against the current under spinnaker.

Along the shore of Treasure Island, a cutter-rigged sailboat, flying full canvas, was heading southeast, taking advantage of the lighter current near shore.

A nice sailboat with a large crew and flying a large genoa passed astern, heading south and looking good out there.

Most of the crew was in the cockpit, but one was amidship for some reason that was unclear at this point, but the lines dragging in the water should have been a clue.

In the eastern sky, the MetLife blimp was poking around.

Looking back, we now saw that that sailboat with large crew had raised her spinnaker, but had not yet dropped her genoa.

She was soon sailing nicely along the cityfront under main and spinnaker.

Over in the northeast, we saw a group of sailboats racing in the Berkeley Y.C.'s midwinter series, and wished we had strong enough winds to get over there to watch and photograph the race boats, but alas, the freshening breeze was not materializing. As I'm writing this, a strong northly wind has blown up in the evening... drat... wish it had arrived in the early afternoon!

A large sailboat with just a couple of crewmembers, passed astern, making some headway against the current.

A short time later, another very large and beautiful sailboat, perhaps a Swan, passed astern, looking great and making fast headway, sailing with the current.....

....with a sizeable crew in the cockpit.

A nice looking Catalina passed a bit later, also looking good and making good headway, sailing with the current.

Only the skipper at the helm was visible on CAMILLE as she passed.

It became clear that the wind was not going to freshen, so we headed toward home port, and watched as this sailboat way over in the southwest was sailing against the current.

This cute Cal 22 passed to starboard, sailing northeast with poled out jib, but being dragged north by the current.

Her crew was clearly engrossed in a conversation on some topic.

Over in the east, a small sailboat that looked like a Hunter was sailing north with the current.

The breeze started to die out, so we had no choice but to start motorsailing toward home, and as we neared the cityfront, we saw the charter ketch PRIVATEER heading out....

....with a sizeable group of passengers.

As we motored into the fairway between the east marina seawall and pier 35, these two sailboats were motorsailing to the east behind us.....

... as were some other sailboats further east.

It was nice to be out on the water for a while, but sure hope we get some good sailing winds on sunday.

2007-12-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, 2 DEC. 07-- SAILING WITH OLIVIER AND BROOKE ON CORTO MALTESE-- TO THE GATE AND BACK

Olivier and Brooke had already left port and were sailing over by Blossom Rock when I returned his earlier phone call, but offered to come back into port to pick me up if I wanted to join them for their outing. I arranged to meet them on the end of D dock and hustled to get ready to go over there for the rendezvous.

A nice easterly wind was blowing and skies were overcast as we left port.

We raised single reef main and pulled out a reefed jib and headed north with the overcast financial district receding behind us and the strong winds of the morning had rolled up some big wind waves that were on the beam of Corto Maltese and rocking us around.

The Islander 36 named Tenacious passed aft, sailing under main only.

The crew of Tenacious was well-bundled-up against the windy chill of the afternoon.

Brooke was at the helm as we blasted northward toward the lee side of Angel island.

As we passed the lee side of Alcatraz, a nice sailboat named SERENDIPITY passed to port, also sailing main only.

Off to starboard, a skiff-rigged small catamaran named ICATOR blasted past. Note that this boat has what appears to be a buoyancy bomb on the top of the mast as well as some anti-flip flaps on both the port an starboard sides, amidship-- probably to avoid a complete turtling of the boat if she flips, making her easier to right.

Behind us, a lovely J109 was blasting eastward with the port rail in the water.

A Catalina named ADVENTURE was heading toward the gate on port tack.

We eventually tacked and headed toward the gate on port tack close reach, and enjoyed watching this lovely traditional wooden ketch blasting past to starboard.

A bit later, this small sailboat passed, heading toward Raccoon Straits.

We had good winds all the way to just outside Horseshoe Cove, and on the way we passed this lovely dark-hulled Beneteau.

The Golden Gate Bridge was standing under overcast skies with some bright areas further in the south.

Winds near the gate were light and variable in direction and we had to tack several times before we were finally able to shoot the gate, and watching a freighter entering the bay with what looked like some giant propeller blades stacked on the bow.

We lingered in the light winds outside the gate, enjoying views of the bridge and the headlands and hoping for a freshening breeze that might enable us to sail out to Pt. Bonita, but with no luck, so we came about and headed back inside the gate.

A bit of blue sky showed itself in the southeast as we ghosted back toward the gate with some light flood current assist.

About a half mile inside the gate, we picked up the same strong southeaterly breeze that took us most of the way to the gate, and were soon blasting eastward while watching some brightening sky in the southeast and some dingies playing around near the shore.

Behind us, some lightening sky in the south created a lovely pattern of light and dark in the sky and on the sea surface.

A small flock of pelicans flew past close to the surface of the bay.

The city was still under overcast skies as we sailed past Aquatic Park.

We had to tack a couple of times but were soon passing pier 35, and watching this J120 raise her main and head out for a late afternoon sail, while another sallboat was sailing into the lee of pier 33.

As we headed into the lee of pier 33 to douse sails, this old gaff rigged small sailboat passed, heading downwind on the southeasterly breeze.

It was great to spend a few hours on the bay for the third day in a row.

2007-12-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, 1 DEC. 07-- AFTERNOON AND SUNSET SAIL-- LIGHT WINDS AND FANTASTIC CLOUD FORMATIONS PRODUCING SPECTACULAR SUNDOWN!!!

John Navas joined us for our afternoon outing about 1:30 pm. Winds had been strong-- in the range of 15-20 knots in the morning so we were hoping for good winds to sail to the gate and back again.

However, by the time we left port, the breeze had already started to soften, and the city was mostly overcast with lowering clouds.

Out on the central bay, this small sailboat was sailing north with a reefed main.

As we entered the central bay, heading west on the light southwest breeze, BREAKOUT passed in front of us, motorsailing downwind after finishing the earlier mid-winter race.

This sailboat was sailing downwind in the light 2-3 knot winds that were only slightly ruffling the flags on the end of pier 39.

A lovely dark-hulled Beneteau passed us to port, heading for the cityfront and looking good with its large genoa flying.

We sailed to just inside the east shore of Alcatraz and then tacked back toward the cityfront as the sun was beginning to create some dramatic light and shadow shows on the clouds over the bay.

Beautiful lowering cloud patterns extended over the south half of the central bay and the city.

As we sailed toward the cityfront on starboard tack close reach, the flood current was pushing us eastward, and we enjoyed watching this nice ketch sailing downwind along the cityfront. with some of the buildings on shore in sun and some in shadow of the clouds.

After sailing near the cityfront in the lee of pier 45, we tacked to the west again and watched as this nice sailboat passed, flying a colorful spinnaker and looking good.

Behind us, a cat boat was also flying a spinnaker-- first time I've seen this-- and sailing down the cityfront to the east.

A bit later, this Santana 22, flying a spinnaker of gawd-awful-color, passed us.

A lovely old traditional sailboat with large main sail passed us a short time later.

Clouds over the city were beginning to part somewhat, leaving the city more in sunshine than in shadow, and looking beautiful as always.

As we ghosted toward Alcatraz again, PRIVATEER passed to port, heading home to pier 39 from a charter outing.

Off to the north, this lovely Cal sailboat was enjoying brilliant sunshine and looking good.

Alcatraz and the beautiful old lighthouse there was enjoying strong sunshine as well.

The old water storae tank on the island is almost beautiful in its decrepitude....

....as is the abandoned factory building with broken out windows.

