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Sss raid

In my model airplane life, RoG means "rise off ground" - a rubber powered model that taxis and takes off by itself - often a card table runway. A couple of grams of balsa, tissue, and rubber.

The one big drawback to the Delta: mosquitos! Be prepared with a gallon of debt or an acre of netting. Oh, and heat!
 
Buck's Landing in Marin County appears to be out of the running for a jump off point. Signed posted, PRIVATE KEEP OUT !!!! That leaves Loch Lomand at the end of the San Rafael Canal as a launch/revover site in that part of Marin.
 
I would love to join in on this.
Slim to no chance I'll have an appropriate vessel in time, though.
If anyone comes across an inexpensive ($1k-or-less-ish), trailerable, preferably sporty and ideally plane-able for a >250-pound sailor but with room for stores (Megabyte, Laser II, e.g.), post here!
Or even better: if you want to share ownership of such a thing, preferably in Berkeley dry storage.
Inspiration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KER2chyjPY
 
Lanikai said:
I would love to join in on this.
Slim to no chance I'll have an appropriate vessel in time, though.
If anyone comes across an inexpensive ($1k-or-less-ish), trailerable, preferably sporty and ideally plane-able for a >250-pound sailor but with room for stores (Megabyte, Laser II, e.g.), post here!
Or even better: if you want to share ownership of such a thing, preferably in Berkeley dry storage.
Inspiration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KER2chyjPY
Click to expand...


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Capri Cyclone... a little more roomy than a Banshee... MUCH more comfy than a laser. If it's got the rig and sails, then...

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/d/concord-capri-cyclone-best-offer/6951454616.html

=============

I'd be tempted to buy this one, personally

https://monterey.craigslist.org/boa/d/carmel-valley-bolger-gypsy-16-row-sail/6925236703.html

===========================

Needs sails

https://slo.craigslist.org/bod/d/san-luis-obispo-almost-free-lido-14/6950780974.html
 
OK, here's my proposal...three days. launch at the ramp at Sunset Marina, at the Bethel Island Bridge. The Marine Emporium is right there if you need a last-minute part. The San Joaquin yacht Club is right across the channel. Sunset Harbor has room to store trailers for a few days.

Day One: this is the longest sailing day...out to Franks Tract, across the San Joaquin River and up Little Potato Slough to Terminous. I'm eyeballing this as about 18 miles.
Overnight in Terminous at one of the Marina's or at the County Park, just on the other side of the bridge over Highway 12. Pictures of that bridge make it look like a small boat mast will easily fit under it.

Day Two: Terminous to Owl Harbor via the South Mokolumne River. There will be at least one bridge to deal with, the Highway 12 Bridge, which is a steel swing bridge with a relatively low clearance. Overnight at Owl Harbor. This is about a 10 mile sail.

Day Three: Out into the San Joaquin River...hug the north shore to stay out of the waves, and cut across to Fishermans Cut. Reach down to Franks Tract and take either route around Bethel Island, back to Sunset Harbor. This is a short day, probably about 8-10 miles.

SSS-Delta.jpg
 
If folks just want to do a two-day...basically an overnight, here's an option. Launch at Sunset Harbor, sail to Terminous via Franks Tract and Little Potato Slough....
Sail back to Sunset Harbor the next day, via the South Mokolumne River, about a mile on the SanJoaquin, and then down to Franks Tract again.

SSS-Delta-opt2.jpg
 
Here is some Delta Bridge clearance information.

Mokelumne River Bridge (Highway 12): HW 8' / LW 11'
Little Potato Slough Bridge (Terminous/Highway 12). HW 35' / LW 38'
Bethel Island Bridge (non-opening) Hw 15' / LW 19'

Here's a photo of the Terminous Bridge taken by a Philpott? Any relation?

