Left Emeryville Marina at 10:45.  Back to Berkeley at 1:15.  Had thoughts of heading over to SF and back, but the ebb tide was a brute as I approached Yerba Buena Island.  That was a good lesson.  I never would have believed that currents in the bay could be so powerful, although I've seen in in the Oakland Alameda canal at ebb tide, so it makes sense now.  As water from the south bay heads toward the gate, the water that's to the east of the southern point of Yerba Buena piles up on a cove there and presses with force around the east side, precisely where I was trying to go.  I'll give spots like that a wide berth next time.  So, I bailed and headed to Berkeley.





Below: Barges used for the new bridge construction.





Below: This guy came up on all sides of my kayak for a stretch.  Twice I heard loud splashes close behind me.  I banged on my kayak, like a drum, and clapped when he surfaced.  He enjoyed the interaction.



Berkeley pier, a couple  miles out.