We managed to ghost past the weather side of Alcatraz, and soon saw our old pal ADVENTURE CAT heading for the gate.

Dramatically beautiful light and shadow patterns now began to display on the cloud patterns between us and the gate....

...between us and Mt. Tam.....

....over Angel Island....

....and between us and the Marin Headlands.

We came about and headed downwind to the northeast to stay in position to watch the sundown through the gate, and watched as this canary yellow-hulled sailboat approached from the east.

Soon the sun began to set into a cloud bank on the horizon, creating a fantastic light and color display on the clouds.

As the sun dropped behind the cloud bank over the horizon, the color display on that cloud bank and the overhead clouds was strong and beautiful.

Dramatic color filled the sky over the horizon as the sun set.

We headed up toward home port and watched as the city lights came up in the darkening skies after sunset.

The city is especially beautiful as lights come up at twilight, and here the sunset is reflected off the flat face of the lovely 101 California building.

A monstrous cloud bank hung over Russian Hill and seemed ready to gobble the building there as we approached home port.

We doused sail after passing the marina and then readied for landing and motored into the marina, happy to have experienced the dramatically beautiful scenes that mother nature arranged for us on this outing.

2007-12-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY, 30 NOV. 07-- NICE SAILING TO THE GATE AND BACK AND A BEAUTIFUL SUNDOWN!

We headed out about 1:30 pm, with Bob from Kentfield, joining us again, for our 10th and last outing of the month of November-- far fewer than our usual 16 outings due to the oil spill event and lack of wind on some of our usual sailing days.

A light breeze of less than 5 knots was blowing as we headed out of port, but we had brilliant sunshine and tidal currents on the bay were light-- starting with a flood current that would turn to ebb around sunset.

PRIVATEER, the charter ketch from F dock, had steamed out of port ahead of us, put up full canvas, including the mizzen sail that is not deployed when winds are strong, and was heading west, looking good!

We also headed west on the southwest breeze with the flood current pushing us northward, sailed to near the shore of Alcatraz then tacked back toward the city, and tacked away to the west again as we approached the shore, the city behind us enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

As we sailed westward on close-hauled port tack, this lovely dark hulled sailboat was sailing downwind past the southern shore of Alcatraz.

A spill chaser boat with an odd looking bow sructure was steaming toward the city at high velocity for some unknown reason.

As we sailed westward, we began to approach a large inbound freighter that was just ghosting eastward and forced us to tack back toward the cityfront again.

When once again back sailing westward on port tack, we saw PRIVATEER already heading home and sailing along the south shore of Alcatraz.

The city always looks so beautiful from a distance, out on the water, on a clear sunny afternoon!

As we continued westward, a Coast Guard patrol boat was steaming toward the gate, passing us to starboard....

.... and in the west, we spotted this lovely Folkboat, sailing downwind to the north.

Behind us, a small sailboat, sailing main only, was now passing the south shore of Alcatraz...

... and a short time later, we spotted that same Folkboat heading on that same course-- they probably gybed onto starboard tack broad reach to head east.

We sailed westward to a point just west of Harding Rock and then tacked back to the south again as the winds in that region were softer, and we sailed past this sand dredge that was just about full and ready to head back to port.

A bit later, we spotted this lovely sailboat flying a rainbow colored asymmetrical spinnaker heading downwind and back from the gate.

Over by the shore, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was making one of its last runs of the season and heading home after a trip to the gate.

A bit later, we spotted the MetLife blimp heading our way from the north.

Winds in the south half of the bay had freshened to over 10 knots and we were soon making great headway on starboard tack, sailing to just inside the Blackaller buoy off the shoreline, where we had a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the headlands behind.

We tacked onto port tack and headed for the gate, pointing toward center span as this tourist helicopter shot the gate, diving under the bridge deck.

Residual flood current and a wind shift to more westerly forced us to sail to just inside the north tower of the bridge and from there we tacked onto starboard tack and headed out the gate near midspan.

The bridge and the headlands with its part sunkissed and part shaded cliff regions are breathtakingly beautiful! We never tire of experiencing these remarkable sights!

We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside, eventually encountering this small sailboat off starboard and heading for the gate.

A bit later, we spotted this Cal 25 sailing southward toward the gate and passing Horseshoe Cove and the buildings of Ft. Baker.

We thought she would probably shoot the gate, but not so... she denied herself that pleasure and retreated back toward Horseshoe Cove.

A small catamaran was also heading for the gate, but we later saw here just outside Horseshoe Cove, pointed into the wind with sails flogging-- so what gives with this chickening out on shooting the gate?

We were sailing to the northeast waiting for an outbound freighter to pass so we could head more to the north to await the sundown, and spotted that same Folkboat heading back toward her home port, the SF marina.

A small flock of pelicans flew past. We are seeing fewer and fewer as winter nears and soon there will be no more until next spring.

As we sailed northward, this lovely dark-hulled sailboat passed us to port, and a bit later a Coast Guard patrol boat, heading west, veered off to approach us, making us wonder if they intended to board us for a safety inspection, but they steererd away again, and were just playing around in the area-- just having fun out there????

As we continued to the north, awaiting sundown, another dark-hulled sailboat, flying spinnaker only, approached from our port side.

We eventually gybed and headed back toward home port, and with a couple of maneuvers, managed to position ourselves to watch the sundown into a fog bank on the horizon at about mid-span of the bridge.

Eventually, only the top region of the fog bank was illuminated by the sun as the sky above took on a dusky marmalade color.

A bit later, we spotted that spinnaker only sailboat heading back toward Sausalito, now flying jib only.

As skies darkened after sundown, city lights came up to create another magical evening on the bay.

Dusk gave way to twilight as we ghosted toward home port and city lights brightened on shore.

As we neared home port, skies were dark and city lights gleamed!

We doused sail after passing the marina, readied for landing and motored into port, landing nicely in a light ebb current and very pleased with having spent four delightful hours on our beautiful bay.

2007-11-27T21:37:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY, 27 NOV. 07-- OUTING TO BAY BRIDGE AND BACK

Over the weekend, the breeze was either very light or non-existent, and afternoon currents were very strong, so getting out there was not an attractive proposition and we stayed in port. Same on Monday, but today a light northerly was blowing in the early afternoon so we decided to head out and hope to get in a little bit of sailing anyway.

Only a couple of knots of wind were blowing when we left port about 1:15 pm.

We headed out into the central bay and then pointed our course toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, hoping to sail around Treasure Island, and this Coast Guard patrol boat was headed in that same direction.

The city was locked in haze...

...and, while Alcatraz was enjoying some sunshine, Mt. Tam in the distiance was barely visibile in the haze.

Up in the north of us, a sailboat was heading eastward, toward the north side of Treasure Island.

The Naval Museum on Treasure Island was looking pretty clear as we ghosted along with a waning flood current assist.

Behind us, Telegraph Hill was hazed out, but we now started to experience a freshening northerly of 7-10 knots and began to make some serious headway toward the D-E span.

We spotted a couple of sailboats south of the Bay Bridge, one heading east and the other heading north.

We sailed under the D-E span and enjoyed a distant view of the beautiful lightouse on the south end of Yerba Buena Island.

The breeze south of the Bay Bridge was insufficient to give us any headway toward rounding the south end of Yerba Buena, especially since the ebb current had started, so we headed back toward the D-E span, after this tug siddled up to us and advised that a freighter was coming inbound though we couldn't see any at that time.

