Sailing the Delta

Entry for March 30, 2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:12:26 GMT

Spring winds are here! Leaving the marina at 12:30, Waffle (dog) and I sailed up Broad Slough in 15-18 knot winds. The northernly dirction required several tacks to reach the Sacramento. On the way, we caught up to and sailed with new Antioch sailors Bruce and Suezette. Both boats turned at the top of the slough and sailed up river. I cheating the tide by hugging the shore and soon I met up with with Steve and Martha (Beneteau 323) sailing toward me. They came about at the Windsurfer beach and we both continued up river to the windmill. Great weather, sunshine, high clouds, and temperature in the mid- sixties. We turned to weather at the windmill and beat our way home with the tide. The Beneteau was fast to weather as the best I could do was to stay in sight. The wind picked up to 22 knots at the top of Broad Slough where we all turned, fell off, and headed home for Antioch. I got these pictures while things wern't so hectic. Dr. Waffle gets under foot and sheets too often when things get busy in the cockpit.

Entry for March 30, 2008 cont.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:42:34 GMT

(Larger Image) New Anticoh sailors Bruse and Suezette on their Newport 27 "Sail Salsa".

Entry for March 30, 2008 cont.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:39:49 GMT

(Larger Image) Meeting up with Steve and Marth (Misty II) on the Sacramento.

Entry for March 30, 2008 cont.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:37:50 GMT

(Larger Image) Martha at the helm

Entry for March 28, 2008

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:54:49 GMT

(Larger Image) The Dual: Winds were WNW at 15-20 knots on this cool Spring day when Mike and I set sail upriver toward the Antioch Bridge. We sailed under the bridge and turned back just short of buoy 16. I had trouble putting a reef in and found it difficult to get back under the bridge with the westerly wind direction. A starboard tack dirctly under the bridge got me to the west side where Mike was waiting - just in time to see him go back under to meet up with another westward bound sailboat. The boat, a 30+ foot catamaran and in true Antioch style -a race was on. Mike turned even with the cat as both boats approached and passed under the bridge. He passed the cat and stayed in front to west end of West Island in a classic upwind tacking war. The cat - flat and fast on the water but slow to come about. Mike, rail in the water and pointing high into the wind.

Entry for March 26, 2008 cont.

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:53:22 GMT

(Larger Image) The cat put out a wake at top speed. Here it is just above Mayberry cut.

Entry for March 26, 2008 cont.

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:52:03 GMT

(Larger Image) Mike pointing high to stay in front.

Entry for March 26, 2008 cont.

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:50:46 GMT

(Larger Image) Who are these guys? The boat's name - Playstation. Mike said he's raced these guys before and beat'em bad. No such luck this time.

Entry for March 26, 2008 cont.

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:49:20 GMT

(Larger Image) We got to Antioch and the wind picked up even harder. Here's, Mike giving the winches a thorough rinsing with delta water. We chased the cat all the way to Broad Slough where it hove-to to let us catch up. We sailed up the slough, up the Sacramento, and crossed Sherman lake to home. The cat continued on toward Rio Vista. All in all, a great day of sailing.

Entry for March 21, 2008

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:49:21 GMT

(Larger Image) This weekend of sailing the delta began on Friday for me. I got to the marina around 11:00 am and found Steve Plummer rigging Cloud 9 with a single reef. The wind was up, trees bending, and the sound of loose halyards was a clear sign that this was going to be good. I put my reef in and caught up to Steve waiting at the entrance of New York Slough. The wind was from the north and in the distance we could see a sailboat at the top of Broad Slough heading east in a stiff breeze. "Hey lets race this guy to Pittsburg" Steve yelled. So off we went ... on a single tack, all the way through NY in hot pursuit. At Pittsburg, the winds calmed and our quarry, well out of reach was left standing upright windless as we, We turned around and headed back up the Sacramento. Re-catching the wind and tide, we made 7.2 knots on my GPS on more than one ocassion. We sailed all the way to Rio Vista the came back. Great Sail. Where were you?