DELTA DOO DAH X —

The 10th Delta Doo Dah cruising rally started out much like the 9th, with a kickoff party and seminar at Richmond copious amounts of hearty food. The for us. Our first Doo Dah was in 2012 Yacht Club the day before Mother's Day. guitars, amps and lights were powered on our Venture Newport 23, and it was Breakout sessions this year tackled the by a Honda generator in the back of a on this trip when we really caught the topics of anchoring, itineraries and the pickup truck, and most of the clubmem- cruising bug. It was also on this trip (in Bay Bash (thanks to veteran basher Tom bers camped on the island. the middle of Suisun Bay, actually) when Lueck of Stockton Club for lead- And what were the DIY'ers up to this we decided we needed to get a bigger ing that discussion). Door prizes were summer? Read on for the tale of one boat for cruising. The following year we awarded, RYC provided a buffet of hors couple's excursion. returned to the Delta on our Baba 40 d'oeuvres, and fleet members had the bluewater cruiser Sonrisa, and we try to opportunity to meet one another. Sonrisa — 1980 Baba 40 get back up there every year. The next official event on the DDDX Greg & Kristin Torok, Emery Cove We'd been intending to get up to the schedule didn't go quite according to The Doo Dah will always be special Delta all summer, but it wasn't until plan. June 2's Delta Ditch Run from RYC to SSC attracted 126 entries, including 16 from the Doo Dah, of which Bob Har- ford's Stewball was the only one to finish within the time limit (a total of just six boats sailed across the finish line before the 1 a.m. deadline). An early heat wave had set in and shut down the usual Delta breezes. Many of the sail- ors — with or without their boats — did make it to SSC in time to enjoy a party that went on into the wee hours, and more DDD door prizes were bestowed the following day at the race's awards ceremony. For a complete list of door prizes and winners, see our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/deltadoodah. Two weeks later, Owl Harbor invited DDD boats to join in their pre-Father's Day BBQ, complete this year with a pie- eating contest. For this event, the Delta breezes kept the temperatures pleasant and added an extra level of challenge to games like the goldfish toss, rubber chicken toss and ring toss. / DOODETTE CHRIS LATITUDE It was on July 1 that things got weird. Sitting in a slip in Owl Harbor, we watched a long, thick, ominous The smoke from distant fires plume of smoke drift toward us. It was made for spectacular sunsets (top and bottom right) and sunrises an early start to the fire season and day (bottom left). 1 of the County Fire in Yolo County. The Mendocino Complex Fire, Redding's Carr Fire and several other devastating named fires — from as far away as British Co- FRANK WILSON / DRAMA lumbia — would send smoke streaming out over the region for more than two months. On August 11, under hot, smoky skies, we headed down the San Joaquin River to Bradford Island and an event new to the DDD itinerary. San Fran- cisco's Bay View Boat Club invited a small flotilla of DDD boats to join them for their annual BBQ at their primitive Delta property. BVBC's commodore, Larry White, with his wife Kathy and O'Day 37 Namaste, is a DDD recidivist. Four of our fleet's boats anchored off the tule berm adjacent to BVBC's dinghy dock and joined clubmembers

for a great party with a dance band and MISS IRENE

Page 74 • Latitude 38 • October, 2018 WHEN SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

gave their final mark a wide berth as we made the turn north toward Suisun Bay. Labor Day Weekend that we made a last- our initial tack. The favorable winds The ideal sailing conditions continued call run up to Potato Slough for a last (or continued across the unusually flat San all day, as we lazily sailed over flat waters first!) taste of summer weather for the Pablo Bay, making for idyllic sailing. at 6-7 knots all day long. Kristin was season. After topping up the water tanks As we neared the Vallejo bridge, I checking out the reviews of Delta anchor- and emptying out the holding tank, we checked behind me to find the entire ages on Active Captain and decided we departed from Emery Cove at 9:30 on Jazz Cup fleet chasing us down. Kristin should hang a left at Pittsburg up the Saturday destined for the twisty shallow started snapping photos of the dozens Sacramento River and anchor at Decker sloughs of the Delta aboard Sonrisa. of spinnakers behind us, as the leaders Island well before sunset, then take the The Bay was breezy with a surprising caught and passed us just under the Threemile Slough 'shortcut' back over to amount of southerly wind angle, and we bridge. We continued through the straits the San Joaquin River for the short run slid past the Berkeley Pier and up beyond with the fleet, doing our best to stay out up to Potato Slough the next morning. the Richmond Bridge under full sail on of everyone's way to Benicia, where we Firing up the engine for the first time AZURE DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA LATITUDE / ANNIE LATITUDE

