Where We Sailed Today

[dllee]

Surprising day at Berkeley on Sat.
Formula races going on, N side of the big pier. Mostly 10's.
I get there late, rig a Bash 6.2, 109 SuperSport, and plane about 80% of the time, doing a few runs with Derek, him on his 7.1 Sailworks and 107 Isonic.
He goes in for some reason, launched from Lordships, and I sail another hour 80% planing before heading in. I didn't plane all the time because I was sailing to the Toll Plaza launch, past the Chinese Restuarant, and back to the big pier.
Can't hope it could repeat today, can I?

[windward1]

Sailed out of New Brighton (NB) on Saturday on my Angulo SailSUP and Ezzy 7.0. Sailed with a pod of dolphins around me for a short while. Went up the coast to Pleasure Point, but the wind inside was too light for wind and the waves were not good. Tide too high and reflecting off of the gunnite cliffs.

Becalmed twice on the 4-1/2 hour trip. Tough getting back. 1-1/2 knot wind and seeming to always come from where I was trying to go. Had me questioning my going to windward in light wind abilities. Was thinking a daggerboard might have been nice.

Sunday I saw a Humpback Whale in the channel at Natural Bridges (NB),(the other NB), as I pulled into the line of vehicles at the kiosk. It had moved on by the time I got rigged and launched. The beach was crowded and I had to gather folks and kids up to explain I needed room to launch and asked them to keep it clear in case the shore pound grabbed my gear away from me. They complied.

A big male sea lion near shore barked loudly as I headed out. Water was glassy inside at times. Kelp oil or whale oil or whatever made for glassy smooth water although the wind was blowing 12 to 15 knots. I could have been out on the Naish Titan, but the Angulo was all that I had brought.

Sailed through a flock of the Sooty Shearwaters. They were taking off in the thousands. They run across the water flapping their wings to get airborne, so the water is splashey as well as thousands of wings beating in the air. I had experienced it Saturday in very light wind and think they added a knot and a half to the wind speed on my sail.

Sailed back in in the channel and was trying to find a little swell to play on. Did not find much, but kept seeking it anyway. Headed out, I saw a big sea otter in a kelp head and It was lying in the hot sun and not moving. I studied it as I went by, but could not tell if it was alive or dead. Next reach in I was going well and cut inside the west kelp bed to get further up to where the swell seems to up heave a bit more. Do not know why, but I crashed. Climbed on top the board and found myself being driven on to the head of kelp with the big sea otter on it. He was alive. And he was only a few feet from me and the wind was pushing my board and I across the kelp head directly toward him. He seemed pretty nonchalant about it, but a bit perturbed to be awoken from his nap. I was a bit concerned he might bite me in retaliation and stayed on the board. He unwound himself from the kelp he was wound up in and dove, I uphauled and sailed away. Next reach out I saw he was all back in a wound of kelp and settling back in to continue his nap. Alls well that ends well.

Saw some more sea lions, pelicans, terns, cormorants an a variety of other birds as well as the sooty shearwaters. Did not see another whale until I was leaving and driving down West Cliff Drive.

Another fun day in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

[jp5]

Warm, tropical conditions with good, steady wind at Lake Leo last night.

[rigatoni]

Windward1-keep the colorful posts coming. Such a refreshing change from endless angry posts from the same angry cast of characters about the kiter who was killed at Ocean Beach.

[Goodwind]

Good sailing at the Stick from 4 till 6:15+(when I left) today. I was lead to believing light wind was upon us and did not bring smaller stuff...but still enjoyable on my 5m/100L. Judging on some 200 lbers powered up on 4.8m, you know it was very doable. Actually it has been Hawaii-like conditions lately in the Bay Area. Been sailing 4 of the last 5 days (didn't sail Sunday) with steady wind and warm air/water with Saturday being the lightest. What a gift from mother natural.

We take about where we've been sailing lately on this thread. While we are at it, lets praise someone, make up stories and criticize others with whom we disagree.

[NickB]

[bert]

5.0 with the longboard at Oyster on Tuesday. The board glides thru the dead zone at Genentech into the meat of the wind at Tigers. Planing the entire time while at the Tigers cove, but it's a bitch getting the board to gybe, much easier to tack. My last dozen sessions have been with the Kona CarbOne.

[windward1]

Thanks rigatoni and NickB. Some of that coastal sailing has made for the most memorable windsurfing that I have done. Almost always an adventure.

And, Bert, you travel far more than most. Is that CarbOne going to be a traveling machine? Bay crossings? One sailing site to another sailing site excursions?

[bert]

windward1
I got the board primarily so that I can sail year around no matter how light or which direction the wind is blowing, I do plan on sailing from site to site like Coyote to the Stick. May need to mount a beer holder on the mast for those long excursions however.

[windward1]

If you could bring a keg of beer you would be greeted grandly at all of the sites.