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Delta Doo Dah Dozen Kicks Off This Saturday

Three boats sailing on the San Joaquin River
Four singlehanders (including the photographer) headed out from Owl Harbor last week for a properly-separated daysail (not a race) on the San Joaquin River.
© 2020 Jackie Philpott

Sailors and other boaters are already out there doing their thing in the Delta. Cruisers usually sail with their significant other or family members. So a do-it-yourself Delta Doo Dah is not really a problem. Most if not all marinas remain open — practicing social-distancing procedures — and welcome visitors. Many launch ramps are open to accommodate trailer-sailors. Fuel docks still are pumping gas and (some of them) diesel. Markets are open, and we can get takeout meals and drinks.

What we can’t do is meet in person at Richmond Yacht Club this Saturday for our Delta Doo Dah Kickoff Party & Seminar. So, like everything else these days, we’ll meet virtually via Zoom, starting at 6 p.m. We’ll send an invitation (probably tomorrow) to all Delta Doo Dah Dozen registrants.

paddling a kayak
Kayaks are incredibly useful (and fun) in the Delta. They serve as water toys, exercise machines and transportation.
© 2020 Roberta Montero

Our featured speaker will be Bill Wells, commodore of the California Delta Chambers & Visitor’s Bureau. Bill also writes the Delta Rat Scrapbook for Bay & Delta Yachtsman. He’ll give us some history of the region plus update us on what’s happening this (very strange) year. Additional experts will include Tom Lueck from Stockton Sailing Club and Craig and Ann Perez of RYC.

Family of geese swimming by
If you’re not a birdwatcher when you first visit the Delta, you may quickly become one. This is a family of Canada geese. Unlike white-fronted and snow geese, many Canada geese — despite their name — stick around all year. The other species overwinter in the Delta, which lies along the Pacific Flyway.
© 2020 Roberta Montero

We’ll have door prizes to give away, including:

  • From the Delta Chambers:
    A small brass sextant for use as a paperweight or decoration.
    A Delta T-shirt.
    Two California Delta Boaters’ maps/visitors’ guides.
  • From Delta Bay Marina, Isleton:
    20 gift certificates for a one-week’s stay at their marina off the San Joaquin River in Isleton on August 8-15.
  • From Delta Kayak Adventures in Antioch Marina:
    A $100 gift card good for kayak or SUP rental.
  • From Latitude 38:
    A theme-related surprise.
  • From Owl Harbor, Isleton:
    A gift certificate for one night’s free stay in the marina and one of their fabulous gift bags.
Owl Harbor gift bag
Last year’s Owl Harbor gift bag.
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

To be eligible for prizes, you must be an official 2020 entry, check in to the Kickoff, and be present to accept the prize when we call your name during the event on Saturday. We’re still accepting prizes from sponsors — contact Doodette Chris ASAP if you’re interested in donating.

Small brass sextant
This sextant is authentic with all working parts, but it’s a smaller version, so it’s intended as a decoration.
© 2020 Bill Wells

Pat and Carole McIntosh of Cruising Notes will provide free digital downloads of Things to Know Before You Go, tenth edition, to all our fleet members. We’ll invite Pat to be a guest panelist on Saturday too.

If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s free, quick and easy. Learn more and register at www.deltadoodah.com. Don’t wait until the last minute! Help us out by signing up before this Saturday.

Please note that our June event, the Delta Ditch Run from RYC to Stockton Sailing Club, has been canceled. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for our three official events in August.

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