----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 8:33
PM
Subject: San Diego
John,
You didn't mention whether you
preferred Sea Water or Fresh water sailing and you didn't say when (e.g.
July?).
As for Sailing around the SF
Bay, the North Bay (e.g. Sausalito) is very pretty area. The
St. Francis Yacht Club, Brisbane, and Pete's Harbor are on the SF Side (I've
sailed from all of them), The Brickyard and others on the East Bay
side. All depends on what you want to see. Just don't
get run over by an incoming tanker or container ship - they start 'stopping'
about 20 miles out, on their way to Oakland on the East side of the
Bay.
We used to get Business VIPs from
Europe that 'wanted to say' they had sailed in the Pacific. So we took them
through the Golden Gate Bridge, past the 'Potato Patch' and the one mile
Buoy. That made it legitimate. Just watch your tides and try to go out on
the ebb (you'll make great time) and return on the tide coming in, otherwise
it'll take 'forever', especially in a 17. Otherwise there's lots of
SF Bay water to play in. The winds were quite nice today (made my
teeth itch to need to work with clients with such good sailing
weather).
You can also
consider what is locally called 'The Delta' with lots of
water from near Tracy (where my Daughter lives) to Sacramento (the Delta is
fed from the Sacramento River). You could spend a week or more going up the
Sacramento River (and we plan to), much as navigating the
canals of Europe. There are many places to stop along the way. We
plan to knock about and pull in to 'wherever' when we're tired, or if we see
something too nice to ignore.
There are some fairly large lakes out
here too. We also have a 'throw away' called Latitude 38
which is free at local Boating locations and chandelrys. You can see what's
'current' when you arrive. The internet is a good place to see what
you might like (e.g. Clear Lake can be a beautiful sail too).
And if you're going south of SF, Look
at Monterey Bay (which is ten miles from where we
live). The local favorite Santa Cruz restaurant is 'The Crows
Nest' which is at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor (launch
ramp just inside the harbor, near the Crows Nest). You can have
Lunch/Dinner and through huge windows (or a glass enclosed patio) watch the
sailboats heading in/out on Monterey Bay before, or after, you sail it
yourself. Weekends are usually very colorful with all the sailboats and
Spinnakers flying. FYI - There is also a Whale Watching tour on a
Santa Cruz 70 (ultralight) called Chardonnay
II, that goes out weekends. There's food and drinks in the package
(they're on the internet).
Monterey is also
know for it's beauty and good restaurants. Even when I was 'a lad' we used to go (on larger
boats) over to Monterey for the weekend, dock, play, eat well and return
Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins usually love to swim alongside and if
there's a chop (where you get your bow in the water), the Dolphins will
'trade sides' by jumping across your bow.
If you like the 'less crowded',
consider Moss Landing, where my larger fixed keel used to
be wet berthed. The folks are real nice there (they just like to sail,
not worry about fashion). Even when I wasn't around, and my lines didn't
look all that good as a storm approached, they'd fix them, and tell me
later. There's some 60 foot sailboats in North Harbor. It's only takes
minutes to get from that ramp on to Monterey Bay, just more driving south
from Santa Cruz (about an hour). My favorite memories
there are of Blue sky, Cats Paw water, 20 knot offshore
winds on a Sunday morning in January. We were pulling the cork out of the
old knotstick.
If you see water on the map that you
have questions about, send me an email, we know most of the waters out in
Central California (been 'knocking about' here since before I was a young
Sea Explorer). FYI - Some of the OSH stores carry a book of lakes (800
or so?)
If you don't have it in your plans,
you might also consider Lake Tahoe on your way east (a bit
brisk this time of year). The water's smoother before 2PM. And
Emerald Bay is 'Memorable' with the Viking Home at the
South End (you can't launch from there). Most visitors that I take to Tahoe,
easily use up a roll of film. Emerald Bay also has the only campground I
know of, (if it's still open) that is only available from the water, no
landlubbers have access.
So, Enjoy!! It may be cooler
right now, but we aren't shovelling snow, (yet & we seldom
do).
Gordon
M8 Coba (& other
boats)
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003
6:13 PM
Subject: San Diego
A
friend of mine who use to live in the San Diego area told me the bay was a
great place to sail. It hasn't been on any list of places to cruise
(sail) that I've seen. I will have a week or so free while I'm on
the west coast and I'm looking for some other places to sail. Anyone
out there have personal knowlege of the bay or recomendations, pro or
con?
Thanks
John Edwards
Miss T
M17 #
372