SV Luna Moth

Blind on Board: Cruising on an Outbound 46 With and Without Sight

Owl Harbor to Emeryville

A white sailboat with a yellow dinghy motors up a narrow slough with reads growing on the far bank.
Luna Moth Leaving Owl Harbor (Photo by Gary M)

We left Owl Harbor Marina to head out of the Sacramento Delta back on July 23rd, after using it as a home base for projects for over a year. We made a lot of friends there, making it an emotional departure. We’ll miss the friends we made there, and especially are little furry friend, Captain Jack Sparrow, the marina cat.

Needing a break from projects before the long run back up the rivers, we headed to a nearby anchorage recommended by a friend. While it was a windy few days, we got to relax, cook a few good meals, and Lisa got to further test her hand at bass fishing.

Orange and pink color the clouds above a long stretch of water as view from the side deck of a sailboat.
Sunset at Threeriver Reach
A striped bass hangs with a brown grub style lure in its mouth.
One of the Many Striped Bass Caught by Lisa at Threeriver Reach

Recharged, we made the long run from up the San Joaquin River, out the Sacramento, to San Pablo Bay. Six bridges, 52 miles, and 11 hours later we anchored off of McNears Beach.

Tiffany sits in the cockpit as the boat approaches a low railroad bridge.
Passing Under the Benecia Railroad Bridge (70′ clearance with 65′ mast)
A map shows a path from up a river, north of Discovery Bay, to a beach north of San Rafael.
Our Track Out of the Delta

After a recovery day, we had a sport sail down to Clipper Cove, our favorite anchorage in the Bay.

A long, curving suspension bridge is lit up on a calm evening.
Nighttime at Clipper Cove

After a few more down days, we headed into Emeryville Marina where we went back into project mode for a little bit, rigging a jackline system, rebedding chain plates, replacing a bent stanchion base, and commissioning the water maker among other smaller tasks. While there we got time to say goodbye to more friends, visit the club, and of course, eat at Trader Vic’s.

Tiffany sits at a side table, grinning, with an appetizer plate of ribs and a pink seahorse shaped cockpit glass in front of her. Out the window behind her is a view of the bay.
Tiffany at Trader Vic’s

svlunamoth

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4 responses to “Owl Harbor to Emeryville”

  1. Chris Naughton Avatar
    Chris Naughton

    Great re-cap of the last year or so in the San Francisco Bay Area! Umm! That’s good bass! What a small clearance under the Benicia Bridge!

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    1. svlunamoth Avatar
      svlunamoth

      Even though I new we would be fine, as it wasn’t high tide, there wasn’t the usual wave action, and we made under on the way up river, it was still tense for me.

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  2. Chris Naughton Avatar
    Chris Naughton

    Love that tracking map and the pic from Clipper Cove. I remember passing that cove with you two on Luna Moth! Did you have any Pina Coladas at Trader Vics? Happy sailing!

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    1. svlunamoth Avatar
      svlunamoth

      This time I went for the traditional Mai Tai (minus the almond additive they use, cause I like breathing). Tiffany went for a “Sea Dreams”, which has strawberry, passion fruit, coconut, and rum. Very tropical and comes in a cute glass.

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