Tall Ships Parade in Spectacular San Francisco Bay

Brother, Jack Byrnes, invited us to sail with him on Brigadoon in the Tall Boats Parade in San Francisco a few weeks ago. Brigadoon is a beautiful square-masted wood boat with a long history dating to the 30s. She has been lovingly owned and cared for by her owner and skipper, Terry for some 30 years and Jack has sailed on her for most of those years. Jack -- if I have any information wrong or you would like to add to this, please blog us.

It was a fantastic day on the Bay, with sunshine and plenty of wind, we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and prepared for our place in "line." Seeing the Golden Gate and San Francisco from this position was nothing short of spectacular and as we sailed around the Bay in something like perfect 25 knot or so winds, I kept thinking -- "there's no where else I'd rather be right here, right now."

Afterwards, we visited the venerable St. Francis Yacht Club that sits regally at the foot of the Marina. Jack is a long-time member and Terry is a former commodore. End to a perfect day.

Pictures from our day on the Bay below. For the record, the guy in hoisted in the bosun's chair is Jack, the only volunteer willing to go up the mast. Tom got to sail across the Bay with, of course, rails in the water. I just enjoyed the fantastic view all away around. San Francisco just feels like home. I love the city, I love the Bay, I love the golden hills.

Thank you Jack (and Terry too), we had a wonderful time.