Handling wind/current/tide

[tfluce]

Hi, I'm new to the area, trying out the Delta, precisely at Pittsburgh and the mouths of both Sacramento and San Joaquin. My experience anchoring off Pittsburgh near Montezuma island was perplexing. I could tell there was tide as well as river currents and then the wind--not all working together. My boat turned stern to the wind and I dragged anchor several times. Once I found myself up against the entrance buoy marker to the Sacramento--quite a drag across the deep sea channel. Any ideas on how to get control of my boat in these conditions? Thanks, Tom

[jeremiason]

Tom

We spent a lot of time in the Delta before we left the Bay Area.

As you know, most of the Delta has a muddy bottom with some pretty strong currents. The afternoon winds tend to blow hard in the summer.

Since I'll assume you tried letting out more scope... you might want to consider a stern anchor keeping your boat into the prevaling winds, which I believe are mostly from the west there during the summer.

You also might want to find other places to anchor with better holding bottoms. Head down the San Juaquin River and check out Potato Slough, Three River Reach, Mildred Island and the 50 or so other anchorages throught the Delta.

Another great resourse is the Stockton Sailing Club, the only Sail Boat Yacht Club in the Delta. Many of these guys and gals have been sailing the "ditches" for years and would be happy to give you some secret anchorages...

[tfluce]

Wow, I'm bowled over by the rapidity and helpful response on this forum. Thank you so much, Tom! I'm glad to know I wasn't imagining things.

[jackdale]

The use of stern anchor is good idea, UNLESS there is a change in wind direction.

Did you dig in your anchor? When the boat settles down, slowly throttle up in reverse until 1500 rpm. Look abeam in both directions taking transits to ensure you are not moving. Grasp the rode forward of the bow roller to feel for vibrations that would indicate that your anchor is not set.

[maxingout]

Wind against current is one of the reasons I went with my seventy pound Beugel anchor. I was not disappointed. It reset quickly when there was a switch in the wind/current equation.