June 21, 2003
A close encounter right by The Farallones
[a whale]
This Saturday's "Ocean Race around The Farallones" started for me with a early morning drive to the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco.
[the Bay Bridge toll plaza]
[crossing the bridge towards SF]
cruising up The Embarcadero
Marina Blvd
parked & ready to go
Meeting up with Dali and Paul...
...and Ben, and his 'Georgia'.
preparations
lots of boats headed for The Farallones today
Paul
Dali
Ben
approaching The Farallones (movie file)
rugged and uninviting
[deserted]
Dali trimming the main
[Ben at the helm]
Paul tending jib #2
-Hey, guys - is that a whale???
Click to enlarge
...Yes! And it just swam right under our boat, we saw it 6 feet away!
[I was a bit slow with the camera, though]
flying the spinaker on our way back
[still around 30 knots of wind]
a perfectly trimmed spinaker...a beauty
relaxing while peaking 16 knots
Paul's in charge of the spinaker sheet
Dali is cranking
what 12 knots looks like (movie file)
a couple of hours later, we spot the Golen Gate again
[me]
looks like we made it back...safe and sound!
getting organized
Ben got us all a beer at the yacht club afterwards...
-Thanks for a great day out there!
[56 nm in less than 8 hours]