Where to park on Saturday night the 27th?

[iliohale]

I am wondering where everyone is planning to spend our first night on the Doo Dah? A couple of options that we are thinking about is Vallejo, Napa, or just sailing straight to Antioch (riding the afternoon flood). I called both Vallejo and Antioch marinas and they have some spaces available. So what are your plans? If possible we would like to hang with some fellow Doo Dah'ers so let us know.

Gary & Nancy
iliohle

[KJensen]

We are also planning on heading to Antioch for Saturday night.  If they don't have room for our boat, then we probably anchor in a nearby slough and head into the marina on Sunday morning.

[iliohale]

Thanks for the response, I was able to get a reservation in the Marina. Cost is $20 for the night. Figured that way we get to sleep in and can then start the party early :-}

[LaDonna]

We haven't decided but we often hunker down behind Decker Island that first night. While I'm a bit of a planner, Rob likes to fly by the seat of his pants so I'm guessing we'll just figure it out as we go along!

[admin]

Our plan on Stink Eye is to anchor in Middle Slough, just north of Pittsburg along the East Reach. We have not tried to go in there before, so I can't vouch for it, but the chart shows plenty of water if one doesn't cut the corner too close. Here's a handy chart for that section: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18659.shtml
We'll join you at Antioch Marina on Sunday, probably late in the morning.

Some other suggestions of places we've been and like that are on the way: Vallejo Marina (good showers), Benicia Marina (walk to cute town), Martinez Marina (walk to cute town - but check to see if they've dredged because it was too shallow last time we went), Pittsburg (nice new marina; haven't been there since they finished it). We keep meaning to go to Glen Cove on the Carquinez Strait, but haven't been yet. Check with them about the dredging they have going on. Yacht Club members could also check with clubs along the way like Vallejo YC, Benicia YC and Pittsburg YC.

[lewiskeizer]

We're berthing Legacy (C&C 34) at the Benicia Yacht Club Saturday night, then taking the late morning flood up to Antioch for the afternoon shindig. After that, Potato Slough and hopefully a "bedroom." Our Redcrest has oars, not a motor. We have to row, and thus prefer slow-moving water.

[Pat N Carole]

This is our first trip 'kickn-back' in the delta for several years, and it looks like on Sat we will be passing the area where you go Port to Sacto or Starbord to Stockton. Quite a few years ago I was told that right in this area is where 'they' used to take the old boats that had out-lived themselves, and just run them up into the tules and leave them. Has anyone else heard about this, or been up there looking for signs of them? We were toying with the idea of 'gunk-holing' in that area to see what we might scare-up, but I havn't ever been around there, so have no idea if there is anyplace to tuck in for the night.      Pat

[admin]

Hi Pat and Carole,

If you go backwards in this thread to my reply #4 on June 3, you'll see this link: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18659.shtml which shows the area you are talking about (the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacto Rivers. We are going to try the southwest side of Middle Slough. Has anyone anchored there?

An update to that post: I had mentioned that Martinez had been too shallow a couple of years ago when we tried to go in there, but one of the Doo Dah sailors called them and said they have dredged and sailboats should be able to get to the guest dock now.

Stink Eye, Laser 28 (5-ft draft)

[KJensen]

We anchored there a couple of years ago in our Island Packet.  It was a pretty nice anchorage but there is a current that runs through it do be prepared to swing around a bit.  We chose the west side to get out of the wind.  We anchored in about 20 feet of water.

[Deltaslr]

I was in Martinez in my Catalina 27 a couple years ago, and at that time it was OK, albeit you had to be a little careful (I have 4ft 6 in draft).  If they now have dredged to alleviate draft problems, Martinez is a great little town--lots of antique shops on the main street, an Amtrak station right at the harbor to swap crew (simiilar to Antioch), and friendly folks.  Not as well kept up as Benicia or Vallejo, however.

Peter