After passing under the D-E span again, we sailed parallel to the bridge with the waxing ebb current tending to drag us norhtward, and eventually we were approaching the SF shoreline with the Bay Bridge gleaming behind us.

We tacked back to the north after approaching the Ferry Building.

Behind us, the ferry DEL NORTE was blasting her way toward the Ferry Building terminal.

That freighter that the tug crew member warned us about was just ghosting toward the D-E span as we sailed past pier 23.....

...and she was followed by another freighter, also just ghosting eastward. We later saw another freighter heading out of the Port of Oakland and steaming through the D-E span and surmised that these two freighters were waiting for that one to get out of their way before proceeding.

Out in the west, a sailboat was sailing downwind against the now strong ebb current, and probably making very little headway.

We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and ready for landing, them motored around the pier, encountering this rower on the west side of the pier. He was rowing eastward against the current.

We motored into port and landed fine with the strong ebb current flowing, happy to have been able to enjoy a few hours of fall sailing with at least some wind to propel us around a small part of the bay.

2007-11-22T23:43:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY, 22 NOV. 07-- SPECTACULAR SUNDOWN AND FULL MOON!!!!!!!!!!

A beautiful sunny and clear Thanksgiving Day in San Francisco with no breeze most of the morning. We needed to leave port by 1:15 or so to avoid dragging the keel in the mud at low tide and so hoped that a breeze would come up. By 1 pm, a light breeze was blowing and we prepared to head out for a sail, planning to stay out until about 6 pm, when the flood current will have filled in again with enough depth.

Only a couple of knots of breeze were blowing over the city as we headed out of port.
WE hoped that the breeze would freshen substantially sometime during the afternoon and early evening.

As we headed out into the central bay, a large container ship was steaming past the city, heading for the Port of Oakland.

We were being dragged westward by the strong ebb current, though we were pointing to the north, sailing slowly away from the shore, and then we tacked back toward the lee of pier 45 as this lovely sailboat was motorsailing eastward against the current. The city behind this sailboat was enjoying the brilliant sunshine and clear, clean air.

We tacked back to the north again, headed toward Alcatraz and this nice sailboat passed astern, motorsailing eastward also.

Way over by the shore of Treasure Island, this sailboat was sailing with the ebb current to the north.

This sailboat was attempting to sail eastward against the ebb current, and making little if any progress.

This Tartan sailboat was heading back from the gate and sailing to the north across the current.

The current dragged us well to the west of Alcatraz, but this shot shows a sailboat sailing with the current between Alcatraz and Angel Island... that's the rock west of Alcatraz in the foreground-- only visible at low tide.

That sailboat we saw earlier, heading east, was now passing astern closer to the cityfront and perhaps making some headway against the current, but mostly likely motorsailing.

Tourists were enjoying the sunshine on the grounds of Alcatraz prison.

The breeze freshened a little bit and we managed to sail northward about half as fast as the ebb current was dragging us westward, as that Tartan sailboat was making slow progress against the current along the headlands.

The charter ketch, PRIVATEER, had left port before we did, and was now headed back toward home port, trying to sail against the current.

Meanwhile, another sailboat was headed for the gate.

Eventually, PRIVATEER gave up and began motorsailing toward home port after rolling up her jib.

We spotted this pelican resting on the surface of the bay-- the only pelican we saw all afternoon.

That Tartan sailboat was now passing to the east of the Sausalito shore and another sailboat was sailing closer to shore.

Way over the east, a couple fo sailboat were sailing with the current-- that's Cal Berkeley in the background, clearly visible due to the clear, clean air.

As usual, Mt. Tam was towering over Richardson Bay-- the air clear enough to see the houses on the lower reaches of the mountain.

This sailboat was trying to sail across the mouth of Richardson Bay, probably heading for home port.

Another sailboat further west was sailing near the shore of Sausalito.

That blue hulled sailboat that we spotted in the east earlier was now sailing near the shore of Angel Island.

The breeze now started to freshen up to about 10 knots or so and we headed back to the southeast, hoping to cross the bay and then head for the gate about sunset, and meanwhile PRIVATEER was heading northwest again on her sunset sailing outing.

We made good headway across the bay and eventually approached the shore of the city west of the Ft. Mason piers, enjoying views of Russian Hill and the tree-covered hill of Ft. Mason.

This lovely sailboat was sailing downwind, heading back from the gate and looking good.

We tacked to the west again and began sailing back across the bay again, still being dragged westward a bit by the waning ebb current, and at one point passing this beach ball floating on deep blue water.

The almost-full moon rose over the Berkeley Hills, ghostly as the sun had not yet gone down.

With a container ship steaming into the bay and clearly planning to use the deep water ship channel, as well as a tub and barge headed out to sea, we decided to tack back toward the SF shore once again and after a couple of tacks, we were in a position to capture the Golden Gate Bridge from near the shore.

Some modest surf was rolling in from the ocean just off Ft. Point and some surfers were playing there.

We sailed out the gate between the south tower and midspan of the bridge, enjoying the vivid views of the bridge and the headland cliffs in the late sunshine.

We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside. The cliffs of the Marin Headlands are expecially beautiful at this time of day.

With sunset nearer, the full moon was now showing up brighter in the powder blue sky.

We sailed back inside the gate on starboard tack, watching as a large flock of terns and seagulls were flitting about on and above the bay surface, perhaps feeding on herring.

After sailing inside for a short distance, we gybed and headed north, passing to the east of the north tower of the GGB just as the sun was behind it.

A short time later, we gybed again and headed toward home port to watch the sundown through the gate, as the city ahead was enjoying the last rays of the sun on the taller buildings.

The full moon was brightening more and more as the eastern sky darkened.

We were perfectly positioned to watch the sun drop into the ocean through the middle of the gate-- an incredible sight!

After sundown, the full moon became quite brilliant in its reflected light.

With waxing flood current assist, but declining breeze, we ghosted toward home port, not in any hurry since we couldn't get into port for an hour after sundown anyway, enjoying the lights of the city as they came up-- here the lights of Aquatic Park and Russian Hill.

The city lights at dusk are always enchantingly beautiful!

The full moon was now creating a lovely path on the sea as she rose over Alcatraz.

City lights were bright and dramatic at twilight....

....and the full moon was at its most gorgeous brightness in the dark sky.

The breeze declined to almost nothing as we were approaching pier 39, so we turned on the engine and doused sail, then prepared the boat for landing and motored into the marina, well pleased with our five hours of sailing on our beautiful bay with all of Mother Nature's drama of sun and moon.

2007-11-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY, 20 NOV. 07-- SUNSET AND ALMOST FULL MOON

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny and clear air day in SF-- finally the late season fog has departed, for good I hope.

We headed out for a late afternoon and sunset sail about 3:30 pm, with a moderate southwesterly breeze blowing. With clear air, everything looks so much more vivid!

As we headed out into the cental bay, this Catalina 34, named AQUAVITE, was sailing downwind with the now waxing flood current.

In the north, we spotted a couple of sailboats, the closer one headed west and the other headed southeast, with the bulk carrier behind steaming out of the Richmond ship channel.

Another bulk carrier, the MORNING CHARM, was headed north around Alcatraz, probably headed for the Port of Richmond.

That closer sailboat was now tacking back to the south, and you can clearly see here that they have left their fenders dangling over the side of the hull--- not good seamanship.

As we sailed to the west against the waxing flood current, we passed the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a breeze of 5-7 knots.

Behind us, a charter ketch from pier 39, the PRIVATEER, was also heading out for a sunset sail.

