I think that it depends on where you are anchored as to where you'll run into mosquitos. We didn't experience any along Lost Slough, even though our anchorage had a shallow and swampy area nearby. There was a breeze much of the time which will always deters the buggers. Also, the farther out from the levy you anchor out....the less likely you will be to enconter them.
One thing that is a MUST on the Delta is a shade-cloth of some sort....DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE ! ! ! Even a market umbrella and plastic stand that you can fill with water will be a welcome relief from the sun. Another cheap solution is to create your own shade cover by tying or sewing two kingsized sheets or even fleece blankets together. You can throw them up and over the boom and then after tying knots in the ends, or sewing grommets in the corners...you can use bungee cords to tie them down to the lifelines. The neat thing about this cheap solution is that you can adjust the cover to hang down whichever side the sun is coming from as it moves accross the sky. With some additional material sewn on or grommeted on, you can also fit two panels to hang down around the backstay to shade the stern of the cockpit. There are many other sewing options...such as poles and attachments to a halyard to lift the cover horizontally up and above the boom...so many wonderful opportunities !
Life on the water in the Delta can indeed be warm....and there's nothing more wonderful than a long cool drink of water....or juice...or something refreshingly cold. One way to guarantee a cool beverage for at least a few days of your trip is to plan ahead to freeze your favorite drink (sadly...beer may not hold up to this technique...nor may anything else alchohol based (but don't let that stop you from adding it later on ! ! !) Just save several one gallon sized plastic water bottles...fill them up with your beverage and then freeze them solid for several days. You can stow these in a cooler or in your icebox on board...and VOILA...as the frozen block of beverage thaws...you have cold beverages on demand when you need them. We've also just bought an IGLOO one gallon thermos cooler with a beverage dispenser/spigot on the bottom. We will experiement to see if we can fill it up with frozen blocks/cubes of beverage...then we wont have to open the icebox everytime we want to get a cold drink. Hmmmmm....I wonder if I can make up some Sangria and freeze this and store it in the beverage cooler? How DOES one get alchohol the freeze anyway...or will wines low alchohol content allow it to freeze? I think I feel an experiment coming on...If it fails the "freeze" test...then I can at least toast the "failure" !!!
Anyhoots...these are a couple of suggestions for enjoying your Delta Doo Dah adventure. Oh yes...I almost forgot...be sure to bring along some sort of boarding ladder...trust me...you're gunna wanna get out of your boat and into the water..and then back out... while you're in the Delta...swimming and bathing is a must in the heat...a Solar Shower set-up is also nice.
Looking forward to everyone sharing their favorite tips on how to enjoy life aboard a sailboat on the Delta...
Doin The Doo Dah Loca
Sophia
Galadriel
