Hot Delta Doo Dah Action

The inaugural Delta Doo Dah, our laid-back rally from the Bay to the Delta, kicked off Friday night at Richmond YC, where sailors had a chance to check in, claim their swag bags, grab some grub from the galley and get to know each other. Talk inevitably turned to the weather, and a forecast of sweltering heat; most folks had a ‘bring it on’ attitude.

The 11 a.m. start on Saturday morning was supposed to have been the perfect time to catch the beginning of the flood. A slight miscalculation on the part of the rally committee (oops!) meant most of the fleet bucked the end of the ebb before getting a favorable current. "I’ve been coming up to the Delta for years," said Doo Dah’er Doug Thorne, who’s sailing with his wife Tamara and kids Taylor, 16, and Max, 12, aboard their San Francsico-based Celestial 48 Tamara Lee Ann. "I always try to calculate the current carefully but only get it right about half the time."

Light winds for most of the day meant the trip up San Pablo Bay was a motor for most Doo Dah boats. Later in the day, the wind picked up and those still on the water were treated to a lovely sunset sail. About 10 boats tucked into Middle Slough for the night, with the rest of the fleet scattered between Benicia and Antioch.

The party yesterday was a grand affair, featuring the Romano Marchetti Orchestra, sponsored by Twin Rivers Marine Insurance plus chicken and tri-tips — the recipe perfected over 15 years of grilling — provided by Antioch Marina, and potluck dishes brought by marina tenants and Doo Dah’ers alike. The Contra Costa County Marine Patrol spoke on what to expect in the Delta and how to stay safe, and several prizes were handed out. Though everyone had a great time, the party was a bittersweet occasion, as it also marked the retirement of well-respected Harbormaster John Cruger-Hansen.

The day was topped off by a sunset cruise aboard Delta Discovery Cruise’s Island Serenade. Heather and Steve Ingram – who hope to join the Doo Dah next year aboard their Ranger 33 – made the couple dozen Doo Dah’ers who joined them more than comfortable with snacks, a generous wine tasting courtesy of Carvalho Winery and, of course air conditioning. "I can’t believe more people didn’t come," said Kathe Hashimoto of the Sausalito-based OL 33 Tamara. "This is really the perfect way to end the day."

The fleet moves on to Boyd’s Harbor & the Rusty Porthole on Bethel Island today. Stay tuned to ‘Lectronic for more updates, or follow the action on Twitter and Facebook.