Written by Parag Deshpande
Sailing alongside a humpback whale
I expected that sailing on the Pacific Ocean would be a test of my sea courage, but turned out to be a relatively uneventful and enriching trip.
We were a crew of seven: David P., our skipper/instructor, Chad, our co-skipper, plus Brian, Tom, Sam, Greg, and myself aboard the 39-foot Beneteau. We got every opportunity to try out our sailing skills over the three days. Most of our sailing happened in the bay with easy winds and clear sunny skies. Overall great sailing conditions for all.
The trip started with David P. showing us an elegant undocking procedure of pivoting by the bow to get the big boat out. We motored up the Redwood Channel, and all the way to the city, where we got the reliable San Franciscan winds. We sailed for an hour before heading to dock in the SF Marina where Anil, another Spinnaker instructor, welcomed us. In his company we spent the evening at a food festival with assortment of food trucks and later at a bar. Some of us actually slipped out to catch a movie for the night!
Staying on the boat overnight in small quarters was an interesting experience; waking up with a view of the rising sun illuminating the Golden Gate Bridge was captivating. We had great breakfast at the Marina Deli, then prepared to undock and sail down to HMB.
Clear day in the SF Marina, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background
As we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, the feeling of being part of a unique experience fell over me. Eight miles out, we turned south after passing the light buoy that doubles as a gathering spot to a group of sea lions.
Along the way to HMB, we must have seen about twenty Humpback whales that Greg passionately disputed were actually another whale species. We saw an incredible variety of marine life. David P. shared with us some vital information about the approach into the HMB Marina. Some of the biggest waves crash onto the coast at Maverick, making it a world class surfing spot, but a trouble area for tired sailors trying to get into the marina. It is safest to stay out in deeper waters before heading straight into the Pillar Point Harbor.
One of the many whales we saw along the trip
Waves crashing against the rocks at Mavericks Beach, with the Pillar Point Harbor visible in the calm water behind the peninsula
Once we found our slip, Chad docked the Beneteau with finesse. After tidying up, we went ashore to scout out a breakfast place for the next morning. That evening we dined al fresco on the patio of the HMB Brewing Co, enjoying some craft beers and interesting conversation.
Sunset from the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co patio
Sunday morning, we began our return journey. We motored for a while, then suddenly someone spotted a swarm of birds circling around an area. As we approached carefully, we saw multiple whales possibly feeding. One of them passed directly under our boat!
Once we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, we were greeted with nice winds that we took advantage of to hone our big boat sailing skills. We each tried jibing, sailing single-handed, and some tacks.
This trip was full of learning, with memorable moments spent with pleasant company, a great instructor, and simply nature. Before we had even returned to the Spinnaker docks, we were already longing for more. Thank you David P. for leading our sail, and to my crewmembers!
