View Sausalito/Angel Island in a larger map

Lloyd and Sylvia invited Jason, Steve M, Angel (1 week in the Bay Area), and Emily (5 days in the Bay Area, first time one a sailboat!) on a Jeanneau 32 to give the newcomers a little tour of San Francisco Bay. Winds were 12-16 knots and waves were generally light except for a small bit right before the channel between Alcatraz and Angel Island. The fog burned off by early afternoon and it ended up being a beautiful day. The boat sailed well, although we lost the pin on the shackle for the topping lift only to have Lloyd find it near the rail on the port side beam when we docked at Angel Island! This of course allowed Lloyd to perform his MacGyver impersonation and grab the flying topping lift with the boat hook so he could tie it down under way, but also the satisfaction of whipping out his trusty sailing knife to slice through the line with one swift movement so as to replace the shackle and its associated pin. The Jeanneau had some nice features including lazy jacks and single line reefs. This is a smooth, easy to sail boat. Unfortunately it lacked a traveler, so despite the easy to adjust main sheet, we probably ended up heeling a bit more at times than we would have otherwise liked.

Jason, Steve M, Angel, and Emily had never been to Angel Island (as the long time Bay Area residents sheepishly admitted), so we docked at Ayala Cove and after Jason voraciously consumed a carnitas taco whilst the group tapped their feet to the dulcet tunes of a local live bluegrass band, Lloyd, Sylvia, Jason, Angel and Emily climbed the hill to check out the Chinese Immigration Detention Center. Steve M was so enthralled with the music he decided to stay in the area within listening distance. The trip back was a pretty straightforward close haul and after a little docking practice, Jason managed ignore all of that and bounce his way into the slip (with a little help from Lloyd shouldering a piling).

All in all a wonderful sailing tour, and many thanks again to Lloyd and Sylvia for setting up another blowout sail! Let’s hope Angel and Emily get bitten by the sailing bug, but if not, it was certainly a worthy introduction to San Francisco Bay.