In April 2021 we spent a weekend in Grizzly Bay in the Sacramento Delta as a shakeout cruise in preparation for a larger cruise in May.
Anchorage in Suisin Slough near the Grizzly Island Hunting Preserve
Leaving McAvoy Marina
Montezuma Hills Wind Farm
First Anchorage
We anchored off of Ryer Island, opposite Port Chicago, the site of a famous and devastating munitions explosion during World War II. Ryer Island is still considered dangerous because the Navy dumped unexploded munitions there after the Port Chicago explosion. A sign close to where we anchored informed us that we shouldn't trespass and that use of lethal force was authorized.
We spotted a river otter grazing along the marshes next to our boat.
The wind blew > 10kts all night. In the morning with wind still blowing we double reefed and sailed 10 miles upwind to an anchorage in Suisin Slough.
Anchored in Suisin Slough
We had hoped to be able to walk along the levee at the Grizzly Island Preserve, but the falling tide kept us away from the banks and we had no way to get across 20 yards of deep mud.
We brought plenty of food but I forgot to pack fuel for our stove so we ate our meals cold. We poured the morning coffee at night so it could steep over night.
In August 2020 we made a weekend trip to Tomales Bay. Here are some of our favorite photos.
Our first night at the shallow end of Marshall Beach.
The fog rolled in at about 19:00 and stayed until morning.
Breakfast of curried potatoes and eggs.
We used a fender to level the boat as it dried out on the sand.
There is lots of nice hiking from the anchorage.
I rigged new jiffy reefing lines for the boat based on guidance from B&B (Core Sound 17, Carlita). They were a huge success. One of the best improvements I've done to the boat. I can now singlehandedly reef both sails in under 5 minutes without leaving the cockpit.
Our second night we anchored at Lairds Landing near the abandoned cabin that at one time housed a Native American family and an eccentric artist.
