I went up to the Petaluma Marina with friends a couple months ago, on their
boat. We stopped at Lakeville for Pappa's Taverna. I think the reason was for "Greek Iced Tea" Check their website for special
events on weekends.
The channel starts right where a tower is, I think it is a
pump house. Once past
China Camp, find 15 or so feet of
water and continue north, you can't miss it.
Remember to stay to the outside of turns for
depth, but one set of turns has markers, red, I think, in the middle, stay closer to them. With about 5'
draft, on a rising tide we had no problems, except tide and
wind both took us on the nose after the Lakeville stop. That last bit of river was a real slog that day.
In any case;
go up on a rising tide, I'd try to hit the channel at 2' of better, be aware there can be cross
current or winds as the channel winds around, no shortcuts, stay in the middle of the channel, which is nice and wide by comparison to the San Rafael Channel I deal with.
I'd try to start the outbound about an hour before high, then you'll get some help from the ebb in SPBay.
Once out of the channel and heading SSE, I've found good results to set course towards Point San Pablo, the east bay side of the Bay, then tack back across, I end up pretty close to my home base past the Marin Islands.
Seems like we spent about two hours from the time we hit the channel to the Marina, Lakeville should be about 30 minutes from the turning basin.
Lots of good eating in Petaluma within a short walk of the turning basin, one of my favorites is Trax It is across the tracks from the turning basin, opposite downtown.
Traxx Bar & Grill
Friends of the Petaluma,
Friends of the Petaluma River | Celebrate and Conserve
to get you into the proper spirit
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enjoy!