20th Annual Delta and Bay Extravaganza

Herein is the final itinerary for our 20th Annual, Delta/Bay Extravaganza, 2024 C-Dory event. Our schedule will be two days at the Duck Club and two days at San Francisco South Beach Marina. (Petaluma is too silted and Sausalito is too hard to get a spot on the dock reserved.)

The SF Marina reservation was made a year ago to hold these days. Attendance for this event is closed due to the need to now confirm our SF marina reservations. There will be ten vessels attending this event.

There is a request for attendees to send an $80 check to me for SF marina reservations. There is also a request for food volunteers for the Thursday night potluck. All this is described below.

1. Wednesday, April 24th, Delta Marina, Rio Vista

Harbormaster Natalie Avila (707) 374-2315

• Launch fee of $15.00 to be paid individually, on check-in
• Vehicle and trailer parked in the gated lot at the end of the marina
• Parking, $5 per day, Wednesday to Sunday ($25), paid on check-in. Must get back by 3:00 PM Sunday to get truck and trailer out of storage.
• Pay total $40 ($15+$25) in cash to this Marina on check-in.

If you want to come a day early on Tuesday, April 23rd, the guest dockage is $1.25 per night. If you come earlier than Tuesday, please call Natalie and make a reservation. Those that come earlier can explore the Delta on their own, for example Walnut Grove and Sacramento.

Wednesday, April 24th, leave Rio Vista (Delta Marina) at 12:00 Noon, and arrive at Wheeler Island Duck Club, midafternoon. On Wednesday, Kath and I plan to launch our own vessel about 10:00 AM, at Rio Vista. We then will all leave Rio Vista, as a C-Dory Group, at Noon, and head down river to Wheeler Island.

2. Wednesday April 24th, and Thursday April 25th, Wheeler Island Private Duck Club

Jim’s cell phone (916) 799-0286

• Boats rafted double, boat-to-boat, at Club dock, 25-foot boats in first
• Bring enough boat fenders to raft up to the dock and for other boats to raft to you
• No shore power or water hookups
• Restrooms and showers in the clubhouse
• No marina fees!

We are staying two nights at the Duck Club (Wednesday night and Thursday night). Please bring your fishing gear and California fishing licenses to go fishing from the banks of the Duck Club on Wednesday and Thursday. Fishing is outstanding for stripers. Last year I caught more striped bass than any time in my lifetime.

John Eudy and Robin are hosting a gourmet BBQ dinner for everyone on Wednesday night. Kath and I are hosting a bacon and egg breakfast for everyone on Thursday morning.

For Thursday evening we are having a BBQ hamburger and striped bass pot luck. Kath and I will bring the hamburger for Thursday night. John Marshall will prepare the striped bass for us.

We need some food volunteers for the following items for our Thursday night potluck:

• Hamburger Buns and mustard, ketchup, and mannose
• Green salad and dressing
• Potato or Macaroni salad
• Chips and dip
• Corn on cob
• Desert of some type
• Desert of some type.

There are seven of you (Dora Jean, Sea Spray, Far C’R, NaudiCat, Octopus, Nowhere Fast, and Olsurfdog) whereby each of you can choose one of the above items, and make a contribution to our pot luck. Please plan on 22 people for food (includes the two caretakers of the Duck Club). Each party is responsible for their own drinks at the pot luck.

3. Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th, San Francisco South Beach Harbor

Harbor Master Pallavi Talwar (415) 495-4911

• Cost of $35 per night, regardless of boat size (Prepaid)
• Non-refundable deposit, paid in advance, $10 per vessel (Prepaid)
• Rest rooms and showers
• Shore power and water hookups available (power adapter with a deposit)
• Everyone on “A” dock with assigned slip numbers (given later in trip).

Friday, April 26th, leave Duck Club by 8:00 AM (or earlier) and head to the Bay and on to SF South Beach Harbor. Our reservations are all set for South Beach Harbor for two nights.

On Friday and Saturday nights, we will have dinner at one of the casual nearby San Francisco neighborhood restaurants for those that are interested in attending.

4. Sunday, April 28th

Leave San Francisco at dawn’s early light, and return to Rio Vista to arrive before Noon. On Sunday, we will head non-stop back to Rio Vista. We should pull into the docks at Rio Vista, approximately 11:00 AM, Sunday morning.

