Any time you want an adrenaline rush, try bringing a boat into the Gate at night in dense fog. Both of us were up from four a.m. to six, monitoring the radar and talking on the VHF with other vessels and Traffic Service. A huge freighter and a container ship passed half a mile away, and we couldn't see any of their lights. Couldn't even see the bright light of the Point Bonita Lighthouse. All we saw were green blobs on the radar screen. We marveled that anyone would sail a boat without radar, yet we heard on the VHF a freighter telling a sailboat to get out of its way; the sailboat had no radar and was about to cross right in front of the freighter.
We had no problem dodging vessels and buoys; the problem was going to be getting under the bridge. On radar, a bridge looks like a solid wall; you can't tell the towers from the rest of the bridge. Rather than risk a collision, we decided to duck into Bonita Cove and drop anchor until the sun came up and the fog lifted. There appeared to be one or two other boats in there.
As soon as we were anchored, Roy took a much-needed nap (he'd been up since two a.m.), while I kept watch and rang the bell. Once, I heard a motorboat coming straight towards us. I blew the horn. He swerved and passed 50 feet away.
The fog was still thick after breakfast, so Roy changed the oil, and I updated the log. We laughed at the irony of completing a
3000-mile trip by being fog-bound 10 miles from home.
On the VHF, the Coast Guard announced that the "Good News" was abandoned and adrift. They gave the coordinates to warn vessels not to bump into it, but that also means anyone can go out there and claim it as salvage.
We sat at Bonita Cove for more than six hours, waiting for the fog to lift. By noon, we had one-eighth of a mile of visibility, so we decided to try it. Slowly and carefully, we eased out of the cove and under the bridge, following a Coast Guard boat. By the time we were abreast of Angel Island, the sun was shining, the sky was bright blue, the fog was behind us. A zillion sailboats glided about, exulting in the glorious day.
We reached Marina Bay around three o'clock. Rita Coy waved to us from a rowboat. We're home again, safe and sound! We've traveled 3425 miles to Alaska and back, and I didn't get seasick once! We've experienced some exciting adventures. We've seen some magnificent scenery. Best of all, we've enjoyed each other's companionship. Surely, we're among the most fortunate people on earth.
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