Clockwise from top left: Craig Perez demos his anchoring technique at RYC; Greg, Wanda and Frank Wilson of 'Drama' watch an owl at Owl Harbor; Greg, his mom Gloria and kids Wanda FUZZY LOGIC FUZZY and Frankie demonstrate the usefulness of water toys; 'Fuzzy Logic' flies her colors while sailing to Potato Slough; Delta Doo Dah fleet members enjoy Owl Harbor's BBQ on June 16; the Threemile Slough Bridge lifts to allow 'Sonrisa' to cross from the Sacramento River to the San Joaquin. SONRISA LATITUDE / DOODETTE CHRIS LATITUDE DELTA DOO DAH X —

Delta Doo Dah X Fleet

Andiamo...... Islander 32...... Paula & Russell Sunn...... Owl Harbor since Emery Cove, we dropped anchor Annie...... 33-ft custom cutter...... Jeff & Annie Cook...... Richmond in 12 feet of water, accompanied by only Aphrodite...... Islander 28...... Dean Hupp & Jackie Boor...... Owl Harbor three other boats in the lee of Decker Bravo Zulu...... Downeaster 33...... Conrad & Majel Arnold...... Suisun City Island in an easy anchorage. Cali...... Islander 36...... Kerry & Jennifer Scott...... Vallejo On Sunday morning we weighed an- Casita...... Hans Christian 33...... Devon Quinn & Rowan Madix...... Alameda chor and called for a bridge opening at Cielo...... Catalina 380...... Jennifer Mengel & Doug Jarmer...... Alameda Threemile Slough. As always, the bridge Circe...... Islander Freeport 36...... Dave & Kelly Kendall...... Richmond attendant was very accommodating and Cosmic Voyager..... Merit 22...... Michelle & Allan Meyer...... Campbell had the bridge open at exactly the right Drama...... Beneteau 440...... Gregory & Bob Wilson...... Sausalito moment as we approached. Duende...... Cal 40...... Philip Lavelle...... Pittsburg By the time we arrived in Potato Dura Mater...... Cal 2-27...... Jackie Philpott...... Berkeley Slough on Sunday, the typical Bedroom Eastern Passage.... Lazy Jack 32...... Jay & Connie Spracklen...... Alameda locations were a bit crowded with mul- Elli...... Newport 28...... Doug McDougall...... Richmond tiple raft-ups of all types of vessels from Encore!...... Beneteau First 32...... Brad & Cheryl Belleville...... Alameda kayaks and paddleboards to jet skis and Ergo...... Express 27...... Chris Gage...... Richmond ski boats all the way up to large cabin Erewhon...... Newport 30...... Kathy & Bill Crowley...... Glen Cove cruisers. We opted for a quieter spot Even ...... Catalina 320...... Mike & Cindy Meloy...... Alameda with a couple of other on the Evenstar...... Ranger 23...... Gregory Towers & Jillian Cripps...... Emeryville Fantasy...... Islander 36...... Gene & Cheryl Novak...... Alameda southwest side of the tule island that Fast Lady...... Yankee 30...... Joaquin & Jocelyn Loayza...... Owl Harbor dominates Bedroom 2. We found good Fats...... Grand Banks 32...... Vickie Gilmour...... Richmond holding in 13 feet of water close to the Fiona...... Pacific Seacraft 34...... Kevin Mueller...... Alameda tules that made up for the mediocre wind Fuzzy Logic...... Hunter 36...... Dan & Kathleen Baker...... Sausalito protection. We spent the day soaking up HatTrick...... Sabreline trawler...... Mark & Anne Thomas...... Richmond the wonderfully warm sun, swimming Hokahey...... Seawind 1000 cat...... Jan Passion & Ellen Furnari...... Richmond laps around the boat, lounging on deck, Kingfisher...... Sabre 426...... Jerry Keefe & Allison Lehman...... Richmond and enjoying each other's company in Knot Serious...... ...... Steve Gierke & Valerie Coughlin...... San Pedro the quiet remoteness away from the TV, Kyra's Joy...... Catalina 36...... Peter & Georgianne Pillsbury...... Stockton Internet and cell towers. Lottatude...... Wyliecat 30...... Jeff & Tracy Olson...... Richmond As the sun went down the wind picked Marrakesh...... ...... Craig & Ann Perez...... Richmond up, and it was surprisingly windy most Mas Tiempo...... Islander 30 MkII...... Dave Cowell...... Owl Harbor of the night. At one point I tried to let Mental Floss...... Olson 30...... Rob Sesar & Roberta Manell...... Glen Cove another 30 feet of chain out for extra Miss Irene...... ...... Kevin Clancy & Joanne Goodsell...... Sacramento insurance against the leeward tules. Mojo...... F-27 trimaran...... Christopher Harvey...... Alameda No joy — with just a bit more scope the Music...... Hunter 37.5...... Phil & Nora DeGaa...... Richmond depth went from 13 to 9 feet, and we'd Namaste...... O'Day 37...... Larry White & Kathy Kennedy...... Bethel Island lose another 2.5 feet before low tide. Odette...... Catalina 36 MkII...... Jeremy & Joan Westerman...... Richmond Too close for comfort, so I settled for Odyssey...... Bristol Channel Cutter 28...... Wayne & Karen Edney...... Richmond the original 4:1 scope. With the anchor Olive...... Pearson 303...... Max Perez...... Emery Cove alarm set, Sonrisa didn't budge all night Oxalis...... 9-ft Escape Solsa...... Blake Wiers...... San Francisco and we slept very well. Pacific Dragon II..... Gemini 105mc cat...... David & Maha Hurdle...... Benicia On Monday boats started clearing out Plan B...... Ocean Alexander 43...... Howard & Donna Hendrich...... Isleton Shellback...... Catalina 30...... John & Doreen Abbott...... Richmond of the Bedrooms, so we took advantage Sinaloa...... Islander 30-2...... Patrick Arndt...... Berkeley of that and relocated to the leeward side Sir Leansalot...... Hunter 40...... Tom & Lynn Lueck...... Stockton of the tule island for better wind protec- Sonrisa...... Baba 40...... Greg & Kristin Torok...... Emeryville tion and a different view. When raising Stargazer...... Ericson 27...... Dennis & Debra Baker...... Moss Landing the anchor I found that I had nothing to Stewball...... Express 37...... Bob & Ginger Harford...... Richmond worry about the night before; the Rocna Stink Eye...... Laser 28...... Jonathan Gutoff & Christine Weaver...... Richmond Vulcan was firmly glued to the bottom, Thetis...... Ericson 32...... Steve Andersen...... San Rafael and it took some patience to work it loose Toucan...... Tanton 43...... Kevin Belcastro & Susan Liebert...... Owl Harbor from the mud. Two Truths...... Dana 24...... Bob & Betsy Sharf...... Berkeley After similarly setting the anchor in Waitakere...... Catalina 400...... Nicholas Anderson & Carmen Benavides.... Emeryville our new location, we broke out the din- Wild-Type...... Ericson 32-2...... Chris Simenstad...... Richmond ghy and outboard for some exploring. Wiletie...... 1927 52-ft schooner...... Ken & Nancy Wadsworth...... Long Beach First we zoomed over to Korth's Pirate's X-Tasea...... Catalina 30...... Lewis Keizer...... Coyote Point Lair for a late breakfast and to walk Yo Mi Esposa y around a bit. Korth's is one of our fa- Summerwind...... Catalina 30 MkI...... Larry & Dorothy Samson...... Stockton vorite stops as it has that authentic '50s Many Thanks to our 2018 Sponsors: Bay View Boat Club www.bvbc.org kitsch vibe. There's a café, fuel dock and Bug Band Natural Repellent www.bugband.net • California Delta Chambers www.californiadelta.org gift shop, all family-run and all seeming- Mini Fire Fighter www.mini-fire-fighter.com • OPB-YC • Owl Harbor Marina www.owlharbor.com ly unchanged from the 1950s. While we Richmond Yacht Club www.richmondyc.org • Stockton Sailing Club www.stocktonsc.org were there we read the story about how To inquire about sponsoring Delta Doo Dah 11, please email Mitch Perkins, [email protected], the place got its name. In 1931, Albine or Doodette Chris, [email protected], or call us at (415) 383-8200. and Josephine Korth bought the prop-

