Sat, March 3 Visit to the Bay Model, Sausalito.

Tour and operation of Model at 10 am, followed by lunch at nearby restaurant. Donation requested but not mandatory. The model, located near Richardson Bay in Sausalito, California, is a unique scientific tool for exploring water movement patterns in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the bay part of the model in 1956 to test a series of barrier and water quality proposals. This tidal hydraulic model has since been expanded to include "The Delta" and is used to test the effects of oil spills, salt-water intrusion and pollutant dispersion.

The Bay Model is a three-dimensional representation of San Francisco Bay and the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers capable of simulating tides, currents, river inflow and other variables affecting water quality and the movement of water in the estuary. The model, operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, spreads over 1.5 acres and is built out of 286 five-ton concrete slabs.

Bay Model Webpage: http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/

DIRECTIONS: The Bay Model is located in Sausalito in Marin County, across the Golden Gate Bridge and a short distance north of San Francisco. If you are driving, follow Highway 101 to the Sausalito - Marin City exit. Follow the signs to Sausalito until you are driving towards downtown Sausalito on Bridgeway. Look for small brown and white Bay Model direction signs. Turn left on Harbor, then almost immediately turn right on Marinship Way and follow the signs to the Bay Model.

If you are not driving, the fastest way to the Bay Model from San Francisco is riding a Golden Gate Transit bus. You can also take a Golden Gate Transit ferry from the Ferry Building or a Red and White Fleet ferry from Fisherman Wharf, Pier 43 1/2 (map), to Sausalito. For a hilly and longer excursion, bike or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and follow Alexander Avenue to Sausalito.

The building containing the model and visitor center is not on Bridgeway, but between Marinship Way and the waterfront. The visitor's entrance is located at the front of the building on the waterfront.

Mar 24-25 Bruno's Island.

Launch at B&W Marina at 9 am and sail 5 miles up to Bruno's Island. Bruno's is a comfy marina with slips and RV parking. Barbeque in the picnic ground on Saturday night. Explore the Delta Saturday and Sunday. P15's can launch from Bruno's ramp, if they prefer.

April 8, Sunday, Salt and Pepper Daysail, Oakland Estuary.

This is an event specially planned for prospective owners or brand-new owners. If you're an "Old Salt" (skipper) planning to attend, and would like to take a "Pepper" (passenger) for a sail, please RSVP by April 1 to commodore@potter-yachters.org. If you are a "Pepper", you should RSVP too, with your preference of boats, description of any special concerns (such as physical limitations or fear of heeling) or other questions you have. We will launch from Grand Street Ramp in Alameda at 10:00 am. Arrive at 9 am to start rigging./p>

April 18-22 Pacific Sail Expo at Jack London Square, Oakland.

(Not a Potter Yachter event, but it would be fun to get together)

May 5-6 Richmond Marina to Lock Lomand, San Rafael.

Launch at Richmond Marina at 9 am. Expereinced skippers can sail approx 6 nautical miles to Loch Lomand Marina in San Rafael on San Pablo Bay, exploring the town at lunch time, dine at the Fo'csle Restaurant. Timing the tides is essential, or else you'll be running aground as you head into Loch Lomand. Navigational care is required to stay in the channel too. We'll beating home against the wind but with the current. New skippers can sail inside Richmond Harbor, a great place to practice sailing skills. The other day, we'll daysail to Angel Island for lunch in Ayala Cove. Hiking, tours on the State Park on the island. If you can't make it for the whole weekend, make it a daysail.

May 13 Informal Sunday daysail on the Oakland Estuary.

May 19-20 Woodward Reservoir.

Beautiful reservoir with camping factilities. An annual tradition. Pot-luck Barbeque Saturday night.

May 27 Informal Sunday daysail on the Oakland Estuary.

Practice for the Cruiser Challenge

June 2-3 Annual Delta Ditch Race.

This is a great weekend sailing some of the most beautiful parts of the Delta, near Stockton. We will launch at Buckley Cove at 9 am. We'll be staying overnight in Windmill Cove Marina, where there is a restaurant and bar. Sunday, we'll probably sail about 8 miles for brunch at "Herman and Helen's", a floating restaurant with good, hearty, cheap food. If you can't make it both days, make it a daysail.

June 10 Informal Sunday daysail on the Oakland Estuary.

June 23-24 3rd Annual SCA Cruiser Challenge, Oakland Estuary.

July 1-3 Eagle Lake, near Susanville.

Trip Leader Bruce Hood. It is about a two hour drive from Chico and about a five hour drive from the Bay area. It is a beautiful large high mountain lake with shallows to beach in, very nice campgrounds under huge Ponderosa pine trees, nice marina with slips, and at 5000ft. It is not oppressively hot in summer... 80 degrees when its 106 in the valley.

July 14, Foster City Lagoon. P14/15 Sail.

July 28-29 To be announced.

August 10-12 Friday-Saturday. Annual Lake Tahoe Trip

August 25-26 Monterey Bay

Sept 8-9 Richmond Marina to Angel Island

Oct 6-7 Monterey Bay

Nov 4 Daysail from Oakland Estuary to Ballena Bay, Alameda.