Where We're Sailing Today / where we sailed today

chibichibi · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 259

TI again, unexpected sunset session, 5.0 87l, 6:30-7:30

andydavis · Joined: 11 Apr 1999 Posts: 169 Location: Point Isabel

Tuesday afternoon at PI. Brian, Tony, Gordon out there. A solid twenty something all across the bay, filled in right to the launches at the dog park and Marina Bay. I was mostly overpowered on a 5.8. Tony broke a spreader bar, which tells you something about the conditions.

Oh, and to Mike Godsey...thanks for another spot on, excellent forecast...whoa, you called it again, Dude. (...and they pay you?)

kevinkan · Joined: 07 Jun 2001 Posts: 768 Location: San Francisco

TI on Wednesday. Sailed from about 4:30 to 7:00 on 4.7 and 81l wave board. It was OK... I wasn't that powered, and the wind was light near TI. It was a little windier further out, and then the fog started rolling in. Most people were trying to stay out of the fog and consequently were sailing near one of the buoys about 2/3 way to Angel Island. Reaching back toward TI, all you could see was fog... a little creepy. Anyway, I wanted to gauge my position, so I sailed back to TI through the fog, only to find myself way downwind of the launch. The wind was starting to lighten up, and so this wasn't a great place to be. I thought it better to go back out where the wind was to get upwind, but on my return I found myself way upwind now with the wind getting even lighter. This was bad at b/c the ebb was taking me upwind, too, and if the wind really died it would be really hard to get downwind around the jetty. So, I sailed out once again to get downwind... mostly slogged, but caught a puff and tried to sail as deep as possible. My position was now good, but there was very little wind, and I was barely able to slog. Compounding things was that I was all by myself... not another sailor in sight. I slogged for about 10 minutes alone and was relieved to see other sailors coming back in. Anyway, everybody made it in safely, although somebody took my sandals which I left at the launch. That's a bummer.

Just a reminder not to take things for granted at TI. This is still a pretty advanced spot b/c of the scenarios that can happen. I'm glad everybody made it in safely.

tombrady3841 · Joined: 12 Apr 2002 Posts: 94

Iam glad everyone had the good sense to come in!
That what Advanced sailors do
I sailed T.I. a couple of times when the fog was what Kevin said
"creepy" and if you end up down wind there is less wind
Rigatoni post early August about Crissy in fog
" couldn't see a thing, occasionally heard engines"
It might of gave him the creeps too!
It's an adventure when you do those kinds of sessions
but it only takes once to have a problem. If it doesn't feel right
Don't do it! There will other times.
T

chibichibi · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 259

Sailed TI from 5:30-7pm with Kevin and about 8 other sailors. When i arrived the wind was not at TI... it was way, way, out by the Angel Island buoy. Dropped in at the pipe and caught a puff for a water start. Slogging half way to Angel was a bit uncomfortable, psychologically, on a 5.0 and 87 but i could see folks ripping jibes and planing on the horizon, so there was some hope. Wind finally got stronger and was able to get to the "spot". Wow, wow, really beautiful out there sailing near Angel and very solid. But sketch central if the wind dies. I knew getting back would be dicey. Of course TI had dissapeared at this point into the fog. Finally decided to head back through the fog and proceeded to get completeley disoriented for a sec, had a twilight zone panic, just me, 360 degrees of fog, and this Bermuda Triangle vibe in the water....still planing...but losing power....then something on the horizon, a glint of a tugboat and the rough outlines of the Bay Bridge, but i seriously could not tell if it was the East Bay or SF span, focus...it was the East Bay, panic.....but...I wasn't downwind at all....but headed on a tack right for the TI jetty when the whole island re-appeared, sweet! Praise Jesus. Then more sailors and Kevin appeared up wind also headed in and slogging. Wind died about 700 yards from shore and it was hula dance slog time.

I'm a rather conservative windsurfer and not much of a risk taker, shit, i'm nervous to jump on starboard ramps, and, i've never slogged to the North Tower for wind from Crissy, but today was an exception. And I have to thank some Dawgs for making it seem doable. Amen. Not sure i'd do it again under such conditions. Happy we all got back on TI terra firma. Very Happy

VinceSF · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 86 Location: Marin County, CA

jlisenko · Joined: 29 Jun 2000 Posts: 121

Nice and mellow at the Stick on a 5.9 from 1:30 to 3:45 For a while no one there but me and a wayward seal. Then a bunch of folks showed up. Definiteley worth the commute. No problems getting back to the launch - like Fred said, it's like downhill skiing.

VinceSF · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 86 Location: Marin County, CA

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 867 Location: Marin

victor · Joined: 03 Aug 1998 Posts: 278

sailing in the fog is extremely skeezy.

last summer i sailed into the fog from no. tower. totally disoriented, i thought i was heading straight across when i heard a very loud fog horn. it sounded really close and i was sure it was a huge tanker bearing down on me. when i got a little closer i almost ran into the south tower where the fog horn was. on the tack back i felt like i was going downwind and as i got to a point where i could see an outline of a mountain i thought it was angel island and i must have missed the launch. on the way i caught faint glimpses of tour boats.

forutnately i was mistaken and ended up in the entrance channel to the marina as a coast gaurd boat was coming out. even though i was within less than 50' of the jetty they insisted i come aboard because i might be in the way if they really had to rescue someone in trouble. they dropped me off and then went out and gathered several other sailers that were out just to get them out of the water.

it's the strangest feeling. the last time i felt so disoriented was coming out from under a strong anesthitic after an operation.

DonORiordan · Joined: 06 Feb 2001 Posts: 104

I felt like that once snowboarding in a whiteout. In a big bowl, at Squaw, no trees, nothin' but white. At one point I stopped to try and gain my bearings. Whack...something hit me in the face. Hard. Turned out I hadn't actually stopped moving, just thought I had. I was still moving however, and caught an edge...didn't even realize I was falling until the smack happened as my face hit the snow. Pretty scary scenario.

Lost the trail, went on instinct (turned out to be right in the end), and hiked for 2-3 hours in waist deep power before finally making it back onto a groomer and finding some kind of civilization.

Sailing in the fog with no idea where you are at or going must be scary too. Esp with currents and big commercial traffic around... glad you made it before you ended up in the Farallons or in another kind of 'white' out situation

rigatoni · Joined: 25 Feb 1999 Posts: 205

Sailing at either Crissy or TI in dense fog is probably the most dangerous thing you can do around here. I don't care if you have all the safety gear in the world-you are essentially screwed if you run out of wind or break down. No one will find you and you will not find your way back to shore. Glad everyone made it back.

Jrobb · Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 212

Sailed Candlestick 103l and 6.6m from about 4-4:30. Little puffs was fun to get wet.

J

victor · Joined: 03 Aug 1998 Posts: 278

no. tower 4.2. water wasn't that nice but it still counts.

dperzinski · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 86

Went out to TI about 3pm, a couple of sailors were trying to swim their rigs out to the wind line while fighting the current that was pushing them onto the getty. Didn't look like fun. Went to Candlestick, Wow, it was winnn-dy. Went out on my 85l, 4.9m, great thrills; then rigged a 4.5 and finnished up for another hour and a half, far-out man.