Sailing On San Francisco Bay

On Sunday, I went sailing with two friends, Zara Haimo and Avram Miller.  It was a perfect sailing day — winds firmly out of the west, tide running out (helping us get outside the Golden Gate) early in the day, then back in (helping us return).

Avram Miller At The Helm, Coming Through The Golden Gate

Our host with the most, Zara Haimo;  Chaika is a very cool boat, Zara!

Wayne holding ‘er steady, coming back from the Golden Gate

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Each of us took turns sailing, with Zara reminding us of the rules of the road.  (Example: “Sailboats on a starboard tack have the right of way.”)   On the way back, we encountered a couple of races – one composed of some small sailboats, which were far away from us, over near Alcatraz.  But we went right through some kite-surfing races:

The kite surfing crowd buzzed around the boats like bees — moving much faster than we were.

 

This fellow almost hit us!  Then he dissed Zara for not having more sail out and going faster!

 

As we came back around Pier 39, we decided to turn south and try to make it a “two bridge day” — going under two bridges in one sail.   The conditions were perfect for trying.  We went screaming south down the bay, past AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants were getting ready to play a Sunday afternoon game, and then to and under the Bay Bridge.

Approaching the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge

Making the turn and heading back to the barn …. I mean dock

At this point the winds started picking up and we went flying up the Bay, headed north, back to Pier 39, where Chaika is docked.  We got a bit of an adrenalin rush when one gust of wind heeled the boat over pretty far, but all was well.

Flying past the Ferry Building and Downtown SF, headed back to Pier 39.

Zara make a perfect landing in a tough crosswind, and we cleaned up the boat and headed home.

Avram finds his shore legs.

Thanks, Zara, for a wonderful day!