In the west, Mt. Tam was towering over Richardson Bay and Sausalito with no hint of a marine layer and just a very light haze.

A now empty chemical carrier was steaming out of the north bay toward the south bay.

In the northwest, a sailboat was heading east between Alcatraz and Angel Island, perhaps the same Hunter that we saw in the process of tacking onto starboard tack earlier, and now on port tack again.

The city was enjoying the brilliantly clear air and sunshine...

...as was Alcatraz.

A now-full sand dredge that had harvested a load of sand from the bottom of the bay was steaming eastward toward home port and passed us to port.

Way in the west, a sailboat was returning from the gate and appeared to be heading toward Tiburon.

As we sailed past the south shore of Alcatraz, the setting sun was blazing off the windows of the prison building.

That bulk carrier that we had earlier see steaming out of the Richmond ship channel was now heading toward the gate

A large sailboat was passing Aquatic Park along the cityfront and sailing due east with the current.

PRIVATEER, sailing a bit more off the wind than we, was now passing the south shore of Alcatraz, much nearer to the island than we had been earlier.....

.....and soon thereafter tacked onto starboard tack to avoid being pushed closer to the shore by the flood current as the island took on sunset coloring.

The almost-full moon was brightening in the baby-blue eastern sky,

Angel Island, rising above the lovely blue sea, was enjoying the late afternoon sun rays that cast shadows over her topography.

A while later, PRIVATEER was approaching the cityfront near pier 45, having been pushed eastward by the flood current.

As we ghosted westward in the declining breeze, the sun began to set through the Golden Gate Bridge, accompanied by a marmalade sky above the horizon.

Behind us, a Catalina sailboat was sailing southward toward the Bay Bridge as the eastern sky also took on some sunset color.

We caught some of the last of the sun's rays just behind the Marin Headlands as we continued westward.

We sailed to the northeast of the Harding Rock buoy as the southwestern sky turned to brilliant yellows and oranges.

After the sunsest, we soon tacked and headed to the south on a close reach starboard tack with the flood current pushing us eastward, and enjoyed the sunset colors through the gate and over the headlands as we ghosted along.

The moon was brightening in the darkening sky and lending her reflected glow to the ambiance of the bay and surrounds.

Soon the city lights began to intensify as sundown turned to dusk.

Ahead of us, the Ghiradelli sign was brilliant against the darkening buildings behind.

With darkening skies, glow from the moon assumed more brilliance....

...and city lights intensified their brilliance--- always magic time on the bay!

A sailboat passed to starboard between us and the gate as we continued on toward home port as darkness continued to fall.

The western sky eventually took on a brilliant and deep yellow-orange hue.

In the darkness, the glow of the holiday lights outlining the Embarcadero Center buildings became more distinct, always making the city more festive looking at night.

We doused sail after passing the marina, then readied for landing and motored into port, enjoying the shore lights and reflections as we approached the marina entrance.

A quite strong flood current was flowing through the marina, so we came in high with a bit more speed and nailed our landing-- a gratifying way to end a delightful outing under quite ideal conditions.

2007-11-18T16:57:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, 17 NOV. 07-- SAILING WITH STARLETS!!!!

A bevy of starlets hailed us from the pier as we were beginning our preparations to leave port for an afternoon outing around 12:30 pm, and asked if they could come aboard.

We were, of course, more than pleased to invite them aboard as they were all young, pretty and photogenic! Alas, they were not interested in joining us for our sailing outing, but merely wanted a photo of the gang on a boat to earn 50 points for their 'treasure hunt'-- and actually they were not starlets, but Sonoma State students-- I was going to say 'coeds', but I suspect that term is out of vogue.

It was sunny and warmish in the marina as we headed out, and skies over telegraph hill were partly couldy with a breeze of about 3-5 knots.

We headed out into the central bay, hoping for a burning off of the dense fog layer filling most of that part of the bay, and watched as this Catalina named WHILE I CAN motorsailed westward along the cityfront.

We headed out to the northwest, and ahead of us, ADVENTURE CAT 2 was heading toward the lee side of Alcatraz which was still visible through the mist.

Further to the west, another Catalina was heading westerly into the mist.

We sailed out to the west a while, then tacked back toward shore, and eventually tacked to the west again, planning to beat westward along the cityfront to stay clear of the fog as much as possible, eventually seeing this sailboat come ghosting out of the mist.

Instead of retreating, the fog bank came scudding back in and soon Alcatraz was hidden in the mist, and the city behind us was beginning to be erased as ADVENTURE CAT was heading out and raising her main sail.

We gave up on our outing and headed back toward home port, watching the CAT head toward Alcatraz, soon to be enveloped in the fog bank.

WHILE I CAN was retreating eastward as well.

In the east, we spotted a few other boats still in sunshine and headed west toward the fog bank, but likely to retreat same as we were. Had there been stronger winds, or ebb current instead of waxing flood current, we might have continued sailing down the cityfront toward the Bay Bridge, but didn't want to risk being enveloped in fog even close to the cityfront, or having to motor back to home port against the flood current. So we doused sail after passing the marina, readied for landing and motored into port, making a satisfactory landing even with the flood current pushing through the marina. A most unsatisfying outing in frustratingly foggy conditions that are historically unusual, if not previously unheard of, for mid-November on SF Bay.

Last year, we had one day of fog in early November, and the previous year, 2005, we had no foggy days in November, the last foggy day being on the 29th of October. If, as it seems, global climate change is producing increasing wind velocities on the bay in summer and longer persisting fog patterns in the fall, this is a highly unwelcome development. If the trend continues, it is likely to have an unwelcome negative impact on the boating industry in the Bay Area.

2007-11-17T00:44:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY, 15 NOV. 07-- AFTERNOON SAIL WITH DRAMATIC CLOUDS, FOG, AND SUNSET

After being stuck in port over the weekend because of the closing of the marina due to the oil spill, and several following days with insufficient breeze, a good strong breeze of about 15 knots was blowing in the early afternoon yesterday.

However, by the time that we left port about 2:30 pm, the breeze had alreay started to soften to below 10 knots.

As we left port, we saw this nice sailboat headed west. [That's Red Rock and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in the background, but this boat was just a few hundred yards off the shore of San Francisco-- this is a telephoto optical effect, but shows how clear the air was that day.]

We headed out into the central bay and headed west on the southwest breeze, sailing past the end of pier 39 where the flags were now fluttering in a breeze of only about 7 knots.

Off in the north east, a tanker that had steamed out of the south bay had slowed down-- no tug escort visible here-- but a tug was headed toward the ship.

The city was enjoying the brilliant sunshine and clear air.

A couple of pelicans flew overhead-- we are seeing fewer and fewer around as the weather changes. I hope not too many were caught in the bunker oil spill of last week.

Off in the west, the scow schooner ALMA, was sailing back toward her home port, but had already turned into the wind.....

....to begin dousing her sails before motoring into port at the Maritime Museum dock.

As we continued sailing westward, this coast guard patrol boat steamed past to starboard.

Beautiful high cloud patterns extended over the sky in the north, as Alcatraz was enjoying the brilliant sunshine.

In the west, a finger of fog was spreading in from the south on the breeze, as the high clouds overhead started to thicken.

Beautiful cloud patterns also extended over the city.

Off in the northeast, that tanker was now attached to an escort tug in preparation for head into the north bay which she now commenced to do.

Also in the northeast, this sailboat was headed for the east side of Treasure Island.

