15th Annual Delta Bay Extravaganza 2016
https://youtu.be/zfK0Rkv7F0o
Another Opus!
A 5 day adventure tour starts in the Sacramento River Delta with a pack of C-Dory owners known as the “C-Brats”. For the next 155 nmi we travel to Wheeler Island, up the Petaluma River to the town of Petaluma, over to Sausalito and then to the South Beach Harbor Marina in San Francisco before we return to our starting point in Rio Vista.
Day 1: Rio Vista to Wheeler Island - Shows our adventure team leaving Delta Marina in Rio Vista and arriving at our first destination, Wheeler Island where our hosts, John and Robbin on Dinner Belle II, have a wonderful dinner planned. There is limited space on the dock and our gaggle of C-Dorys must navigate a shallow entrance and tie up 3 abreast on the small dock. John gives us a guided tour of the wetlands and tells us of the conservancy they are able to provide here for the wildlife. A great time is had by all!
Day 2: Wheeler Island to Petaluma - Time to head out across San Pablo Bay. The forecast is shows some weather coming into the area but it looks like it will hold off.. Traveling up the river to Petaluma takes us through the largest natural salt marsh in San Pablo Bay covering 5000 acres. We have to make it to the drawbridge by 2pm for our scheduled opening. We do make it in and tie up on the public docks in the town center. We enjoy the hopitality of Joel and Susan’s friend Christine at her wonderful Victorian House she is restoring called Castle Balch. High winds and rain are scheduled this evening.
Day 3: Stay in Petaluma - The front has come and a system is moving through with showers. We call the Harbor Master in Sausalito to find out that “F” Dock where we had reservations was damaged during the high winds. We decide to stay another day in Petaluma and the rain continues to fall.
Day 4: Petaluma to San Francisco - After raining all night there is a break in the drizzle, the seas are flat and we head first to Sausalito to fuel up. Over the years we have been watching the Tall Ship “Matthew Turner” being built in Sausalito. We miss the launching by a few days but we get to see her tied up at the dock. The trip across the Golden Gate channel is exciting, passing through a sailboat race. A couple of our group lend assistance to an overturned vessel. We arrive at the marina much to the annoyance of couple of Sea Lions. The evening is spent as guests at the South Beach Harbor Yacht Club, the Admiral there takes us under his wing.
Day 5: Up with the sun for our return trip to Rio Vista. The City is a golden city washed clean by the rains in the morning light, just beautiful. These 5 days of adventure will stay in our memories forever. Many thanks to all that made this trip possible and all the people who have come together to share the experience.
Thank you Midnight Flyer and Gabriella for your photo contributions, really outstanding photography!