Point Bonita

Making the most of my great new location despite the wintery weather. Caught the tide under the Golden Gate out to Pt Bonita. Conditions were a steady 20 knot SW wind gusting higher with Little Cat on the first reef for jib and main. The wind against tide set up a steep 6-8 foot swell in the channel with a short interval. From the sailing performance perspective, this was interesting in that Little Cat had too much jib and was pressed hard into the troughs burying the bows up to the forward hatches, and I had to fall off to ease the pounding. I either need a second reef in the jib, or a small storm jib for these conditions. I had hoped to anchor under Pt Bonita and have some lunch but the big swell made things a bit too challenging. I didn't get a picture of Pt Bonita, but below is a picture I took a couple of weeks ago during a visit by car with the family.

Pt Bonita and Lighthouse

We turned and ran off past Pt Diablo - and got a visit from a Harbor Porpoise (!) - before turning under the center span of the GG and anchoring in the lee at Crissy Field for lunch.

In front of the "Warming Hut" at Crissy Field

Got out the stove and chair for coffee and lunch, before enjoying a fast run back to Richardson Bay. Its now winter and rainy, but still not too cold to sail. This trip 17 NM.