Yerba Buena (and Treasure) Island

I've sent away for a new PHRF number for Little Cat so that I can compete in the next Three Bridge Fiasco race in January, so I need to familiarize myself with the race course so as not to come in last. The race goes from the Golden Gate Bridge, around Yerba Buena Island, and around Red Rock next to the Richmond Bridge. The part of the course I haven't sailed in Little Cat is around Yerba Beuna Island, so we set off to check out the shifting winds and currents around the City waterfront and around the island.

Conditions were not ideal with a very light headwind and a tide starting to run out as we headed along the city, but the new genoa pulled well at up to 5 knots in places and steadily plugging away at 2-4 knots.

Nice set to the light-air Genoa

The wind dropped to almost nothing behind Yerba Buena Island, but the Genoa just filled and kept pulling at 1-2 knots.

Under the Bay Bridge (City side)

The Sun going down over the city

Big ships anchored in the South Bay

Rounding the South side of Yerba Buena past the light and Coastguard station

Once past the delightful looking light house and Coastguard station on the South corner of Yerba Buena Island, we turned north under the Oakland section of the Bay bridge and got a good look at the new bridge under construction. The wind here was a knot or so and we just made way against the tide. By the time we rounded Treasure Island it was dark and we sailed back to Richardson Bay with the lights on in a freshening breeze.

New and old Oakland Bay Bridges