What a strange day in the Bay yesterday…..flat grey horizon, no wind, hardly any swell to speak of. We thought there would be some breeze; we were mistaken. So, we motored on over around the north end of Treasure Island and down the east side. Amazing how SHALLOW that water is going into the Treasure Island Marina – it went from 30 or 40 feet to 10 feet in seconds. Wow, that boat can turn on a dime.
We ended up in the Alameda/Oakland main channel, exploring. There are some side channels down there, and many a small marina along the shorelines. It was fun.
On the way back, we called into the Alameda Grand Marina and hailed Journey – Dick and Tammy were not at home, but I made sure to get a photo.
We’ll be back, after a brief sojourn in Sedona, AZ.
We thought there would not be sailing in Arizona; we were wrong as we saw a small (15′?) boat on a lake north of Phoenix on our drive.
Definitely NOT a reason for Cypher to be jealous.
With all the rain I canceled sailing plans on Friday and Saturday. I was on the boat on Saturday, puttering and doing some computer work. I saw a few windows without rain, but they closed very quickly. Today, Sunday, I arrived at 1pm to find that the rain had stopped. Not much wind, but I needed to do something with the boat. I headed down around the city to South Beach Harbor, used their pump-out station to empty the rear waste tank, and did some close maneuvering practice (looking to help me get smoother backing into our slip… I can do it, but I want it to be easy).
Came back around toward Pier 39 and was boarded by the Coast Guard. Mandatory safety inspection. Fortunately we have everything together, so it went smoothly. Good people, and very professional. During the inspection we motored right past Pier 39, so I turned around and headed back that way, and decided to swing through Aquatic Park. It was low tide (-0.70 ft) and as I tried to thread through I got to 1 ft of water below the keel and turned around. No need to run aground. Next time at a higher tide!
So it’s back to Pier 39. I’m headed down the alley to our slip, about four slips away, and what happens but I run aground in my own harbor. You know that sinking feeling when the boat just stops? So close, yet so far. I cranked up the RPMs and she plowed through the mud (picture the bottom of the keel dragging in the mud) and into the slip. There was about about a foot of water under the keel in the slip, but out in the alley I could feel the boat moving side to side over the keel in the mud. So now the boat is safe, bow-in in the slip (such that the shore power cord won’t reach), and the most the weekend guy at Pier 39 had to say was pretty much a shoulder shrug.
Time to find a new harbor – I can’t really abide paying premium docking fees and not being able to get in or out at low-low tide. Well, maybe I’ll map the bottom of the marina with the depth finder at higher tide and see where the shallow areas are, and see if I can move to a different berth. We do like the location.
Saturday, I had an appointment in the middle of the day in Menlo Park that really cut into sailing time. I knew there was no way I could spend Sunday on the boat (Peninsula School Holiday Craft Faire, spent selling my friend’s jewelry). So as I was knitting at Peet’s in Half Moon Bay, I realized that I could get to the City for a couple-hour sail that would look like our Thanksgiving afternoon.
Spencer agreed and here is how it went: he parked at Pier 39 and motored the boat down to South Beach Harbor in time to practice maneuvering/docking while waiting for me to show up. I jammed up from MP, parked near South Beach and walked out to the public pier, where I stepped onto the boat and we took off.
I cannot stop myself from sharing how I feel about having Cypher with everyone who asks me “how are you?” I/WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN. And, sailing out in the Bay on Saturday (in the really, really cold air), Spencer said it felt weird that we had no adult supervision! LOL.
Saturday, our intention was to take some good friends out for an afternoon on the Bay. Brian, Marynell, Andrea and Jenny showed up with a fabulous picnic lunch and incredibly good wine. Unfortunately, the wind was gale force (no clouds, serious white caps and swell) so we passed. Being a good sailor is knowing when to say the conditions are not good for a safe and fun time on the water.
Instead, we had a fabulous lunch at Bubba Gump’s on Pier 39 (totally NOT what I was expecting from a chain) and heard all about what Jenny and Andrea have been up to: starting a non-profit music camp and after-school program for girls/Americorp and EMT school. I am in awe and hope my girls are inspired.
In the end, the picnic lunch went home and a bottle of wine was consumed in the cockpit, where we all lounged and chatted for at least an hour!
Thanksgiving Day was very different this year – we planned a traditional turkey and trimmings meal but it occurred at noon instead of the usual late afternoon. We then loaded the car with 2 daughters and Grandma and headed for the boat!
Turned out, the sail was uneventful, as the wind was 4-6 knots. So we ended up puttering around between Pier 39 and Alcatraz, with a close up look at a barge shoveling dirt into the waters off the island. The return was more eventful – Daughter #1 was experimenting with the radio system and tripped the fuse for the main power. As it was twilight, we high-tailed it back to the dock. The Captain was unwilling at first to put in stern to the dock, however acquiesed and did a wonderful job.
The Day After Thanksgiving is being spent on the boat learning systems (where DO all of the hoses go?), finding fuses (next time resetting the main fuse in the dark), registering the emergency beacon so the Coast Guard knows it is US, cleaning up, running water through all of the spigots and deciding where things go.
Having a great time!
Tomorrow (Monday) Cypher is going home to Pier 39. We expect sunny with winds 6-8 knots. Then again, it could be patchy fog and 10 knots. Either way, it is SAILING WEATHER. High tide at 2pm, but slack tide is not until 4:20. I have got to get the hang of the tide charts.
An exercise in logistics: one car left in Foster City, one car in Alameda. Boat in SF. Ferry from Pier 41 to Alameda, local bus to car. Must make sure bus/ferry schedule does not strand us if we have dinner in the City. However, there is BART backup. An adventure on public transit!
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”
Weather absolutely stops sailors sometimes. Especially those with a new boat that they don’t have enough hours in. It’s important to recognize safety, limitations, expectations, considerations and be aware enough to say it is ok NOT to move ahead.
Cypher is in Alameda waiting for us – but she can wait until Monday. Forecast on the Bay is for rain and gale warning. We’re not fool enough to tempt Mother Nature.
So far so good. We hear that all of the work will be done today! Six guys are falling all over themselves to get it done – after it’s been sitting there for 2 weeks. Whoever lit the fire must have used a blowtorch.
The plan of the moment, if our surveyor gives the work a passing grade tomorrow, is to put her in the water on Friday and sail over to Pier 39 where she will have a sweet berth. Views of Coit Tower/Alcatraz, nice neighbors (who live aboard), ice for $1 a bag, and easy access to the Golden Gate. EXACTLY what I have visualized for years – a condo in the City. LOL.
Only thing better would be South Beach because it’s next to AT&T Park. However, Pier 39 is an easy trolley ride after the ball games!
Now seeing a lot of wind and water in the future.