Page 76 • Latitude 38 • October, 2018 WHEN SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES SONRISA SKÅL Left: A gourmet clam dinner aboard 'Sonrisa' at anchor in the lee of Decker Island. Right: the scene erty to start an asparagus farm. For the at BVBC's BBQ on Bradford Island. We liked the casual, friendly mix of sailors, campers, musi- first few days Albine tried to have some cians and dancers adorned in tie-dye and cowboy hats and boots, tattoos and '40s-style dresses. fuel and hay for his horses delivered to SPAULDINGthe property. EachBOATWORKS time something was projects (true to the claim that the defini- excursion. The old outboard performed Qualitydelivered, Workmanship it would for be Overstolen 60 by Years the next tion of cruising is working on your boat remarkably well on the trip to Korth's, day. Josephine exclaimed, "Why we've in exotic places). I couldn't resist taking so we decided to venture farther into the bought a pirates' lair — that's all it is — a advantage of the 80°+ temperature to put Delta and check out Terminous, which pirates' lair!" In the years that followed one last coat of varnish on the butterfly lies at the junction of Little Potato Slough the couple started renting sailboats, and hatch. I told Kristin, "It's amazing how and the South Mokelumne River. Kristin soon the place developed into a marina much better this stuff flows up here. It's stocked up on some fancy local olive oils and resort and has been a family opera- like glue down in the Bay." at the Tower Park store, and I got ice tion ever since. As the afternoon sun started really cream at Sunset Sweets. We returned to Sonrisa for some boat heating up, we made another dinghy While in Little Potato Slough we en-

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the ski boats a wide berth. raise the staysail, shut off the engine, Being on the water and enjoy a spirited sail across the Slot below the levees back to Emery Cove. We arrived back at you from the surrounding our dock at 6 p.m. signs of civilization, and Although it was a relatively short after a long stretch of see- cruise, it was immensely satisfying and ing nothing but levee walls reminds us of that feeling of freedom we and tule berms, you'll turn get while cruising. a corner and be completely surprised by something new, be it an abandoned A s you can see, we've run out of barn, a vacation house, an space for additional stories from the old pier or some beautiful Delta Doo Dah sailors, but we'll have

SONRISA waterfowl that seems to more firsthand reports from cruisers in want to pose for your cam- next month's issue. On Labor Day Weekend, the warm, dry Delta air era if you could only get close enough. You'll also find many more photos offered the opportunity to add a coat of varnish It's a magical place with many moods: from Doo Dah'ers in our SmugMug gal- to 'Sonrisa's beautiful butterfly hatch. the carnival ride to the zen garden. lery online at www.latitude38events. countered everything from ski boats to The next morning we were up at sun- smugmug.com. Official fleet members strange three-hulled pontoon boats with rise for the 60-mile motorsail home to are still welcome to upload more there. massive outboards dragging kids around Emery Cove. We left Potato Slough just If the Delta is on your checklist for the slough at impressive speeds on what before 7 a.m. and motorsailed nearly the next year's sailing destinations, be sure looked like inflatable couches. The boats entire way back. The return trip was sur- to check in on www.deltadoodah.com would roar and carve tight turns in the prisingly windy, with a consistent 15-20 around March, when we hope to 'turn water while the kids squealed. Since we knots directly on the nose the entire way. it up to 11' for the 2019 Delta Doo Dah. were in a mere 10-ft inflatable, we gave It wasn't until Richmond that we could — latitude/doodette chris

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Page 78 • Latitude 38 • October, 2018