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SF Delta trip planning - recommendations?

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/10/2006 : 22:01:29

Planning a trip up the SF delta this summer as far as Sacramento. I know Latitude 38 publishes a sort of guide each spring. Do any of you have any recommendations as to places to stop, guide books to consult, how to get unstuck from the mud, or any other sage advice.

The plan is to get in some warm water sailing with my kids and tour the historical sites in old Sac.

My understanding so far is it should be a pleasant downwind sail to Sacramento and then we will have to motor back to the bay unless we want to drift with the river.

We have made screens for the hatches, ports. We have an awning we can drape over the boom to shade the cabin. Any other equipment we should have?

Not sure where to start the trip. We will be trailering up to the bay so any place we can leave the truck for a week or more. Richmond would be nice if we could leave the truck someplace secure. (Brickyard cove?) Last spring we left the truck in Alameda for a week without incident.

Todd Hansen
Fiorghra'
San Luis Obispo, CA

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 23:33:47

Hi Tod,
Sounds like you've done a lot already. Few things that could help; a depth gauge, charts of the areas you want to go (it is a river and the sand changes around). GPS for following the charts helps. If you have a working jib instead of a Genny it would probably be the sail you'd want to use because of the frequent tacks you will have to do. You will see that most boats that live there use a self-tending club footed jib.
I haven't been there too many times but it is very cool. You might want to check out a few marinas, many have social events that could be fun with the kids. The times I've been there we put in at Stockton Sailing Club. They are close by a public launch ramp that has a well lit parking lot. We felt comfortable leaving the truck there for a week end. You can follow the river to Sacramento with lots to see on the way. Stockton is having their annual Delta Ditch Run June 10th, I'm going to sign up for it for the first time. It's a down wind ride from Richmond to Stockton. If you'd like to do that perhaps we could get together.
Hope this helps

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 01:23:59

Bring GPS and charts.
Bring radio for opening bridges.
Come upstream on the Sacramento river and go thru Georgiana slough on way back.
Bring bug spray.
Stay inside bouys no grounding.
Use the Old Downtown Sacramento docks.

I used Balina Marina in Alameda for parking, have nite time secutity patrol.

paulj C250 WK #719

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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
856 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2006 : 02:25:50

Since you asked about Richmond, I use Marina Bay Yacht Harbor.
Here's a link --> [url="http://www.marinabayyachtharbor.com/"]Marina Bay - Richmond[/url]
It's owned by the city and I think managed by a separate company.
It's a newer marina with 24-hr security patrol.
The launch ramp & parking lot is next to the harbormaster's office.

The marina has an odd situation.
It costs $10 to open the parking lot gate (but the boat launch is free).
The gate keep cars from driving through parking lot.
The parking lot has no fence, so anyone can walk into the parking lot.
I haven't used the marina yet this year, so they may have a fence by now.

I've left my trailer there on weekends.
We don't spend the night on our boat so we haven't left the truck overnight.
The overnight slips are $12.50 per night.
The harbormaster's office is pretty helpful.
You could call the harbormaster's office and see what they recommend about leaving your truck and trailer for a week.

I have a MapTech chart (number 121 - San Francisco to Benicia).
It has all the marina's and their phone numbers.
I've never sailed in the delta but it would be Maptech chart 122 - Benicia to Sacramento.

Russ (#793)

Edited by - Russ.Johnson on 04/11/2006 10:19:36

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 01:40:04

Thanks for the suggestions. I was all set to join you for the Ditch Run Matt but my wife pointed out the kids (and her) don't get out of school for another week. Got the paper charts out and was looking at them a bit tonight. I'll have to set up the GPS software and check distances. What is the best way to get from San Joaquin river to Sacramento? I'm guessing the North Mokelumne river.
Have a Garmin 276C GPS chartplotter and it was great last year on the Napa river. The channel markers were spaced pretty far apart but we could look down at the GPS and see that we were right in the charted location of the channel. As the river nears Vallejo it gets pretty wide but it was very shallow. Used the radio then to raise the bridge at Mare Island.

I know that most people tie off to a tree and an anchor at night.

Any good books to read about the history of the area?

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.