A storm is brewing The Mare Island Lift Bridge isn’t sunlit glistening blue this time. Dark storm clouds frame the opening as we approach. We are bound for San Pablo Bay, then under the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and into San Francisco Bay... at long last.

Nina is at the helm putting Rikki-tikki-tavi on course between the Brothers Islands and Ferry Point. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is ahead and we choose to pass through the east section because a very large freighter is accompanying us through San Pablo Bay and he will make the bridge simultaneously. He’s bigger, we stay really far away (and out of the Pinole Shoal!). The water is very lumpy, wind waves assisted by an ebb, and we are pushed along, but find no problems cropping up.

Rikki-tikki’s first view of the Golden Gate. Wow. That’s Raccoon Strait with Angel Island on the left. Perhaps we’ll be sailing the circuit soon. Where are those sails anyway? We are making tracks for Clipper Cove at treasure Island. Friends aboard another Marples trimaran, a CC44 fast cruiser, are expecting us. Once there, we find the wind and swell is also tracking directly into the cove, causing very sloppy conditions. We elect not to anchor, instead make several circles to gain their attention and they snap a couple of photos of us from the marina. We continue on under the Oakland-Bay Bridge toward Alameda.

Past the Oakland-Bay Bridge and into the South Bay, we look back for a view of the San Francisco skyline. Hopefully we will have some sails and some sun with fair winds soon!

Rikki-tikki arrives at Alameda The wind direction holds us against the end-tie at our temporary home at Ballena Isle Marina. It started to rain as soon as we got the docklines secured. Made it without getting wet! Now, to get busy finishing up the details! And, where are those sails anyway?

Work at the dock...

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