Big City Serenity

Even if they never actually get out on the water, most Bay Area residents would probably agree that simply looking out across the Bay from surrounding waterfronts, or looking down on it from any of the bridges that span it, enhances the quality of their lives. And as every Bay sailor knows, getting out for even a low-key, two-hour daysail has even greater rewards. The serenity of gliding across Bay waters under sail, with only the sounds of wind in the rigging and baby swells lapping against the hull, is an ideal antidote for the stresses of modern urban living.

If you’re an experienced sailor, you shouldn’t need this reminder, yet throughout the Greater Bay Area thousands of boats sit lanquishing in their slips, unused like races horses put out to pasture well before their time.

So if you have access to a boat, don’t let the fact that it’s officially winter dissuade you from getting out on the water. As these photos demonstrate, the mild days between passing storm systems can be absolutely glorious!