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Rio Vista
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dfthrash



Joined: 21 May 1998
Posts: 27

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 8:16 am    Post subject: Rio Vista Reply with quote

I have never sailed the Rio Vista area but want to give it a try. Where is the best (most forgiving) place to try first to get used to the swell, current, launch, etc? Thanks...
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tsokat



Joined: 15 May 1997
Posts: 326

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go to Sherman Island Access County Park
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sergem



Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 398

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.wikimapia.org, search for Sherman Island, select search result 2.
Wikimapia is a nice contraption Smile
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Access if the place for sure. Go to the Rio Vista Windsurfing Association web site for more information.
http://www.rvwa.com/
Watch the tides. A flood can make it hard to stay up wind and an ebb there can be rough when sailing on a starboard tack. Afternoons are the lightest wind.

Coachg
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kevinkan



Joined: 07 Jun 2001
Posts: 1661
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

just to add a couple tips. Pay attention to the current. Sailing on a flood can be really fun as long as you are powered and/or good at sailing upwind. The water can be really flat on a flood, although many people don't sail in this condition to avoid having to point all the time, so often times it's a lot less crowded too. Great conditions to learn to jibe, for freestyle, or for speed runs. Also, many times the river is flooding harder on one side of the river than the other. Just this weekend, lots of people were drifting downwind w/ the current, but if they had just stayed on the far side of the river while working their way back upwind, they would have been a lot better off than reaching back and forth the entire width of river each time. Also, if you do need to walk back upwind w/ your gear, it is sometimes easier to do it on the far side where there aren't any rocks. Although if the flood has not been going on for too long, you can walk upwind in the water on the near side of the river and there is still some sand depending on where you end up. Sailing on an ebb tide gives you more chop, which is more challenging, but also makes it easy to stay to weather. For your first time, sail out of the Access, which has a nice sandy beach to launch from. You can also launch at many spots off the levee where the RVWA has put down sand bags. Just be careful coming back in. If the ebb catches the clew of your sail while you're trying to get out of the water, your sail will be sucked under and you'll end up way upwind of where you intended to land by the time everything is sorted out. When landing on the levee in an ebb, I usually aim slightly downwind of the landing, fall into a waterstart position when I'm close to shore making sure i keep the sail flying, and drift upwind w/ the ebb to the landing point. Never let the sail fall into the water on an ebb!!!

kev
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Jrobb



Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 217

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not much more I can add other than directions (clarification).

The sensor you want to watch is the Sherman Marker 12 (pretty sure that's the one) The #14 marker is furtier up river from the Access.

Head to Antioch and over the bridge route 162 towards RioVista (4$ toll). Take your first left off the hwy. It will be at a 90deg right bend in the main hwy and you want to make a left. The big blue building there as you exit the hwy is Delta Windsurf Co. (something like that) and they have good selection misc stuff in case you forgot something.

Make a left there at the store and keep going down the road about 3miles. You'll start to feel the vibe as you get closer to the Access. Go through the little gate area and park. Pay fee (4$ I think). Launch either from the beach area or just outside the gate area down some sand bags.

Great place to sail and I've found most peoples' comments are about 30% exxagerated to avoid misleading anyone and their assumed abilities. You WILL have fun provided it's windy and the vibe from just being there is great. You feel like you really left the Bay Area far behind and entered Windsurf/Kitesurf-ville.

J
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dfthrash



Joined: 21 May 1998
Posts: 27

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2007 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to all for taking the time to share your local knowledge. I look forward to getting out there soon!
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boggsman1



Joined: 24 Jun 2002
Posts: 9118
Location: at a computer

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:02 am    Post subject: Sherm Reply with quote

Wait for a day like TODAY when the fog is completely blanketing the Bay. Head out to the Power Lines during an EBB, the spot about a half mile up wind from the delta Windurf Co. Rig a 4.7, smallish board and enjoy LIFTOFF!
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bowen1



Joined: 17 Mar 2001
Posts: 47

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 12:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I went to Rio Vista for the first time last week. The County Park with the $4.00 fee was by far the simplest way to access the water. Grassy rigging, sandy beach launch, side on wind, freindly people. Very cool, you'll like it.
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ikrtolica



Joined: 10 Apr 2000
Posts: 37

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 12:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also, when sailing Rio always remember to try to keep the water out of your mouth and nose, to avoid sinus infections, nasal gonorrhea, or whatever other horrible chemicals are in that water.
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