For a change of scenery, we will explore the San Francisco Bay side of Alameda near Ballena Bay. We will launch at the Encinal launch ramp, which is just west of Ballena Bay, outside of the Ballena Bay breakwater. I'm advised that this launch facility is usually uncrowded, has plenty of parking, and the restrooms are similar to those at Estuary Park (which means they are not well maintained). The ramp dock has room for about 3 boats at a time. The ramp can be slippery at low tide. Once launched you'll have pretty direct access to the Bay - no long channel. If we should find the Bay looking unhospitable or the ramp poses a launch or recovery problem, we can move across Alameda to the Grand St ramp on the Oakland Estuary. Ballena Bay has a large marina and, I think, some restaurants.

A new sightseeing attraction, a short sail from the Encinal ramp and behind a breakwater, is the aircraft carrier Hornet. The Hornetwas the carrier that recovered the Apollo 11 astronauts after the first moon landing. In WWII the Hornetsuccessfully fought off Kamikaze attacks. A year or so ago, the old carrier was scheduled to go to Hunters Point to be cut up for scrap, but she won a reprieve when a group managed to gather enough money, support, and volunteers to have her preserved as a museum. She is to remain in Alameda, her home port, and is the only preserved carrier on the West Coast. She is now open daily to the public. I encountered her first when she was at the Oakland Naval Base and I was Pottering out the Estuary. I was able to motor alongside the iron monster, under the overhanging flight deck, and around to where I could look up at the name "Hornet" across her stern. The ship was closed up and very still, very different from what I remembered of a "living" carrier when I was on the Bon Homme Richard many years ago, but the old ship was still an awesome sight when viewed from Potter level.

The Hornet,photographed by Jon Hunolt from his P15

Months later, after the Hornethad been moved to Alameda, my son Jeff and I cruised our Potter, Manatee,in a circumnavigation of Alameda, and along the way we visited the Hornetin her new home. But this time many of the doors to the hangar deck were open, the hangar bay was brightly lighted, and we could see people on board. There was a flag flying on the flight deck.

In the opposite direction, east of Ballena Bay, there are parks along the Alameda shore including a long stretch of public beach. Navigation is easy: the Hornet and some adjacent ships can be seen for miles as can the forest of sailboat masts that mark the location of Ballena Bay. Far across the Bay you can see the San Francisco skyline. This portion of San Francisco Bay is relatively sheltered and was gentle sailing the day Jeff and I were circumnavigating the island. It's generally not as windy on the Bay now as in the summer, so we have a good chance at a smooth sail, assuming no storms passing through at the time. If it is looking too windy or choppy, we can either move to the usually smooth Estuary side of Alameda, or call off the sail and go take the Hornet tour (about $7, I believe, less for children and us geezers), or we can go somewhere for a beer and conversation.

Directions: Plan to have your boat launched by 10:00 if possible. The easiest way there is to take the Posey Tube to Alameda. This is the tunnel that connects right at Broadway and 880. This tunnel takes you to Alameda. Stay to the right as the road forks after the tunnel, but not the far right lane, which exits soon after the tunnel. This will leave you on Webster St., where you proceed until it dead ends on Central. Make a right on Central and proceed until you pass Encinal High School on the left. The road to the boat ramp is on the left just past Encinal High. (more info to come).

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