Sept 12, 2010 Partial trip view

Below is a partial track using Navionics Iphone Chart app. The app
turned off on the way back (where the yellow line goes from off
Alameda point to my slip. The actual track was simply
back the same way we came out. Additional pictures and a description of the sail are posted below.

Sept 12, 2010

San Francisco skyline viewed through the Bay Bridge

Sept 12, 2010

Doron at the helm

September 12, 2010

Sandra enjoying the sun in the estuary

Sept 12, 2010

Start Time: 9/12/10 12:06 PM
End Time: 9/12/10 4:31 PM

Active track info:

Distance: 19.7 NM

Average Speed: 4.4 kts
Max Speed: 5.8 kts

Up above you can see a picture of our track for this sail.

Doron, Sandra Lynne and I sailed down to Encinal HS to try to see a filming of a Mythbusters program. Got there too late but had a fun sail. The attached track shows about 2/3 of the trip. Winds were moderate and the temperature was perfect.

Sept 6, 2010

Lynne and I took Kim and Paul Lipkin out for a Labor Day sail. Winds were very light so we motored up to Clipper Cove for lunch and had a great spread and very enjoyable lunch on the hook. After lunch we left clipper Cove and turned North along the east side of TI. Winds were about 16-19 kts, high enough for a fun sail. On the back side of TI I lost my hat, so we were able to practice some COB drills to retrieve it. We then sailed back to the estuary along the west side of TI and the winds peaked at about 22 kts, but then were down to 10 kts by the time we were half way down the estuary. Left the slip at around 1200 and were back by 1700 and did about 20 miles round trip.

Sailing with Mike and Jeff

Jeff and Mike Under Bay Bridge

Sunset and Fog

Crossing the slot was a bit wet and wild!

Sept. 3-4, 2010

Lynne and I has a full day sailing on September 3rd. We motored out the estuary with Lynne at the helm. We had agreed to meet some of Lynne's sailing classmates, Mike and Jeff and their wives, at Pier 1.5 and go out to lunch at a a Peruvian restaurant that is right on the water. Her friends had chartered a boat and were sailing over to meet us there.

After lunch we decided to sail across the bay and around Angel Island and the raft up at clipper cove. However the sail across the bay was a wild one. The winds we blowing in excess of 25 knots so we had to put in both reefs and still had a wet and wild crossing. So instead of continuing to Clipper Cove we decided to take a slip at Ayla Cove on Angel Island. We had a nice time socializing with a nice spread of wine cheese and munchies.

We the headed back across the bay and the winds were still blowing hard in the slot. So we had to put in a double reef. When we got into the slot the fog was down at sea level so I had Lynne's friends, who did not have radar, follow behind me and we motor-sailed across the slot. Once we got to the bay bridge we broke into sunshine again and Lynne's friends continued down to club nautique to return their boat. Lynne and I turned left and headed back to Treasure Island to anchor out for the night.

Pete and Bethany sailed up from Alameda to start their weekend sail down to half moon bay and then they were planning on coming back and sailing around the San Francisco Bay for the rest of the week. Their friends John and Dawn came up in their boat and we all rafted up together and had a great time eating, drinking and talking.

On Saturday our friends departed early. Lynne and I made some coffee, finished a crossword puzzle together and sailed back to our slip.

August 29, 2010

Lynne and I took some of her friends from club Nautique, Sheila and Mike (and his wife and son) for a sail around the Bay. We motored out the estuary under light winds leaving at about 1200. Once on the bay we sailed under variable winds (9-17 knts) first south and then NNW as we passed under the Bay Bridge towards Alcatraz. Mike had the wheel from the estuary to the Bay Bridge and the Sheila took the wheel up to Alcatraz. We put in a reef at mid bay when the winds we consistently 21+. Once the started gusting over 25 I took the helm. We sailed past the west side of Angle Island, down Racoon Straights and back to the slip. Winds in the slot were gusting over 30 knts making for a fun sail. We got back to the slip about 1745.

August 7, 2010

This past week Lynne enrolled and passed a sailing course on Basic Keelboat (BK). I am so proud of her and so happy that she had a great time during the course. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she has signed up for Basic Cruising, which will entitle her to charter boats in most locations. So today we went out for a sail to celebrate and Andrew came along. We sailed down to Club Nautique, where she is taking her sailing lessons and met with her instructor and one other classmate. We also signed her up for BC and had dinner at Pier 29. Afterwards we sailed home and the first part of the sail was quite exciting. We had 25=28 knt winds coming out of Ballena Marina and had plenty of water coming over and into the boat. Eventually the winds calmed down and we had a nice sail back to the slip on a full run down the estuary.

