Petaluma holiday weekend cruise in?

K

kevfra

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Joined
Dec 31, 2005
RO Number
19858
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156
Anybody going? Three or more days. Word is they expect better than seventy boats this year. I guess there will be a lot of wrestling for shore power because they sure don't have that kind of capacity. And the draw bridge may wear down a few gears in the process too. Still I'm going - it's such a great area to spend a couple of days and everything is easily within walking distance.
 
Good luck and give us a report after you return! My yacht club tried to go to Napa as part of our September Down Bay Cruise, but Napa is already booked. I suggested Petaluma, but many people feel that crime is rampant in the area and refused to go.
 
I can't agree with that impression, as far as the specific area of the docks. I go there very often, to Old Town, and it is loaded with wonderful places for food and drink, dance if you like. Very clean and up to date. The town has pumped a fortune into rebuilding it and it is now quite upscale. I feel very safe wandering around there at night, and I can tell you there is a strong police presence there as well. Other areas of Petaluma no doubt have their crime issues, but I wouldn't avoid Old Town.

I think you're cruising in to my club later this summer, hope to be there to serve some drinks and say hi!
 
Yes, SRYC is on our Down Bay schedule! I l;ook forward to meeting Commander Toasty!
 
>Word is they expect better than seventy boats this year.

Woh! Hope you have a great time, I really prefer smaller get-togethers! Sorry, you won't see me there. Petaluma is great, (Ssh!, don't tell everybody!)

Charles
 
I checked with the Petaluma Visitor Center yesterday and they now have well over eighty boats registered, with many already showing up. I'm guessing here, but I'd say the dock space can accommodate perhaps thirty boats stern-in. Going to be a whole lot of rafting going on! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
 
Well the Petaluma Yacht Club set the bar with this one, and it's tough to imagine any club will beat the job done this past holiday weekend.

Between forty and fifty boats participated, and I suspect most of us now want to join both Weight Watchers and Betty Ford. PYC must have been working all year to pull this off, with food served darn near 'round the clock, live entertainment performed by club members, games/competitions at the club and aboard boats...and more. Topped off at the end with my team winning first place and being rewarded by my weight in beer as a prize!

That was something to see, and is done on a teeter totter affair with me on one end and beer cases on the other.

The City of Petaluma was an active participant as well. They dredged the turning basin last week so even the larger sailboats never had a problem. They serviced the dock pedestals so we all had thirty amp shore power, and word is they are replacing them for newer units soon. They installed new security gates (permanent) and also provided on-foot fire and police patrols. Outstanding municipal support! Coupled with the perfect proximity to a thriving downtown dining and shopping area - this was ideal.

I have no doubt that everyone in attendance has already marked their calendars for next year. PYC - Many thanks for a great time!

Here are some pictures...
http://www.4shared.com/dir/2495542/a6748d3c/sharing.html
 
Como Toasy

Thanks for the details! With your permission, I'd like to forward your comments to my yacht club's como and staff. Perhaps they will reconsider cruising up the Petaluma!
 
Permission granted - with pleasure. We too had some concerns about safety and such, and I assure you both the club and the city addressed these far better than anyplace else I have visited. Even the draw bridge operator Dennis was responding by the minute to Sunday and (holiday) Monday repeated calls for the bridge to open, and he has many other duties to handle.

You can bet I won't miss it next year!
 
Thanks so much. It may be too late for our Sept Down Bay Cruise, but at least I can adjust the mindset of some folks who hear a rumor and either take it as gospel or assume conditions do not change!

Thanks again!
 
Thanks - I just added more so go have another peek.

I forgot to mention that the theme this year was Roaring Twenties, and the PYC members dressed in studio quality outfits. They even had a gangster era Rolls Royce parked in front!

My mama raised some smart children. However I wasn't one of them, so I ended up being the only pirate in the 20s theme. Maybe next year I'll go as roaring twenties...
 
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