A Sweet Cruise-Out to Martinez

As we reported on January 16, part of the Martinez Marina was dredged in December during a short window of opportunity between fish runs. "We were hoping to get more done but we ran out of time," reports Harbormaster Craig Paulsen. As it is, there was more than enough room for the 20 or so boats that turned out for Vallejo YC’s annual Sweetheart’s Cruise this weekend.

As seems to our habit, this writer and her husband left later than the rest of the fleet on Friday afternoon, coming into Martinez just before dark. Last year when we did this, we ran aground right at the entrance, then grounded ourselves beautifully trying to inch into what turned out to be a silted-in slip on A dock (which has since been dredged). This year we were at the entrance just at slack current and saw nothing less than six feet under our keel all the way to the guest dock. 

That said, fair warning should be given that the inside spot along the guest dock was not dredged, as one VYCer found out unexpectedly. "The dredging company used a suction dredge and he couldn’t get around the corner there," explained Paulsen. So if you expect to be the first boat to arrive in your yacht club’s next cruise-out to Martinez, plan your arrival and departure at high tide.

If your club has yet to book a trip there, push your cruise director to schedule it. Not only are the marina staff beyond wonderful, but the wetlands surrounding it are excellent walking/birding grounds, and the downtown area is absolutely adorable (bring your credit cards, ladies!). And don’t neglect coordinating with the Martinez YC, as they put on one helluva party!