July 11, 2010

Left the dock at 1300 with Sandra, Doron, Lynne and I on board. Winds were light, but strong enough to sail up the estuary and then over to Clipper cove. Doron did most of the sailing. We anchored out in the corner of Clipper Cover out of the wind and waited for Nanaimo to join us. Pete and Bethany arrived at about 1715 and rafted up to us. We hung out until almost 2000. Then we set sail and sailed back to Alameda. Got back to the slip after dark, about 2150.

July 7, 2010

Took Wildcat out for a night sail on Wednesday night at about 1800. Sailed up to the Alameda Ferry station and then turned around. We then sailed to Quinn's lighthouse for dinner. Winds were light to moderate and we had a very nice night on the estuary. Lynne, Andrew Michelle (a visitor from WI) and I crewed the boat. After dinner we got back to the slip at about 2200.

July 5, 2010

Woke up fairly early to a very steady west wind coming up the river. That did not bode well for our return trip to Alameda. It meant that we would be fighting both the wind and the current most of the way home. We set sail at about 1100 and made pretty good time till we got to San Pablo Bay. There the winds picked up and were on our nose. We had gusts of up to 27 knts. We slogged across the bay and did not get to China Camp until 1700. We then turned south and headed towards the Richmond Bridge. The winds were gusting up to 30 knts and were right at us. In addition the tide changed and was against us as well. We decided to take down the sail and motor for a while. As we passed under the Bridge we got a text message from Nanaimo telling us that winds were gusting over 30 knts in the slot. We decided to keep on motoring and simply set the autopilot to take us home.

When we finally got to the estuary I put the sail back up to dry it out, and we had a nice sail down the estuary. We finally go back to the slip at about 2030, but had a bit of a mishap when docking the boat. We came into the slip a bit hot, and when I put the boat into reverse, the boat refused to go into reverse. As a result we slammed into the dock pretty hard. It left a nice dent in the bow's gel coat.

After cleaning off the boat we went up to the Island Yacht Club to de-pressure a bit. Pete and Bethany were at the bar and we hoisted a beer to celebrate our safe return to Alameda.

July 4, 2010

We slept in on Independence Day and then had a late breakfast/brunch. After cleaning up we read for a while and then I received a text message from Peter Butler that their was a slip available in Benicia. We soon set sail at about 1430 expecting about a 3 to 4 hour sail to Benicia. Well the winds were at about 20-23 knts off our starboard quarter and we flew across San Pablo bay. we were even able to sail on a run past the bride and up the river to the Benicia Marina, getting in at about 1700. We were greeted very warmly by the Island Yacht Club members that had organized a sail-in and had a nice cocktail party with them. That night we watched the 4th of July firework displays of Benicia, Valejo, Pittsburgh and Concord. Benicia's fireworks were very good.

July 3, 2010

Woke up early on Saturday and headed over to Angel Island. Had a great day touring the Island. If you have not done so, I highly recommend it. We go a slip at the dock and then went ashore for a tour of the Immigration Station (Ellis Island of the Pacific) and the perimeter road. The pictures below are from the tour.

We then had lunch on the boat at the dock. After lunch we set sail for China Camp. The winds were moderate and we were able to get up there in about 4 hours. We set the anchor and spent the night on the boat. Although the winds were blowing when we first set anchor, it soon became a very peaceful and calm night.

July 3, 2010

View from Angel Island

July 2, 2010

Lynne and I left the slip today at 1100 and motored up the estuary after topping off the fuel tank. We then sailed over to Pier 1 1/2 and docked Wildcat and toured the Ferry Building. We then had lunch on the boat at the Pier. It was a bit rolly but not too bad. Next we were off to Richardson Bay off of Sausalito to anchor for the night where the picture below was taken.

Fathers Day 2010

Lynne, Andrew and I sailed up to the bay today and then back to the slip today. It was a great day on the bay. Fair winds and warm temperatures made the sail a great time and it was wonderful to have a day on the water with my lovely wife and wonderful son.

June 19, 2010

Lynne and I sailed back from South Beach Harbor to our slip. Lynne sailed most of the way. Winds were moderate and had a very leisurely sail back. setting sail at 1100 and getting back to the slip about 1515.