The breeze continued to decline and an ebb current was soon to replace the flood current, so we gave up on sailing to the gate as too risky of the wind dying out and forcing us to motor against the current, which we hate to do. So we came about and headed east.

Behind us, the fog finger was beginning to infiltrate the bay, hiding part of the south tower of the bridge.

The air was so clear that the U.C. Berkekely campus was quite clearly visible,

A bit later, the fog had backed away from the Golden Gate Bridge a bit, but was still threatening.

This sailboat was heading west in the moderate breeze, hardly heeled over at all.

We sailed eastward toward the D-E span of the Bay Bridge and behind us the sun began to go behind the thickening clouds, creating an interesting light and shadow pattern.

Now the fog finger was seriously invading the bay and hiding the tops of the bridge towers.

Eventually the sun dropped into a thick cloud layer as sunset neared.

Off in the east, a cutter-rigged sailboat was heading for the east side of Treasure Island.

A dual engine private plane flew fairly low overhead, heading west initially, but then changing course to head back to the south so as not to fly into the thickening clouds and fog invading the bay, though it looked as if it had a radar dome in its nose.

Some patches of blue sky were still visible in the south beyond the Bay Bridge.

As the sun started to go down further, it partially peeked through a gap in the clouds, creating a brightening of the top of the fog bank scudding over the city.

We sailed under the D-E span of the Bay Bridge, taking this video of the damage to the wooden pilings surrounding the concrete base of the Delta tower by the Cosco Busan as she sideswiped the base.

The financial district was grayed out as we looked at her through the gaps in the Bay Bridge.

Here's a photo showing the damage that the Cosco Busan did to the southeast corner of the piling structure.

A more close up view shows that ship also apparently made contact with the edge of the concrete base, as well as the wooden pilings that it sheared off, and also seems to have left behind some oily residue where the collision occurred. It was probably the contact with the concrete corner of the base that tore the gash in the side of the ship, rupturing the fuel tank located there and causing the thousands of gallons of bunker fuel to spill into the bay.

We headed up to the southwest, hoping to sail parallel to the bridge to the A-B span, and watching some sunset color develop in the south.

We were approaching the south side of the center anchorage of the Bay Bridge and enjoying views of the financial district through the bridge spans, but we didn't have enough wind and the waxing ebb current was dragging us northward, so we tacked and headed through the Charlie-Delta span of the Bay Bridge. [Incidentally, the COSCO BUSAN could have safely traversed this span rather than attempting to get back to the Delta-Echo span with insufficient turning space to avoid hitting the base of the Delta tower. Sure wish the pilor or captain of the vessel had made this non-risky maneuver and avoided the collision and the major oil spill.]

After sailing to the north through the Charlie-Delta span, we tacked back to the west again, heading toward the shore of the financial district, enjoying the lights of the city coming on in the dusk, like HILLS BROS COFFEE sign.

As we traversed the area north of the center anchorage of the Bridge, we watched as ebb current eddies flattened the surface of the sea into a shimmering mirror.

We could see that there was no breeze in the area near the shore of the financial district, so we tacked to the north again to stay in the breeze and watched as some brilliant pink sunset color developed on the underside of clouds in the west and north.

The fog bank was already beginning to invade the financial district as we continued northward in a freshening breeze that soon was blowing 10-15 knots.

The deep pink sunset color intesified as we sailed toward the cityfront shore after tacking to the southwest toward the city.

Eventually the financial district was framed by pink on the underside of the high cloud layer on both sides, with the low fog bank continuing to invade the city.

Eventually, much of the Transamerica Pyramid was obscured as was most of the Bank of America tower. Along with brightening city lights, the fog and sunset color lent a magical aura to the bay and surroundings.

It was almost completely dark as we reached the cityfront and tacked to the west again, and building lights were bright against the dark sky.

We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail, and enjoyed the view of lighted Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill against the night sky.

We prepared for landing and then motored into port, happy to have spent a few delightful hours on the bay after a week's layoff from being out there.

2007-11-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY, 8 NOV. 07-- GHOSTING TO THE BAY BRIDGE AND BACK

Michael joined us around 2:30 pm for our afternoon outing, having recently returned from more than a week of sailing and racing at the Pro-Am Regatta held at the Bitter End Yacht Club in the sunny and warm climate of the British Virgin Islands. The cold and foggy climate of the bay was, for him, an unwelcome change.

After motoring out into the central bay, we headed northeast on a port tack broad reach, and slipped past the stern of the large cruise ship tied up on the east side of pier 35, being refueled by a fuel barge.

We sailed to the northeast for a while and then gybed to the south, watching this Coast Guard patrol boat steaming to the west.

The financial district buildings were all grayed out under the overcast skies...

...as were the residences on Telegraph HIll.

Way over by Yerba Buena Island, a small sailboat was heading north, sailing with the current while we were bucking it.

This boat that looked like a herring boat, steamed rapidly southeastward along the cityfront.

We gybed back and forth to the south and east, eventually managing to reach a position opposite the Ferry Building as skies began to darken and lights began to show up in the downtown highrise office buildings.

At dusk, the lights on the Bay Bridge came on and stood out against the gray skies behind-- here we are looking at the A-B span of the bridge.

Bridge lights brightened as the skies darkened-- here we see them on the D-E span of the bridge.

City lights brightened at twilight as we continued gybing back and forth toward the A-B span.

As it grew darker, the bridge lights began to reflect in the dark waters of the bay, and we watched as this outbound freighter approached the D-E span of the bridge.

Minutes continued to slip by and, as the ebb current waned, the puffs of breeze that we found propelled us closer to the A-B span, opposite to the Hills Bros Coffee building where we used to be able to smell coffee roasing, but sadly no more.

We sailed under the A-B span and then came about and headed back toward home port, the Bay Bridge gradually slipping further behind us.

We ghosted toward home port in a light breeze with some residual ebb current assist, enjoying the magic of the city lights on shore....

...and the nicely illuminated Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.

Approaching pier 27, we turned on the engine, doused sail and began motoring toward home as it was now late enough for the marina to have filled in enough to avoid dragging the keel in the mud at low tide, and soon approached again the now-well-lit cruise ship still tied up at pier 35.

As we slipped past her stern, we noticed that the mammoth double decker dining room in her stern was full of passengers having their evening meal.

We motored into the marina and eventually landed in our slip, nailing the landing in the waxing flood current by going in just high enough and letting the flood push us down a bit. We were out there for a rather chillly, but still enjoyable, four hours on the bay.

2007-11-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY, 6 NOV. 07-- ANOTHER LATE SEASON FOGGY DAY

Global climate change seems to be causing more and more late season fog in San Francisco. Stronger and more sustained fall winds seem to accompany this phenomenon.

We left port about 2 pm with a breeze of only about 5 knots fluttering the flags on shore and on the building on Telegraph Hill.

We headed out into the central bay and sailed westerly on the southwest breeze with an ebb current also pulling us westward, passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a stronger breeze of about 10 knots.

In the west, fog on the water completely blocked out the gate and the Marin Headlands.

As we continued westward, this bright red-hulled sailboat passed to starboard....

.....and her crew members were all bundled up against the chill in the afternoon air.

Skies over the city were clear and the city was enjoying hazy sunshine.

This Islander 30 passed to starboard as we continued westward.

This small pocket cruise was headed east and then gybed to the north.

Out of the fog emerged a tanker with a coast guard fast boat escort, and a pilot boat alongside to do a pilot change. For a few moments, I thought the fast boat might be headed our way to warn us to stay away from the taker, though we were already well clear of her....

