MacGregorSailors.com

Calling all California MacGregor and Venture owners (and those in Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona too). We are planning a Rendezvous and Cruise for June 18-20, 2004. We are going to rendezvous in the San Joaquin / Sacramento Delta, at Brannan Island State Recreation Area, and from there we have a couple of activities planned. Of course, if you want to come earlier, or stay later, that's fine too. The Delta has lots of water to explore, and it's worth a few extra days if you have the time.

Brannan Island has 30 slips for boats (30' maximum), and a six-lane launch ramp. Launching is $4, with an additional $4 per extra day your trailer is parked in the lot. Slips are $15 per night, but if you are in a slip, your $4 trailer parking fee is waived. The slips are near the bathrooms on shore, and pay showers are available. Slips are NOT reservable, so they are first-come, first-served. The park manager has stated they normally do not fill up, so we might be OK.

For those that prefer to anchor out, there are several good anchorages nearby. This may be an option if the slips do fill up. There is also the option of pulling your boat into an RV campsite ($15 per night), but then you'd have to launch your boat each day.

I am coordinating this activity, but I am not acting as anyone's agent. Everyone is on their own to make their own travel arrangements and reservations.

If you need additional information about the park or this gathering, please contact me at [email protected] or on this forum. I'd also like to get some idea of who is coming, so if you are planning to attend, please be sure to contact me.

--
Mark Galbraith
Mac 26x "Offline" (2002)
Oakley, CA
http://www.geocities.com/[email protected] ... /index.htm

Since it's in my backyard, there is no way I'm going to miss this one.

Dwen and I will be there for sure.

Thats a short tow for us too. Been there a couple times. Never had a problem getting a slip. Count us in.

Norm & Susan Morgan, 2002 26X "FriendShip".
Fiddletown, Ca.

That's less than an hour away for us. We'll be there.
Ben & Helen
"Seas the Moment"

I will be stopping in at Brannan Island this weekend to check the lay of the land. I'll post the details here.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

--Mark

We launched from there and stayed the night/s two weekends last year. It is very boater friendly. Nice big uncrowded parking lot to rig in, gently sloped launch ramps, and plenty of em', so your not rushed. Nice little marina protected from winds and current. They were building new bathrooms too, so they should be done by now. Brannen Island is our favorite place to launch on the Delta.

Is there usually wind to sail with?

Rob H.

There is usually plenty of wind in the afternoon/evenings due to the "Delta Breeze". It's only when we get those 100 degree plus temps that there is no wind. Here is some windspeed data from last year I found on a wind pattern archive for the area:

Primary wind direction WSW

June 18th 2003
10am=11kts
2pm=11kts
6pm=11kts

June 19th 2003
10am=7kts
2pm=10kts
6pm=12kts

June 20th 2003
10am=6kts
2pm=9kts
6pm=12kts

Actually, the wind in the Delta is fairly reliable. There is a cycle, which occurs roughly weekly where the temperature in the Sacramento valley increases. As this temperature rises, the sea breeze intensifies (has to do with warm air in the valley rising, creating a low pressure area. This, along with the normal westerly breeze from the Pacific High, creates a fairly reliable source of wind). When the sea breeze eventually cools the valley, the temperature drops, and the pressure gradient eases, resulting in lighter winds.

Very occasionally there is no wind, but during June we should be OK.

--Mark

Great Mark:
I was up in Sacramento on Weds and returned south to Fresno area
on 5. How far from 5 on hiway 12 is the Brannan Rec. area?
I have only sailed in a local lake (Millerton) since purchasing
the boat last summer.

Rob H.

HERNDON wrote:Great Mark:
I was up in Sacramento on Weds and returned south to Fresno area
on 5. How far from 5 on hiway 12 is the Brannan Rec. area?

The park is on Hwy 160, about 5 miles south of Rio Vista, which is where 160 and 12 cross. Rio Vista is about 18 miles west of the I-5/CA-12 junction.

--Mark

OK...You guys talked me into it. Wife has that weekend off. Kids
out of school. Looking forward to wind.


Rob H.

I found a site to review NOAA nautical maps prior to purchase.
go here


http//www.carolinamapdistributors.c ... review.htm

I have been sailing every Saturday for the last 4 weeks and looking forward to the trip to the Delta. Good wind . We will hopefully show up on Thursday about noon...

Rob H.

Do a google search on "San Francisco Bay wind patterns". They have a graphic that updates hourly giving wind direction and speed. Brannen Island is included in the bay area wind patterns.