Sailing on San Francisco Bay

Saturday was sailing with Captain Dennis and friends on a Cal 30 called Clio. Dennis is 61, and a real character. He is a nudist, and quite excited about it. A great guy with a lot of stories to share.

We sailed to Racoon Strait and got there right as the America’s Cup boats were rounding their mark. It was spectacular to see those old racing boats in friendly competition here on the bay. They are so damn fast. We were less than 50 yards from them! I was geeking out over those boats! Ellison’s luxury motoryacht was cruising menacingly nearby as well.

We passed the old museum scow schooner “Alma” under full sail. What a treat to see her out there.

Then we ducked under the Golden Gate. I was at the helm tacking out and then reaching back in. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve sailed under the Gate, but it’s always quite an experience.

We hot-rodded through Aquatic Park, and up the face of Alcatraz before heading home. All the folks on board were great company, and it was just a hell of a day.

Today I took Elisa, Ralph, Becky, my cousin Robert, and his girlfriend Daphne sailing. It was blowing like crazy and we were fighting the wind even with a reefed main. The upwind sail out was hardcore — the beam reach back was much more pleasant. We just rocketed home, even with the main still reefed.

Sun, Jun. 22nd, 2003, 11:57 pm

Last Sunday was a great sail on Ellen’s boat with her, Joe, Roberta and Jean. We went to China camp and hove-to for lunch. Worked pretty well. Then sailed back to San Rafael and motored up the canal to sight-see. It was hot and warm — very nice, but I got pretty tired and wanted to get home.

Sailed on Selene Saturday. A neat boat, to be sure, but I’d never want to own it. Too much woodwork and whatnot to maintain. No wonder Stan has his sailing crew do the maintenance work for him. But it was a nice sail to the SF Cityfront. We hung out by the ferry terminal and had lunch, then around Yerba Buena and back toward Richmond East of TI. I was driving on the way back, and we snuck through the J/105 fleet that was sailing to Tiburon after their race.

Sunday Elisa met me at the dock and we went out for a sail. Her lessons have really paid off — she was doing great running the boat. We tacked over to Angel Island with a reef in the main, hove to for lunch off Pt Simpton, then sailed back downwind, unreefed. It was an awesome sailing weekend! The only downside was missing Ellen and her crew who were, I found out later, on a mooring at nearby Ayala Cove.

Thu, Jun. 5th, 2003, 10:50 am