.... but she steamed past us, headed east toward the Bay Bridge.

After the freighter passed, we tacked and sailed to near the cityfront before tacking back to the west again, now noting that the fog was beginning to lift and the lower part of the Golden Gate Bridge was visible.

Sausalito was enjoying sunshine with Mt. Tam towering above in the hazy air.

Angel Island was also enjoying hazy sunshine.

As we approached the gate, the fog had eased away from the north tower.

Fort Baker was enjoying sunshine,but the hills of the headlands were frosted with fog.

That single tack from the cityfront took us, with ebb current assist, into Horseshoe Cove, just inside the north tower, and after a couple of tacks we were sailing out the gate between midspan and the north tower.

We just ducked out the gate a short ways and then came about and headed back inside, fighting against the ebb current as the fog was starting to obscure the north tower again.

The south tower ramained socked in fog above the bridge desk.

As we sailed eastward toward home port, a sailboat left the San Francisco marina and headed north under main only, and it appeared to be a non-profit boat.

Russian Hill was locked in fog...

.....but Telegraph Hill was still enjoying hazy sunshine.

The financial district and north beach were also enjoying sunshine, but the north waterfront was in the shadow of the fog.

Futher east, the city and the shore were still enjoying sunshine.

A small flock of three pelicans was flying westward, low over the water.

Pier 39 flags were still fluttering in a breeze of about 10 knots as we passed.

We doused sail after passing the marina and headed into port, happy to have spent a couple of delightful hours on the bay.

2007-11-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, 4 NOV. 07-- SUNSET SAIL TO GATE AND BACK

On Saturday there was insufficient wind to do any sailing, so we stayed in port. For a while, it looked like the same would happen today, but along about 3 pm a nice freshening breeze came up, so we headed out for a late afternoon and sunset sail.

Winds were light over the land as we left port, and we hoped for some more freshening as the afternoon wore on.

As we entered the central bay, we began to see sailboats heading home, like this small one.....

... and this cutter with tanbark sails, named CHARISMA.

A small sailboat flying a small spinnaker was heading for us....

...and passed to port, with one of the crew leaning against the boom to keep
it from bouncing around in the light air.

As we continued toward the west on a southwest breeze, PAINKILLER, a 38' Beneteau, passed to starboard.

Off to port, a Catalina was passing the end of pier 39 where the flags were fluttering in a breeze of 5-7 knots.

This sailboat flying a cruising spinnaker that was luffing around for a while was approaching, and we took this short video clip of her as she passed to starboard.

The city was enjoying slightly hazy sunshine as we continued westward.

Alcatraz was less hazed out as we approached from the east.

ATHENA passed to port, sailing nicely downwind in a fresheneing breeze.

The breeze started to shift more into the west, so we tacked back toward the cityfront and soon were approached by this cutter rigged sailboat sailing more off the wind and on a collision course.....

... but as the windward boat, she fell off to give us right of way and passed astern of us, the crew enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine.

This sailboat, named BEAR BOAT, a Jenneau I think, was crossing the bay, heading toward Sausalito. We've seen this boat on the bay several times.

This small yellow-hulled sailboat was sailing down the cityfront, with the city behind enjoying the sunshine.

The Golden Gate Bridge was enjoying some hazy sunshine.

As we approached the cityfront near the Ft. Mason piers, we tacked back to the west again and this Hunter sailboat passed to port, heading east.

As we continued westward, another sailboat was crossing the bay from the north and passed right in front of us. We took this video clip as she approached, having starboard tack right of way, but we could see from her change in relative bearing that she would pass in front of us, i.e. we were not on a collision course.

Way off to starboard, between us and Angel Island, our old pal ADVENTURE CAT was headed out for a sunset sail.

Near the shore, a light yellow-hulled, center cockpit cutter was heading home
from the oceean-- I think her name is HASTY HEART--a boat that we have seen several times before.

KA HA E KAI was also heading home from the ocean.

The setting sun was reflecting off the north tower as we approached the gate.

ADVENTURE CAT was starting to catch up with us, and at this point was sailing across the gate behind us and taking on the color of the setting sun.

Due to the flood current, we had to tack a few times before we could sail out the gate just inside the north tower....

...as the sun was setting in the west.

We just ducked out the gate and then came about and headed back inside to watch the sundown and sunset through the gate as meanwhile ADVENTURE CAT was sailing out the gate and crossed between us and the setting sun.

We were inside the gate as the sun began to drop behind a thick fog bank quite a ways out on the ocean.

ADVENTURE CAT was heading back inside the gate as the sun sank further into the fog bank.

Surprisingly, there were still quite a few sailboats out on the bay on this Sunday late afternoon-- more than we usually see near sundown, but of course, the sun is now setting just after 5 pm, PST, and this Santana was one of them and passed to port.

Some pretty sunset colors developed in the western sky after sundown.

This Islander was heading for the cityfront as we continued eastward toward home port, and you can see a couple of other sailboats in the background also.

City lights were starting to brighten as dusk fell over the city-- MAGIC TIME ON THE BAY!!!!!!

Skies continued to darken as we sailed downwind toward our home port and city lights brightened on shore.

It was nearly dark as we approached pier 39...

... and behind us, some brilliant sunset oranges were filling the sky over the horizon.

We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port after readying ANTICIPATION for landing with fenders and docklines at the ready, landing near perfectly despite the flood current that sometimes bedevils us
as we are pulling into our slip. As you can tell from this log and the photos, we had a quite delightful couple of hours on our beautiful bay.

2007-11-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY, 1 NOV. 07-- HEAVY FOG POURING THROUGH THE GATE

We headed out at about 4 pm for a late afternoon and sunset sail, hoping to be able to make it to the gate and back and to watch the sundown in the ocean through the gate.

Winds were moderate as we left port, but seemed to be freshening a bit.

As we headed out into the cental bay, we noticed this sailboat in the northeast, sailing downwind along a finger of fog swooping into the bay.

Down by the Bay Bridge, another sailboat was heading southward.

Directly ahead of us, a large tanker heading for the southbay was dragging a tug boat behind her.

Out in the west, the fog finger was obscuring most of the gate--- another odd late season fog.

Here is a video of the fog finger invading the bay.

Alcatraz was partally obscurred by the fog finger flowing over the island.

These two sailboats were near the east shore of the island.

This Tartan, named EGRET, passed us to starboard as we sailed toward Alcatraz....

....with the skipper on the foredeck, perhaps rigging the jib sheets for unfurling her jib.

In the northeast, this tanker out of the south bay, was heading into the fog finger and about to disappear, with its fog horn blaring every 15 seconds or so.

We heard a fog horn blaring in the west, though no freighter was yet visible, so we tacked back toward the cityfront to make sure to be out of her way, but when she came out of the fog, she was heading right for us, but slow enough that we could easily sail clear of her without her blaring a warning at us.

This Islander, named LADY J, was heading downwind, sailing past the pier 39 marina.

The city was enjoying brilliant late afternoon sunshine as we tacked away to the west again.

Alcatraz was almost totally obscured by the fog finger at this time....

....but a short time later, the island was coming out of the fog again for a while.

Off in the northeast, a lovely large sailboat with a dark hull, was coming out of the fog bank, heading south.

A short time later, Alcatraz was disappearing into the fog again.

We continued beating westward against the moderate flood current, staying in the sunshine and clear air as the city continued to enjoy the brilliant sunshine and clear air.

