Summer Sun in the Delta
/It was a quick up and back trip this time, but still one of the highlights of our sailing year. I sailed Nirvana to the California Delta for a week of relaxing, swimming, snacking and sailing the dinghy.
But as can be expected, the sail to the delta was windy and a bit wild! I single handed up the river on Sunday, July 3rd, covering the 70 miles in a bit over ten hours, so that's close to Nirvana's hull speed (plus some favorable current) the whole way! Most of that time I had the main reefed and the yankee cut jib forward. It's a super balanced sail plan for Nirvana in 15+ knots of wind. I don't have a wind meter on the boat, but in the upper stretches of the San Joaquin after Antioch it was gusting to at least 25 knots.
The final destination was Willow Berm Maria on the Mokelumne River. With Nirvana snug at the dock, we swam in the river, fished, lounged in the shade and made several pilgrimages to the pool table and ice machine.
Boats 'n boys
Will and his friend Josh joined me for a few days and they spent lots of time jumping off the boat, swimming, snacking and fishing. I always feel Nirvana is really happy when there are kids aboard, jumping off her and swimming around and laying out on the deck in the sun to dry off. It's not sailing, but its the kind of use that you gotta love.
The best part of the day for me are the evenings, as the sun gets low and the breeze catches up with the heat and starts to cool things down. The light gets soft, and the air quiet. Willow Berm's guest dock is ideal at this time, as it is a good 50 yards out in the river and thus away from the shore and bugs...that's right, no mosquitos!
A delta evening
Three generations of Conneely's on Nirvana
My dad, Tom and brother Tom Jr drove up at the end of the week to join us for lunch, and my dad drove the boys home while brother Tom and I prepared to sail back to SF.
We took off on Friday afternoon and sailed up wind and on a tight reach in winds gusting to 25 knots. We made it to New York slough outside Antioch after dark, anchored there for the night and then sailed the rest of the way home on Saturday. We had good winds and tides for most of the way and resorted to motoring just a bit. Again, it was great sailing and Nirvana performed with grace and comfort - with just a little bit of spray as we crossed the slot on our way to Alameda.
I was thrilled with how well the boat held up over the course of the trip. Just some ripped batten pockets, lost battens, and a broken main leach line. Only regret that we couldn't have spent more time up river. Maybe next summer!