Last Summer I had a great overnighter exploring to the far reaches of the South Bay. It is amazing how large the South Bay is - I spent the night in the Newark Slough, which is further south than Half Moon Bay on the ocean side!
Going to the bottom of the bay means crossing under four bridges: the Bay Bridge, the San Mateo bridge, the new Dumbarton bridge, and the old Dumbarton rail bridge - phew!
Leaving the City and the Bay Bridge behind
The trip down was a lazy reach, then run, against an outgoing tide. The wind started at 5-10 knots and built to 15 knots in places.
We started with the light genoa and then hoisted the spinnaker as the breeze moved aft.
Approaching the San Mateo Bridge
The trip would have been hopeless without the spin, which pulled at 4-5 knots against the tide even though winds were light.
After passing the two Dumbarton Bridges, we headed up the Newark slough for a quiet overnight anchorage. This was the night of the magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Napa. I didn't feel a thing, although the family got shaken awake home in San Francisco. Wikipedia: Napa earthquake
Anchored up for the night in front of the abandoned Newark Slough railway bridge
Next morning we were dry against the bank of the slough, so had to wait until the tide lifted us off. Then it was time for short exploration of the Slough.
Hetch Hetchy water pipes
A couple of miles up the slough, we encountered these strange pipes that looked like something from Dune. I found out later that they are the water pipes that run all of the way from the Hetch Hetchy to the Bay, and here the pipes dip under the Slough. Wikipedia: Hetch Hetchy
Dumbarton RR Bridge. The new bridge in background.
Then it was time to head back, first out of the slough and then North through the abandoned Dumbarton Railroad Bridge.
The wind did not pick up until around SFO Airport. We then had a fast, and very wet, close reach all the way home in choppy seas and 15-20 knots of wind. This was one of Little Cat's fastest runs, averaging 7.8 knots over the remaining 16 nautical miles back to Sausalito. 70 nautical miles this trip.
Thanks for sharing! I've been day dreaming about a Tiki 21 for a long time. Hope to check some out at the Hui Wharram in the Keys coming up. Then I just need to be sure my wife is cool with the build, oh and finish the other projects in the garage :).
Hi Brad, It is starting to give up the ghost after 1.5 years, which is not bad. The first year was very clean. However, I'm a bit tired of soft paints as they get over everything and you have to be so careful cleaning the bottom or it all comes off. I will use a good hard coat next time. For your use it would depend if it is going to be in the water all of the time (as mine is), or on the trailer?
I'm thinking of using Interlux Ultra, but I don't know if drying out on tide, or a single day trailer trip out of water (my home to the coast) would be enough time out to require repainting. I would think that most hard paints of people who dry out on the tide daily could handle a similar 12 hour trailering situation?
Thanks for sharing! I've been day dreaming about a Tiki 21 for a long time. Hope to check some out at the Hui Wharram in the Keys coming up. Then I just need to be sure my wife is cool with the build, oh and finish the other projects in the garage :).
ReplyDeleteHey Roger. How is your Bottomkote holding up? I have a full can of the stuff, but I'm wondering now if I should go with hard paint instead on Beto.
ReplyDeleteHi Brad,
ReplyDeleteIt is starting to give up the ghost after 1.5 years, which is not bad. The first year was very clean. However, I'm a bit tired of soft paints as they get over everything and you have to be so careful cleaning the bottom or it all comes off. I will use a good hard coat next time. For your use it would depend if it is going to be in the water all of the time (as mine is), or on the trailer?
I plan to keep her in the water. Really thinking about Trinidad
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of using Interlux Ultra, but I don't know if drying out on tide, or a single day trailer trip out of water (my home to the coast) would be enough time out to require repainting. I would think that most hard paints of people who dry out on the tide daily could handle a similar 12 hour trailering situation?
ReplyDelete