Sign Up for the Delta Doo Dah

Delta Doo Dah 7 had a ‘soft opening’ on Friday. This year’s rally will continue to welcome do-it-yourselfers, so that you can explore the Delta on your own any time between May 16 and Labor Day, but we’ll also include some organized activities during the season to give our fleet opportunities to meet each other, socialize, and cruise in company.

For starters, on Saturday, May 16, we’ll combine our Kickoff Party with Richmond Yacht Club’s Delta Cruising Seminar, which is led each year by Delta vet Craig Perez, who happens to be RYC’s commodore this year. First-timers are especially encouraged to attend, but we’d like longtime Delta cruisers to come and share their experiences too.

RYC and Stockton Sailing Club invite Delta Doo Dah sailors to enter the Delta Ditch Run, Saturday, June 6. Each ‘Doo Dah Ditch Run’ entry will receive one free, special T-shirt, and each sailor will receive a special 25th anniversary medallion (while supplies last). The Ditch Run — 67 miles from Richmond to Stockton — is beloved by racers, but the event also includes a cruising class with a generous motoring allowance. Sunday activities are in the works for cruisers who stick around at SSC. Enter the Delta Ditch Run here.

The weekend of July 18-19 will be a special one for the  Delta Doo Dah. Start from where you are and sail to Owl Harbor on Saturday. Our good friends at Owl will host us for a potluck and an outdoor movie that evening, and breakfast on Sunday morning. After breakfast, sail the 15 miles or so (usually downwind and delightful) to Stockton Sailing Club, where a BBQ and jam session are in the planning stages.

Can’t cut loose for a cruise until August? Then be sure to make it to SSC for their Hot August Nights Classic Car Show and BBQ on August 15. "Stockton is a great place to start your DDD adventure," writes SSC’s Tom Lueck. "After arriving, you can pick up some local knowledge of places to go. It makes sense to start here and work your way back toward the Bay so that your DDD vacation comes to an end only hours away from your home port." SSC offers official Delta Doo Dah entries three free nights in their harbor. The club can also arrange for rides to West Marine and grocery stores.

Reserve your space at SSC by calling (209) 951-5600 and at Owl Harbor by calling (916) 777-6055. But be sure to enter the Delta Doo Dah first at www.deltadoodah.com. We’ll post the growing fleet list later today.