Michael and Corinna joined us for our afternoon outing and we left port about 3:30 pm.
Winds were quite strong on the bay, so we raised single-reefed main and put out reefed jib before heading out into the central bay, sailing northward toward the lee side of Angel Island.
As we passed the megayacht PRINCESS MARIANA, the crew was busy washing her starboard side.
You can read all about the megayacht PRINCESS MARIANA at
http://www.savezoneinc.net/princessmariana/
As we blasted our way across the bay in freshening winds, this sailboat was crossing in the opposite direction.
We sailed way to the east of the shore of Angel Island in strong winds that lasted until we were opposite Raccoon Straits and then softened with some lee shore effect finally. We then reefed the jib down to a postage stamp and hardened in the sails to head up toward the straits. We soon encountered strong and gusty winds and had to beat several times to get to the mouth of the straits.
As we sailed into the straits, this nice dark-hulled sailboat was leaving the straits. sailing downwind with full canvas and looking good.
With a light flood current blowing and strong winds in the eastern half of the straits, we were beating back and forth just to reach Ayala Cove and, as we passed, headed west, we noted that there were eight boats tied up at the buoy field in the cove.
At the small marina, only a few boats were tied up.
As we continued beating up the straits, this sailboat passed, heading in the opposite direction.
Winds in the west portion of the straits were much lighter, so we pulled the jib out to full for more power and sailed out of the straits in a breeze of about 5 knots compared to the 20 + knots with gusts that we encountered when approaching the straits.
Behind us a small sailboat was following us through the straits, here on port tack....
... and later on starboard tack, we could see that she was a Catalina
Over by the Tiburon shore, a couple of Optimist dingies were sailing around in the light winds with a dingy accompanying them.
As we sailed to the southeast, heading toward home port, this trimaran passed to starboard. She looks like the trimarain that former boat neighbors Ken and Dolly used to live on on the end of F dock.
We reefed the jib again in anticipation of stronger winds on the central bay, but we were then just ghosting along, so pulled the jib out to full again for more power and continued on toward home port under overcast skies covering the central bay and the gate.
A bit of sunshine popped out as this small sailboat passed to port, heading west toward Sausalito.
This highly reefed Hunter sailboat passed to starboard, also headed for Sausalito.
We eventually picked up a stronger southerly breeze and were then sailing on close reach starboard tack toward the weather side of Alcatraz. The wind velocity was more like that we used to experience 10 years ago at this time of evening-- around 6 pm-- rather than the much stronger winds we have seen in recent years. It was refreshing to be able to fly a bit more canvas while crossing the bay toward home port.
After sailing past the west side of Alcatraz, we spotted this nice race boat sailing up the cityfront.
The city was experiencing some hazy evening sunshine as we approached.
One of the flags on the end of pier 39 was missing, but the others were pegged out in the breeze of about 15 knots along the shore-- the strongest winds we encountered on our return trip.
We sailed into the lee of pier 35 to douse sails and ready for landing and then motored around pier 35 toward the marina entrance with boat neighbor Tim on his Golden Gate sailboat [no motor] sailing toward the entrance behind us.
As we motored toward our fairway inside the marina, Tim on CHEWINK was sailing past the PRINCESS MARIANA and looking good.
You can read all about the megayacht PRINCESS MARIANA at
http://www.savezoneinc.net/princessmariana/
We landed fine in our slip after a quite enjoyable outing. Later in the evening, Olivier joined me for dinner after his sail on Corto Maltese to the gate and back.
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