Drakes Bay May 27-29 2006

Mike Joyce

Interlude

 

I've been requested to move the previously scheduled  DRAKE'S BAY trip from May 20th to the following weekend, Memorial Day weekend, May 27, 28, and 29th and extend it to three days. The longer format give us the chance to do a mini-cruise, so if you've ever thought about turning left and heading south till the butter melts sign up and see what a few days of coastal cruising feels like.

 

Tides at the Golden Gate on the 27th will require a VERY early start. I recommend we meet on the central bay, between the Golden Gate Yacht Club and Alcatraz no later than 0700 to catch the tail end of the morning ebb and because a 4.4kt flood will start soon after that.

 

An 0700 departure should get us to Drake's in the early afternoon, plenty of time for a nap and some socializing before it gets dark.

 

Sunday, the 28th will be a layover day.

 

Those with dinghies are encouraged to bring them. The beaches are spectacular. Fossils have been found at the bases of some of the sandy bluffs.. The lighthouse may be in walking range for some, and Drake's Estero, might be an interesting dinghy trip if it isn't breaking across the mouth.

 

Please be aware, Drake's is a big bay. Bring plenty of fuel, oars, PFD's, handheld radios, and any other safety gear a prudent mariner would have along. One fleet 9 member was blown out to sea some years back, requiring assistance from those brave young men and women in the large white boats with the red stripe down the side, or so the story goes.

 

Here is an interesting website on Pt Reyes, and if you have access to earth.google.com, zoom in to Drake's Bay/ Point Reyes for the satellite view.

 

http://www.inn-california.com/sanfrancisco/Marin/PointReyesPark/ptreyespark.html

 

Monday the 29th will be our downhill day back to the bay.

 

Slack under the gate is around 1700, so we should probably plan to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.  Interlude will welcome anyone who would like to gather for coffee etc., and the fleet will want to be ready to set spinnakers late morning, around 10:00.

 

Be sure you, your crew and your boat are ready for coastal conditions. We are likely to be out of sight of land for significant portions of both Saturday and Monday. As well, conditions over the San Francisco bar must always be taken seriously. If you have any questions or concerns, shoot me an email and I'll do my best to answer what I can. As always, it is the skipper's decision to go or to continue. Stay safe.

Let's go sailing.

 

Mike Joyce,

Interlude