Terminous Bridge - Philpott.jpg
 
Just a word of caution about bridges and current. You always need to take current into consideration when approaching a Delta bridge, especially I think, in a non-motorized boat. An eon ago I sailed an O'Day Daysailor around up there, sleeping in the boat, etc. It did have oars, but they were pretty ineffective. I had several close "mast calls" when I misjudged the current and how long it took a swing bridge to swing or lift bridge to lift. And then there was a passage through the Mukolemne Highway 12 bridge when it opened and I just couldn't over come the ebb given the lack of wind and lack of rowing. The tender finally tooted and closed the span and about a 100 unhappy motorists continued their journey. I managed to make Korth's Pirate's Lair before being swept out into the S.J. river.
 
The Bethel Island bride is an "arc", right? It's higher in the middle than it is at the edges. It's about 15 feet at the edges, I think it's more than 19 in the middle. However you only have to go under it if you go the "west route" through the sloughs to get to Sunset Harbor.

I've been at Sunset Harbor when the current was running and it's substantial, like 4+ knots so planning is important.
 
Here is the site I use for currents in the Delta: https://deltaboating.com/tides/tidesj.html

On July 31 I spent the night at Tower Park after sailing up the Potato Slough to Little Potato Slough, ending at the Bridge there, called Little Potato Slough Bridge.

Little Potato Slough Bridge 080119.JPG

Two requirements: Four hours notice is required to open the bridge. Call the Rio Vista Bridge operator @ 707.374.2134 and persuade the operator that there really is a bridge at Terminous. It is located in Lodi (San Joaquin County) and the locals all refer to it as the Tower Bridge, at which point you'll be transferred to the Tower Bridge operator, located in downtown Sacramento (Sacramento County). That is NOT, however, the bridge at Tower Park.

Just part of the fun, right? Well, because I was tired and couldn't reach Greg until later, that was the reason I was willing to pay the $35/night outside the Waterfront Grill. Seemed a steep price to pay for an empty marina, but everyone was nice. Especially Aaron.

Apparently the bridge is opened very seldom. How do I know this? Because Aaron told me he has never seen it open. Well, indeed. I was the only sailboat on the water.

Aaron at Tower Park 080119.JPG

Aaron and I met at 5:30 am on August 1. Aaron is night watchman at Tower Park Marina and campgrounds. He went to call his girlfriend and her little girl to come watch.

Late in the evening of July 31, after several phone calls and transfers, I had finally reached Greg, Bridge supervisor of District 10, by phone, who scheduled a bridge opening for 7 am. He was very nice. Said he would make the arrangements.

Did the bridge over highway 12 open? Well, yes. There were at least five DOT trucks on hand and more men than that. They all stood there watching, coffee cups in hand, and waved as I passed under the bridge. The whole closing/opening/closing took no more than twelve minutes, then I was in the South Mokelumne River.

If you turn to starboard there is a really nice anchorage. Just you, the fishermen and the cranes. Really nice.

View attachment 4645
 

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If folks reall don't want to do the the loop I outlined, we can always just go up the Napa River.
 
The fixed bridge height was for the one at the south end of Franks Tract. I probably got the bridge name wrong.

There's a chance that some Santa Rosa Sailing Club (all small boats) members might want to join in. Our August meeting is this Wednesday. I've been forwarding some of the SSS info and will bring it up at the meeting.

By the way, the SRSC hosts a Labor Day Regatta on Tomales Bay with camping on the west side and some mostly informal racing. They's welcome small boat SSS participation. --Pat
 
Wylieguy said:
The fixed bridge height was for the one at the south end of Franks Tract. I probably got the bridge name wrong.

There's a chance that some Santa Rosa Sailing Club (all small boats) members might want to join in. Our August meeting is this Wednesday. I've been forwarding some of the SSS info and will bring it up at the meeting.

By the way, the SRSC hosts a Labor Day Regatta on Tomales Bay with camping on the west side and some mostly informal racing. They's welcome small boat SSS participation. --Pat
Click to expand...

The more, the merrier....I think!
I know that Sunset Harbor has a lot of open space for trailers and tents. It's a half mile walk over the bridge onto the Island to the closest little grocery/convenience store.
 
Hope this RAID can happen...

Got me motivated to fix the leaks in my Laser... and give it a bottom job (I am halfway done AwlGriping). When its a 1972 boat one learned to sail and race on, it shows a bit of wear and tear. ;-)
 
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