Sailing from SF Bay - Revision history

Oaklandmax: /* Heading to the Delta */

2026-06-07T00:31:15Z

Heading to the Delta

Oaklandmax at 00:29, 7 June 2026

2026-06-07T00:29:01Z

Oaklandmax at 00:27, 7 June 2026

2026-06-07T00:27:21Z

Oaklandmax: /* Tides and Currents: */

2026-06-07T00:26:46Z

Tides and Currents:

Oaklandmax: /* Traffic */

2021-10-04T19:59:59Z

Traffic

Oaklandmax: /* Traffic */

2021-10-04T19:55:28Z

Traffic

Oaklandmax: /* Traffic */

2021-10-04T19:54:38Z

Traffic

Oaklandmax: /* Channels */

2021-10-04T19:47:22Z

Channels

Oaklandmax: /* Navigation */

2021-10-04T19:45:45Z

Navigation

Oaklandmax: /* Navigation */

2021-10-04T19:44:46Z

Navigation

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 ==Heading to the Delta==
-Make use of the current by crossing SF bay at slack tide to arrive at the Richmond bridge/San Pablo Straight area at the beginning of the flood tide at that location. This timing isn't exact as the flood tide and current stays with you as you head upstream if you can keep up with it. If done correctly, you may be able to ride the flood tide to Antioch or beyond. Combined with the usual westerly or SW wind, the current can add a significant amount of SOG to your boat's speed. This can add 3kts. For a boat with an average 4kts and a max hull speed of around 6kts, this might allow 8 or 9kts sustained while in the height of the current with a strong following wind. That translates into a lot of extra ground covered in daylight hours, allowing you to get from Berkeley to Potato slough in as little as 9 hours.
+Make use of the current by crossing SF bay at slack tide to arrive at the Richmond bridge/San Pablo Straight area at the beginning of the flood tide at that location. This timing isn't exact, but if you catch the flood tide, the current stays with you as you head upstream if you can keep up with it. If done correctly you may be able to ride the flood tide to Antioch or beyond. Combined with the usual westerly or SW wind, the current can add a significant amount of SOG to your boat's speed. This can add 3kts. For a boat with an average 4kts and a max hull speed of around 6kts, this might allow 8 or 9kts sustained while in the height of the current with a strong following wind. That translates into a lot of extra ground covered in daylight hours, allowing you to get from Berkeley to Potato slough in as little as 9 hours.
 ==Returning to the SF bay==

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 Ephemerisle can be reached by water from the SF Bay.
-It's about a 60 mile trip (9-16 hours by sailboat) from Berkeley. It tends to be a lovely two day sail there with the wind at your back all of the way out there. And it tends to be something of a nightmare trip back with pounding waves directly into the wind the entire way back.
+It's about a 60 mile trip (9-16 hours by sailboat) from Berkeley. It tends to be a lovely sail there with the wind at your back all, and it can be something of a challenging trip back with pounding waves directly into the wind the entire way back.
 Make sure you've got a depth sounder! Everyone runs aground in the delta.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Ephemerisle can be reached by water from the SF Bay.
-It's about a 60 mile trip (16 hours by sailboat) from Berkeley. It tends to be a lovely two day sail there with the wind at your back all of the way out there. And it tends to be something of a nightmare trip back with pounding waves directly into the wind the entire way back.
+It's about a 60 mile trip (9-16 hours by sailboat) from Berkeley. It tends to be a lovely two day sail there with the wind at your back all of the way out there. And it tends to be something of a nightmare trip back with pounding waves directly into the wind the entire way back.
 Make sure you've got a depth sounder! Everyone runs aground in the delta.

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 =Tides and Currents:=
-Trip planning is something that is very much each captains responsibility, but here are some factors and strategies to consider. Current rules everything when traveling to the delta.
+Trip planning is something that is very much each captains responsibility, but here are some factors and strategies to consider:
 * Don't forget that you get the most force of the current in the middle of the channel, so if the current is against you, try to get to the side of the channel as much as safety allows. Kame Richards has a great talk about harnessing currents and counter-currents when needed.

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 =Traffic=
-While the channels are the best way to keep from running aground, they can be some huge traffic in them. A prudent captain would give the large commercial traffic a wide berth. They are often constrained by depth and/or cannot stop or maneuver. If you are unable to determine which direction to go to keep clear of a vessel, like if you are not sure if they are turning around or which channel they are picking, you can contact their bridge on channel 13. They are unlikely to be able to avoid you, but if you know what they are doing it may help you avoid them. See radio page for general usage.
+While the channels are the best way to keep from running aground, they can be some huge traffic in them. A prudent captain would give the large commercial traffic a wide berth. They are often constrained by depth and/or cannot stop or maneuver. If you are unable to determine which direction to go to keep clear of a vessel, like if you are not sure if they are turning around or which channel they are picking, you can contact their bridge on channel 13. They are unlikely to be able to avoid you, but if you know what they are doing it may help you avoid them. See [[radio]] page for general usage.
 =Common mechanical issues=
 There are a lot of weeds floating in the delta. Be sure to check your sea strainer daily. This is something that many bay sailors only have do very rarely, but in the delta your sea strainer can fill with weeds daily. It's always a good idea to have a spare impeller and gasket, but especially so in the delta where a clogged raw water intake can destroy an impeller quickly.

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 = Channels=
-The delta gets shallow in a hurry outside of the channels, even in seemingly wide open areas like San Pablo bay, or Suisun bay. Even on my boat that draws 4.5' it is nice to stay in the channel where possible.  If you do have to depart from them, check your chart, watch depth meter, and always keep a sharp lookout for shallows.
+The delta gets shallow in a hurry outside of the channels, even in seemingly wide open areas like San Pablo bay or Suisun bay. Even on a boat that draws less than 5' it is nice to stay in the channel where possible. If you do have to depart from the marked channel, check your chart, watch depth meter, and always keep a sharp lookout for shallows.
 =Traffic=

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 =Navigation=
-Use channel markers/daymarks and a nautical chart. Frequent numbered markers allow one to always know their location by consulting a chart. While the delta can be a confusing maze of waterways to the unfamiliar, channel markers and a chart will allow anyone to navigate easily. While a gps or phone nav app can often offer the same capabilities, it is critical to have some paper charts or a chartbook to refer to in order to navigate safely and to get the big picture and for reliability. Something like "San Francisco Bay and the Delta Waterproof Chartbook" by Maptech WPB1210 3E, or similar is invaluable. There are also one page delta maps that are useful for knowing where various businesses in the delta can be found, but they are really not meant to be used for navigation.
+Use channel markers/daymarks and a nautical chart. Frequent numbered markers allow one to always know their location by consulting a chart. While the delta can be a confusing maze of waterways to the unfamiliar, channel markers and a chart will allow anyone to navigate easily. While a gps or phone nav app can often offer the same capabilities, it is critical to have some paper charts or a chartbook to reliability refer to in order to navigate safely and to get the big picture. Something like "San Francisco Bay and the Delta Waterproof Chartbook" by Maptech WPB1210 3E, or similar is invaluable. There are also one page delta maps that are useful for knowing where various businesses in the delta can be found, but they are really not meant to be used for navigation.
 = Channels=