The Doo Dah and the Ding-a-Ling Club

The dateline above is intentionally vague. For one thing, this story was filed from nowhere near an actual municipality. For another thing, our sources have requested that the exact location of the Ding-a-Ling Club remain mysterious to avoid the inevitable deluge of sightseers that would overwhelm the meager facility.

This little tale begins with several Delta Doo Dah boats sailing inland from Richmond to Stockton Sailing Club on June 4 with the Delta Ditch Run. Among the entries in the cruising division was the Catalina 320 Great Expectations. In charter service at Modern Sailing in Sausalito, the pretty sailboat is owned by Brian and Lisa Forster and Giff Boyce-Smith. They report that they used their cruising-division motoring allowance three times during the race: in San Pablo Bay when the wind died, after Antioch at False River (the leg often referred to as the "white sail reach") and through the section known as the S curves nearish to Isleton.

The day after the Ditch Run, Great Expectations traveled downriver to the Ding-a-Ling Club, a destination they had visited the previous October. "We put in our application for membership," said Boyce-Smith. "It’s still being considered." 

On Tuesday afternoon, the Delta breezes switched on, and Great Expectations headed to the guest dock at Spindrift Marina on the San Joaquin. Spindrift has a general store, restaurant and bar, making it a welcome change after a couple of days away from civilization. Since the Catalina is a charter boat, it would have to return to Sausalito in time for the weekend.

Other Delta Doo Dah sailors are looking forward to this weekend’s Summer Sailstice events. Owl Harbor will host a BBQ for official entries and their own tenants on Saturday evening. On Sunday, a flotilla will sail to Little Venice Island for an 8-Ball tournament (this is Delta Doo Dah 8 after all). For details or free registration, see www.deltadoodah.com.