Sail On

Yesterday's entry about the sail on San Diego Bay included much more than a gun battle on the Bay.

I don't think either of us became very invested in the "battle," but we certainly were captured by the Bay. As we left the docks, the skyline of San Diego seemed to redirect our attention to the water instead of drawing our interest onto itself.

We could almost see the water reflected in the glass exteriors of the downtown office buidlings and living spaces. It seemed as if the sailboats could sail right past the waves of condominiums and apartments.

As we headed out to sea, we were greeted by this contrast between nearly one-and-a-half centuries of sailing. On the left is the Californian, a replica of an 1847 Revenue Cutter, and on the

right is one of the America’s Cup Stars & Stripes USA-11 yachts. "Stars & Stripes" is arguably the most widely-recognized name among all American sailing vessels. Team Dennis Conner's original Stars & Stripes went to Australia in 1987 and won back the America's Cup.

He also sailed the Stars & Stripes to victory in the America's Cup Defense Series of 1988.

It is possible to sign up for two-hour public sailing excursions aboard an 80-foot International America's Cup Class (IACC) racing yacht. To Troy Sears, the current owner of the Stars & Stripes, the vessel that so proudly won these titles was the perfect vehicle for these sails in the harbor.

As we traveled on the Trolley Tour, we crossed over the Coronado Island Bay Bridge. The height of the bridge allowed sufficient space for naval ships to enter and leave San Diego Harbor from the south.

The view from this bridge presents another view of the city's skyline.

At the southern end of the island, were these anchored sailboats.

We passed this area which used to be the island's ferry landing.

The next stop would be the Hotel del Coronado.