As we left port, the winds were blowing moderately over land, but we raised single-reefed main in anticipation of much stronger winds coming up shortly, and put out a reefed jib and headed out into the bay.
The wind was out of the WSW so we had so sail toward the WNW and the flood current was strong so it was difficult to make progress westward toward the race starting line just south of Belvedere. We let out the jib ot full since the winds were in the 10-15 knot range and started to make some faster progress westward and in the distance we could see some of the medium sized boats getting ready for the start.
You can see all my race photos on my photo album page at
http://cbergstedt.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album18
This particular group of boats in the race had over 20 boats getting ready to start....
...and they were off.
This Beneteau was looking good as she beat toward the gate in the good breeze.
Here she is out in the mid-bay, heading for the gate with other race boats in the background.
We were much closer to the start line as the big boats hit the line for their start, including one Transpac 52 and one Santa Cruz 52-- magnificent racing machines!
Here's one of the large race boats heading south toward the gate and looking good.
Here, a group of three boats are beating toward the gate on different tacks.
All three of these large yachts are well-heeled-over with crews on the rail as they head toward the Sausalito shore on port tack-- the winds had now piped up to at least 20 knots.
With all the race starts over, the start line marker was now being towed away by a crew from the San Francisco YC in Tiburon, and you can see ADVENTURE CAT, our old pal, in the background and taking a long way around on a trip to the gate.
v
The charter schooner GASLIGHT out of Sausalito was out by the gate watching the racing machines sail out the gate toward the ocean.
Here, a huge flock of cormorants is scared up with three race boats in the background sailing along the shore of Yellow Bluff on the Marin Headlands, heading toward the gate.
This large race boat with cherry-red hull was also heading for the gate along the shore for flood current relief. I don't remember her name though we have seen her before tied up at a buoy off Tiburon.
Here, a group of the race boats are bunched quite close together as they race toward the gate along the shore of the headlnads.
These three boats are now out on the main bay and still beating toward the gate.
This large center-cockpit ketch was also beating toward the gate and you can see many race boats in the misty background. We later found out that most of the boats did not finish the race due to unfavorable winds on the ocean, and that most of them that did finsh took over 24 hours to make the trip.
We were beating our way toward the gate as well after reefing the jib again down to a small size to handle the now-much-stronger-winds, and we were passed at one point by ADVENTURE CAT as she blasted toward the gate along the shore of Yellow Bluff.
Our magnificent bridge stood sentinel over the gate as we finally beat our way into the central bay and began doing quick short tacks to stay in the lightest region of the strong flood current inside the north tower of the bridge.
We tacked into Horseshoe Cove and continued doing short tacks toward the gate, finally pulling out the jib to full for more power and eventually made it out the gate just inside the north tower before tacking to the south again. The bridge and the headlands looked spectacular as always!
A short time later, we came about and headed back inside on port tack broad reach as this Catalina named BOMBARDED AGAIN headed for the gate looking good except for the fenders dragging in the water.
Our old pal ADVENTURE CAT 2 was heading for the gate-- here sailing parallel to the gate.
v
Three or four sea lions were cavorting on the surface of the water as we continued sailing northward.
As we sailed along, we enjoyed the views of the dramatic Marin Headlands, now turning more golden with each passing week sans rain.
We sailed past Horseshoe Cove and then did a chicken-gybe to head for home port, passing this large sailboat heading for the gate with extremely reefed sails.
Way off to port, a sailboat with tanbark sails was headed toward Sausalito.
ADVENTURE CAT 2 had shot the gate and was now returning to home port, gradually catching up with us in the strong breeze.
This smaller sailboat passed to port, well heeled-over despite reduced sail area, especially the main sail.
The city was enjoying hazy sunshine as we passed the west marina of pier 39.
This lovely large sailboat was sailing westward and flying full canvas-- looking good!
Off ot port, this sailboat passed, also with quite reduced sail area.
We were intending to head directly for the Bay Bridge to complete a two bridge kiss when we spotted the privateer LYNX heading west and decided to give chase, first reefing the jib down to a small size for more upwind sailing in the strong winds.
Just as we altered course to take after the LYNX, she tacked and headed back our way. She was definitely flying all her canvas and looking good!
This lovely schooner passed to starboard after we tacked to head after the LYNX again. She was probably out practicing for the Master Mariners Regatta the following day.
The ALMA was out enjoying the strong bay winds, heading toward the cityfront here.
Eventually, the LYNX gave up here sail practice on the central bay and headed back toward her temporary home port in Oakland, here heading for the D-E span of the Bay Bridge. We headed for the A-B span to complete our two bridge kiss.
The financial district buildings were enjoying the hazy afternoon sunshine.
We sailed under the A-B span and watched as this extremely reefed sailboat sailed northward toward the bridge.
The Bay Bridge was enjoying the afternoon sunshine....
... and framed our view of the city from south of the bridge.
We sailed southward for a while and then tacked to head back toward home port, passing this lovely Jeanneau sailboat along the cityfront.
This small sailboat passed to starboard, heading east and looking good!
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sail, ready for landing and then we motored around the pier and into the marina, happy to have spent five pleasant hours on our beautiful bay.
No comments:
Post a Comment