Per tradition, anyone willing, is invited to have breakfast at the Strippers Restaurant in Rio Vista, curtesy of Jim and Kath, after we get our boats retrieved and put on their trailers. This is usually by about 1:00 PM, Sunday.

xxx

The above itinerary seems like a rigid schedule. In fact, anything can happen along the way to throw it off. Several years we were not able to meet our plan as scheduled, due to weather conditions.

In the Central/West Delta main channels and in San Pablo Bay, one wants to avoid together the incoming wind, and the outgoing tides, as they can be nasty enough, in combination, to even put a mighty C-Dory out-of- commission. Once you are West of Pittsburgh, the water channels become wider and bigger, and the wind is usually going to be coming at you from the West, and if the tide is going out, hang on for a rough passage!

For some years, we have lucked out with relatively calm weather, and we have been able to safely finish off the entire trip itinerary, as we originally planned it. However, in a few years we have had to modify our schedule.

Two years ago, it was absolutely hellacious coming back on the main channels. It was so rough that I could not even turn my boat around to go back and help someone. Luckily, Floyd was the hero of the day and got his boat turned around in storm conditions to help out.

For full disclosure, for the new attendees, this Extravaganza covers approximately 200 NM in five (5) days, and there is always unpredictability in weather and water conditions. The more experienced, competent, and relaxed Skippers have generally enjoyed this trip the most.

As always, each boat Captain is solely responsible for his/her own boat’s, and passenger’s, ultimate safety and well-being. Each Skipper is not to rely on the judgment (or lack thereof) of the Pack Commodore. It greatly helps the Group to show up with your vessel and engine(s) in good operating condition and with full tanks of fuel when you leave Rio Vista.

The C-Dory Group will communicate during this trip on VHF Channel 69. We will also monitor Channel 16.


xxx

This is our 20th time for this C-Dory cruise (and my last one arranging it) and we have always enjoyed ourselves, and the other attendees, or we would not keep doing it. We again look forward to the trip this year.

This year, like year’s past, we need to collect some marina reservation fees in advance. The advance marina reservation fees, per vessel, this year, like last year, are $80 for San Francisco ($35 x 2) + $10).

You will pay your own launch fees and parking costs (and overnight costs) at Rio Vista when you check-in there. The San Francisco marina must be paid in advance. There are no fees for our stay at Wheeler Island!

Please send a check for $80.00 to confirm your trip reservation. This fee is non-refundable, even if you do not show up, for whatever reason, as San Francisco will not refund it. Along with your check, please provide (1) the full first and last names for yourself and crew; (2) your vessel name; and (3) your vessel CF number. This information is used for marina reservations.

Also, for the SF marina you need to show your DMV boat registration and boat insurance papers. Please bring them.

Please send your $80 check, payable to Jim Gibson, along with the above requested information, to Jim Gibson, at 15 Noah Court, Sacramento, California, 95831. Please send your check by April 1, 2024 (about one month from now).

We have 10 boats signed up for this Extravaganza as follows:

1. Jim & Kath (Pounder)
2. John & Robin (Dinner Belle II)
3. Steve & Karen (Sea Spray)
4. John & Laurie (Slack Time)
5. Steve & Carmen (Dora-Jean)
6. Floyd & Eiko (Far C’r)
7. Sean & Maddy (NautiCat)
8. Erdem & Deborah (Octopus)
9. Karl & Dog (Nowhere Fast)
10. Michael & Son & Dog (Olsurfdog).

Thank you for attending this event. As always, we look forward to seeing everyone Wednesday, April 24th. Hopefully we will have reasonable weather this year.

If there are any questions, please call me. Kath and I are looking forward to another fun C-Dory gathering.

Sincerely,

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Jim,
Sent my check off today. I’ll bring hamburger buns and mustard/Mayo/ketchup.
Thanks for putting this adventure together. Looking forward to the voyage and finally meeting some fellow C-Brats in person.
 
Thank you to all the food volunteers. Everyone has signed up with an assignment as follows:

1. Michael & Noam w/dog “Tijuana Hank” (Summer): Hamburger buns, et. all
2. Steve & Carmen (Dora Jean): Caesar salad
3. Floyd & Eiko (Far C’r): Potato salad
4. Karl & Nancy w/dog “Tango” (Nowhere Fast): Chips and dip
5. Steve & Karen (Sea Spray): Corn on cob
6. Sean & Maddy (NautiCat): Desert
7. Erdem & Deborah (Octopus): Desert.

I have already received marina fees for the following six boats:

1. Dora Jean
2. Octopus
3. Nowhere Fast
4. Summer
5. Dinner Belle II
6. Slack Time.

I still need to receive marina fees for the following three boats:

1. Sea Spray
2. Far C’r
3. NautiCat.

Please send your marina fees by April 1st.

