San Francisco Yacht Club Pre Race

Prior to the Great San Francisco Schooner Race, the guest docks were cleared at the San Francisco Yacht Club.

The sunset was glorious and the water shimmering.

The next day, we witnessed some fabulous schooners sailing the bay. The weather was great as was the wind.

Out of the Wilderness

I have never been to Loma Alta before and this was the opportunity to go and shoot some expansive panoramic photographs.

It seemed like you could see the whole world from the top.

It was a Saturday afternoon and we were the only ones there. It was hard to imagine such a scenic spot was not mobbed by visitors, but it was not.

One reason this is an exceptional view is that there is hardly a view of a single structure except for the view of San Francisco on the distant horizon.

To be this close to a major world class city but so remote that there was not a single sole nor the site of another structure made me feel like I was coming out of the wilderness.

Quintessentatial Marin

Quintessential Marin is what I think of when I look at this photograph. It is one of about six stitched photographs which are made up of a total of 51 individual shots. It was just so good I couldn’t stop shooting.

I think this is about the peak of the spectacular spring green and soon the grasses will turn brown.

It’s a special time of year.

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BAMA Double Handed Farallones Race

This weekend is the Bay Area Multhull Association (BAMA) Double Handed Farallones Race.

We caught the start with this picture of the multi hull class. There was not much wind in the bay for the start, but outside the Gate, things picked up.

Elkhorn Road, Carrizo Plain

This year, we entered the Carrizo Plain via the Elkhorn Road for the first time. I had checked the wild flower report from the parking lot of the Stater Brother’s grocery by tethering my laptop to my cell phone. The report was for a spectacular show of carpets of yellow wildflowers.

We arrived late in the day and got some fabulous views from the winding road. I will definitely take this route again.

Ellipses

This is a fabulous area for photography and there were many great shooting opportunities. Several misty shots were taken here this past winter.

This image is called “Ellipses” for the scalloped shape of the pasture and road. The pasture is covered with California Poppies and a dozen or so cows are grazing near the top of the hill.

Spring arrives on Ring Mountain

The hillside on Ring Mountain is about to reach it’s peak color of green. With Mount Tamalpais in the background I shot several panoramas of the spring greenery including a small trail winding it’s way to the top.

The geology of this area is unique and Ring Mountain is actually an ancient reef. There are also plants that grow no where else in the world but here.

Melges 32 in Rolex Big Boat Series 2008

I’ll be shooting the Melges 24 National Championship Series, San Francisco event March 7 and 8.

I look forward to adding to my growing collection of panoramic sailing photographs.

Last year I shot the Rolex Big Boat Series, the Leukemia Cup, and the arrival and journeys of the fabulous Maltese Falcon in San Francisco Bay.

This photo is of some of the Melges 32’s in the Big Boat Series.

Spring Pasture

Happy Valentine’s day. We spent the day in Sonoma Valley tasting some new vintages from Benziger Family Winery.

On the way is this beautiful pasture complete with Holstein cows and bare California oak trees.

Potato Patch Banshee

We’re still looking for some really big waves this winter. The swell was supposed to be about 13′ today and we did see sporadic big waves hit the shore.

The “Potato Patch”  was spawning some spectacular waves. The Patch results from big Alaska swells breaking near the GG Bridge.

Deep swells from the north hit a shallow bar and result in big building wave.

I gage this one to be at least 30′ in height.