At the entrance to the San Francisco Marina, we spotted several dingys with teenagers aboard practicing their sailing skills.

Eventually, as we continued beating westward, the sun was being swallowed up by the fog.

Way behind us, our old pal, ADVENTURE CAT, was headed out for a sunset sail, soon to be swallowed up by the fog as she neared Alcatraz.

As we arrived under the fog bank, just west of the St. Francis Yacht Club, we continued tacking westward for a while, hoping the fog might lift, but it didn't, so we came about and headed back toward home port as telegraph hill continued to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.

That same Tartan sailboat, the EGRET, was now heading for the cityfront on starboard tack.

The sun was going down behind the thick fog bank and illuminating the top of the fog bank.

The motor yacht POTOMAC was steaming westward toward the fog, but soon turned to starboard and made a U turn to stay out of the fog.

EGRET passed us to port, heading toward the fog bank on a port tack....

...and eventually tacking onto starboard tack to sail toward the cityfront again.

A herring boat was running around just outside the cove at Aquatic Park.

The city was seeing the last of the setting sun on the tall financial district as we sailed past pier 41.

A large flock of pelicans was swooping westward against the sunset sky.

The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots as we passed.

We doused sail after passing the marina and then readied for landing with fenders and dock lines before motoring into port as dusk was settling over the city. We enjoyed our couple of hours on the bay, even though the fog prevented us from reaching the gate and watching the sun go down through the gate.

2007-10-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY, 30 OCT. 07-- OVERCAST SKIES GIVE WAY TO SUNSHINE

We headed out about 2:30 pm for a couple of hours of sailing, hoping to be able to sail against the declining flood current to the gate and back--- or most of the way.

As we left port, wind were blowing moderately out of the southwest, in the 8-10 knot range and skies over the bay and the city were cloudy bright.

We headed out into the central bay and sailed westward on the moderate southwesterly that was moderately fluttering the flags on the end of pier 39.

A mile or so to the northeast, a Catalina sailboat was heading northwest.

A large tanker was steaming out of the north bay, eventually turning around Point Blount to head out to sea, but enjoying the clear skies and sunshine in the north.

A Coast Guard patrol boat was heading out of the Fisherman's Wharf.

The city was overcast as we continued westward.

This sailboat was heading north.

As we were passing the south shore of Alcatraz, the island began to enjoy some sunshine.

Off in the southwest, one sailboat was crossing the bay toward the San Francisco shore while another was heading east along the shore.

Off in the west, ADVENTURE CAT, was heading for the gate and dwarfed by that tanker that was heading for the gate.

The city was beginning to enjoy some sunshine.

The sailboat named PASSION was maneuvering around on the bay, initially tacking back and forth to the west, and here was passing us to port, gybing back and forth.

This small race boat was sailing eastward along the shore of Angel Island.

Winds declined after we passed to the south of Harding Rock, so we came about and headed back toward home port, eventually watching this sailboat passing the south shore of Alcatraz.

PRIVATEER, the charter ketch out of pier 39, was heading out for a late afternoon sail. [Those are U.C. Berkeley buildings in the hazy background.]

The city was now enjoying strong sunshine.

Adventure Cat was returning to home port-- here passing pier 41.

The flags on the end of pier 39 were still fluttering in a breeze of 7-10 knots.

We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port after an enjoyable couple of hours on the bay.

2007-10-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY, 28 OCT. 07-- A BRIEF OUTING IN SMAZY SUNSHINE

We left port about 2:30 pm with moderate winds blowing on the bay.

As we headed out into the central bay and sailed down the cityfront toward the Bay Bridge, we began to encounter a number of other sailboats, like this small one headed in the other direction.

Behind us, the charter ketch PRIVATEER was headed out for an afternoon outing.

This Beneteau was headed west along with other sailboats.

This small sailboat crossed in front of us, also headed west.

CRAZY JANE was also heading west along the cityfront.

The charter sloop, RUBY, was motorsailing toward its home port south of the Bay Bridge.

This beautiful dark hulled cutter rigged sailboat sailed under the Bay Bridge and passed us heading west.

This trimaran did the same and was making fast progress to the west.

SEAFOX was heading north over by the shore of Yerba Buena.

This small sailboat was headed for the cityfront and crossed in front of us.

This cutter rigged sailboat with tanbark sails was also heading north.

These two sailboats were heading east, presumably heading for home port.

A large center cockpit ketch was motoring toward the Bay Bridge, and later motored back to the central bay and was seen finally pulling out some main sail to do some sailing in the stronger late afternoon winds.

As we continued on toward the Bay Bridge, a trio of sailboats were following us.

The race boat under spinnaker passed us to starboard while beautiful cloud patterns floated over the financial district.

This large blue hulled sailboat was about to sail under the Bay Bridge with Port of Oakland cranes in the background.

Alll during our outing, we were hearing the sound of cannon blasts as the Hawaiian Chieftan and the Lady Washington tall ships were engeged in mock sea battles south of the Bay Bridge.

Tha trimaran that we spotted earlier headed west, was now passing us to starboard, headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge.

A bit later, we headed back to home port and encountered much stronger winds in the central bay and this sailboat passed to port.

As we tacked and headed for the lee of pier 35, this Ericson sailboat was sailing along the cityfront.

This Islander was heading out of the pier 39 marina ....

...as was the Ericson named Corto Maltese.

We doused sail in the lee of pier 35 and then motored into port after a couple of pleasant hours on the bay.

2007-10-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY, 25 OCT O7-- SPECTACULAR SUNSET AND FULL MOONRISE-- AND GOOD SAILING!

Bob Hickey joined us for our afternoon outing and we headed out of port around 3 pm.

A moderate westerly was blowing over the land, and we hoped for some freshening of the breeze.

We entered the central bay and headed downwind toward the Bay Bridge, following this sailboat ahead of us.

Behind us, ADVENTURE CAT was heading out for one of her afternoon outings and another sailboat was sailing downwind to the east

FORTUNE HUNTER was heading toward the Bay Bridge as well, going against the waxing ebb current.

This Catalina passed, sailing with the current and looking good.

A bit later, we saw that FORTUNE HUNTER has reversed course and was heading north with the current.

As we sailed toward the Bay Bridge D tower, experienceing variable wind velocities and thus making variable degrees of headway against the current, we were watching isolated pelicans flying overhead and looking for food.

Sailboats going with the current were making great headway over the bottom, like this Catalina, named CLASS ACT, that passed to port.

Closer to the shore of Treasure Island, a large sailboat with franctional rig and double reef in main, was blasting northward with the current.

We watched as this tall ship motored down the cityfront, headed for the A-B span of the Bay Bridge, perhaps to tie up at South Beach. Maybe we'll see her out sailing on the bay this weekend sometime.

We managed to make it to about a half mile from the Bay Bridge, but then the breeze was too irregular to make significant further progress, so we gybed and headed northward to position ourselves to watch the sundown and full moonrise.

We made good progress sailing with the current and we soon in the lee of Angel Island with the city behing us ghosted out by the thick smaze.

We eventually turned around and headed back to watch the sundown through the gate and await the full moonrise. Clouds in the west partnered with the setting sun to create a spectacular sunset!

Winds on the central bay had freshened to 15-20 knots and we were blasting along on a southeasaterly course as this tug boat steamed past, heading north, as the sun set through the gate.

Soon the rising full moon was visible through the smaze over the east bay hills, and the beauty of the full moon was then competing with that of the sunset-- where to look and for how long became an issue as we sailed along.