We are looking forward to this 20th Anniversary Event.
 
I have now received checks from everybody for the Marina fees in San Francisco. Thank you to all for this follow-up. I appreciate it.

I will cash the checks soon as I have already prepaid our Marina fees. I will let everyone know their berth number at SF South Bay Marina on Friday, April 26th.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, April 24th.


Jim & Kath
 
Dear all attendees to the Extravaganza:

This is a final reminder to be sure to bring your DMV Registration or USCG Documentation for your vessel, along with Boat Insurance information when you check into San Francisco South Beach Marina on Friday. This is the one thing I could not provide in advance.

Thanks.

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Dang- that looks like another great schedule. Pat and I are sitting here at the Outback in Oxnard with Joel and Sue. They said hi and have fun.
I know y’all will have a blast.
 
Roger & Pat, Joel & Susan, thanks for thinking of us. It works both ways, it’s just not the same without you guys. It’s like you take your family to Disneyland, but some of them can’t come. I’m sure all of us ‘veterans’ miss you a lot like we do.
 
Hello Jim & fellow travelers,

Due to her work schedule, my wife will miss most of the trip. She will join us on Friday afternoon/evening.

I am planning on arriving one day earlier and staying at the guest dock. I will call the marina and reserve my stay ahead of time. Looking forward to meeting you all.
 
Erdem on Octopus.

Too bad Deborah will miss the Banquet dinner at the Duck Club. I understand working. Good she is coming for some.

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Jim & Cindi on Morning Star.

You are hereby invited to come to the 2024 Delta and Bay Extravaganza, being the first, and only one, on the waiting list. I know that this is very late in the game, but I just heard of the dropout this morning.

If by any extreme chance you can make it, please come. Your marina fees have been already paid for you!

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Jim & Cindi with their big TomCat, Morningstar, are moving to Roseville from Florida. Unfortunately they will not make it out here until May 2024, so they cannot attend the 2024 Extravaganza.

Because one of the original 10 boats had to drop out due to family health concerns, we have room for one more vessel for the 20th Annual Delta and Bay Extravaganza.

I realize this is very late notice but I wanted to throw out this invitation for any C-Dory's who would be daring enough to want to come at the last minute. If you came all of your San Francisco Marina fees will have been paid for you!

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Tempting. But don't think I could make 2000 miles in 2 days, and my wife might be a little upset if I'm not at the airport Friday to pick her up. I really will miss this trip Jim, if it's your last. You all have a great time! Colby
 
20th Annual Delta and Bay Extravaganza trip synapsis.


Nine C-Dory’s arrived smoothly at the Honker Bay duck club about 3:00 PM on last Wednesday. A big banquet dinner was held on Wednesday evening and a nice bacon and egg breakfast was provided on Thursday morning. Stripper fishing on Thursday was not as good as in prior years, but most everyone who wanted to catch at least one, were generally successful. A great potluck dinner was done by the group for Thursday night.

Eight C-Dory’s headed out to San Francisco on Friday morning. The water was extremely rough. There turned out to be small craft warnings on San Pablo Bay with gusts to 30 knots. We used good judgement and aborted course to overnight in Benicia instead. Most everyone’s nerves were a little shot by the time we tied up at Benicia. Both dogs who came along were doing fine.

Seven boats left Benicia on Saturday morning to San Francisco. It turned out to be a glorious day on the Bay and six boats arrived safely in San Francisco on Saturday.

Six boats left San Francisco early at 6:30 AM on Sunday morning and quickly passed through San Pablo Bay as there was another storm warning for Sunday on San Pablo Bay.

Six boats safely arrived back at Rio Vista by 10:30 AM on Sunday. A good time was had by all who made it this far. A celebration breakfast was held at The Stripper Café in Rio Vista and a toast was made to honor Dr. Lew.

I am not good with posting pictures, but many photos were taken by the group. Hopefully one of the attendees will post some pictures of this member able event.

Jim on M/V Pounder
 
Thanks for the Synopsis Jim, I can see you guys had the usual exciting and eventful trip. Never a dull moment!

Thought of you guys during the week, where and what you were doing. Your adventures have created some of the best memories of my life, sorry to have missed this one.

Definition of sailing:
"Hours and hours of monotonous tedium punctuated by moments of sheer terror"

Maybeperhapspossible more adventures in the future yanevaknow
 
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