Eventually we could see that a thick layer of cloud would prevent us from watching the sundown into the ocean through the gate, but colorful sunset patterns persistred in the west-- on our starboard side.

On our port side, the full moon cast her dusky orange and yellow glow, taking our gaze frequently as she rose in the sky.

Alcatraz was silhouetted against the colorful sunset as we continued on our southeasterly course.

Eventually the sunset began to fade, though some pinkish color illuminated some of the clouds more directly overhead.

Since we needed to stay out until about 7:30 pm to avoid dragging ANTICIPATION's keel in the mud during the negative tide portion of the tidy cycle, we eventually tacked to sail to the wast, watching the last of the sunset color.

We sailed westward until we were well past Alcatraz and then tacked to head for home port, sailing past the weather side of the island on close reach before falling off to head for home port on the still strong westerly winds, all the time watching the rising full moon creating a broader and strong path of moonlight on the bay waters.

We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail and then readied for landing as we motored toward home port, landing fine with the tide now turning to quite strong flood. Two separate and very different outings on one day leaving us filled with peak sailing pleasure!

2007-10-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY 25 OCT. 07-- MORNING SAIL IN LIGHT WINDS-- SMAZY SKIES

We decided to head out about 11 am for a morning sail in case the afternoon breeze was too light in view of the very strong ebb current that would be flowing.
We left port with a waning flood current flowing, but soon turning to waxing ebb.

ALMA was out in the middle of the bay heading west under full canvas, in air that was very smazy from smoke from the Southern California fires that blew far out to sea with the Santa Ana winds and then brought up here by the prevailing southwesterly winds.

The SF fireboat was steaming back toward her home near the Bay Bridge with
a number of passengers on board-- perhaps some dignitaries out for an excursion.

A short time later, the ALMA was dousing sail.

One of the Hornblower Alcatraz ferries was heading toward the island with a load of visitors.

A larger Alcatraz ferry was heading back toward her home port.

A sailboat that had been sailing east had gybed and was now heading north.

The California Hornblower was steaming around the bay, probably on a luncheon cruise.

Along the western shore of Treasure Island a sailboat was heading north with the current.

Along the shore of Yerba Buena Island, a trimaran was heading northward.

The financial district was basking in smazy sunshine.

Telegraph Hill was basking in the smazy sunshine as well.

We saw a strange sight along the cityfront-- a man standing up and paddling and this telescopic view showed that he was paddling while standing on what appears to be a surfboard. He doesn't even seem to be wearing a life jacket. Doesn't seem very safe, does it?

This herring boat was hanging out a bit north of the Bay Bridge for quite a while, but now was steaming northward.

Along the shore of Yerba Buena, another sailboat was heading north.

We eventually headed back toward home port as the breeze freshened in the central bay and the ebb current built, sailing toward Alcatraz, but then tacking toward home port, noting that the flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of 8-10 knots, suggesting that an afternoon sail would probably be possible with our quite regular sailing mate, Bob Hickey planning to join us.

We doused sail after passing the marina and motored into port.

2007-10-23T23:54:00.001-07:00

SUNDAY, 21 OCT. 07-- WARM, SUNNY DAY AND LIGHT WINDS

Sunday morning started out with a nice northerly breeze in the range of 5-10 knots and we hoped it would stick around for our late morning and afternoon outing. My east bay friends joined us about 11 am for an outing. We were initially intending to sail over to Angel Island for a picnic there, but we ended up picnicking while ghosting along in the light winds east of Angel Island.

We left port about 11:30 am with a very light northwesterly wind blowing.

We headed northeast toward the east side of Angel Island and we were joined out on the bay by a number of other sailboats enjoying the warm and very clear air, like this sailboat headed west on starboard tack...

...and these two sailboats also headed west.

The air was so clear and visibility so good that you could actually see the houses poplulating the lower regions of Mt. Tam from 10 miles away-- very unusual.

As we ghosted northward way east of the Angel Island shore, we saw a number of sailboats headed in the opposite direction, like this ketch.

This J105 race boat crossed in front of us, sailing beautifully under full canvas.

The BAY LADY, charlter schooner out of the South Bay Marina also crossed in front of us, looking great!

The race boat, STEWBALL, was flying downwind under spinnaker...

...as was this raceboat flying a golden spinnaker to go with her golden hull.

A Hans Christian cutter, named APPLE II, was sailing southward toward the central bay.

Mt. Tam was towering over the Tiburon Headlands north of Raccoon Straits.

We continued sailing northward and this nice Ranger was sailing on a parallel course.

At some point, we tacked and headed for Raccoon Straits, having to motor a bit into the straits as the ebb current carried us too far to the south.

We were then ghosting through the straits on a southwesterly breeze, watching as the ferry ANGEL ISLAND was steaming toward the dock in Ayala Cove with a load of passengers for the island.

This lovely small sailboat, named BANANA REPUBLIC, was crossing the straits toward Ayala Cove.

The buoy field in Ayala Cove was well-populated with boats, some of them rafted together.

The small marina there seemed entirely full as we passed.

The air was so clear that everything in the distance seemed closer, like the Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the middle of Raccoon Straits.

As we ghosted down the straits with the ebb current, we saw APPLE II again, but this time motorsaiing eastward through the straits, now with a double reef in the main that suggested that wind velocities had increased on the central bay.

Way ahead of us, close to the shore of Belvedere, we spotted a group of Optimist dingys playing around on the sunny bay waters.

The Corinthian Yacht Club building was gleaming in the brilliant sunshine and
club members were enjoying a repast on the deck overlooking the straits.

As we approached the shore of Belvedere, we spotted this group of Optimist dingies being towed toward home port, looking like a string of small ducks following their mother.

Each of the dingys was being sailed by a young boy or girl, probably just learing to sail and having a great time on the water.

Nearing Belveder, we tacked to head southeast toward home port and this lovely sailboat was sailing on a parallel course to ours.

We had consistent winds all the way to the north side of the central bay where we spotted LOLA, a charter boat out of pier 39 heading our way and passing to starboard.

The cutter, ENTICER, also passed us but on our port side.

Way off in the southwest, a beautiful gaff-rigged schooner was sailing across the gate, probably after finishing the Jessica Cup regatta.

Other sailboats like this one were flying downwind under spinnaker.

Winds in the north half of the central bay were blowing in the 10-15 knot range now, so we were making good headway toward home port and were soon past Alcatraz where we spotted our buddy ADVENTURE CAT2 heading out for an afternoon outing.

Alcatraz was gleaming in the brilliant afternoon sunshine as we sailed pats the south shore fo the island.

Visitors to the island were enjoying the warm sunshine on the courtyard outside the prison buildings.

This Islander 36 was sailing westward past the island and looking good!

As we continued on toward home port, this Catalina was sailing eastward on the sparkling bay waters.

Another, but smaller, Catalina was sailing toward the cityfront.

The city was basking in the warm afternoon sunshine and clear air!

That same Catalina 30 was looking great as she passed us, sailing westward on port tack close reach.

A bit later, we spotted Tim on CHEWINK, a pier 39 boat neighbor, heading northward and looking good!

The flags on the end of pier 39 were fluttering in a breeze of under 10 knots as we passed.

We doused sail after passing the marina and then motored into port. After landing, we broke out a couple of more bottles fo wine and sat in the cockpit of ANTICIPATION, chatting away and having some cheese and crackers with wine to finish off our lovely afternoon. Another day of peak pleasure!