Summer usually brings warm days and comfortable nights, that is unless you live in San Francisco. In San Francisco summer brings cold and foggy conditions that sometimes last for weeks on end. Luckily there's a place to escape before frostbite sets in, and it's called the Sacramento Delta. Both the water and air temperatures are warm here, and there's plenty of wind too. In fact, The Delta is one of the windiest places in the country during the summer months. So, naturally, it's a windsurfing haven.

When it happens
The Delta is primarily a summertime spot. When the inland temperatures begin to warm, a strong pressure gradient develops between the cold air on the coast and the warm air inland, hence the wind. So the warmer it is inland, and the cooler it is on the coast, the stronger the wind at The Delta. Typically June, July and August are the most consistent months, but September can see some really good days too. The wind tends to be strongest in the morning and in the evening.

What are the conditions like?
It's difficult to characterize the conditions at The Delta into any one category, because there are a variety of different conditions to be found. There is great bump-&-jump at Powerlines and Sherman Island, good speed slalom and beginner conditions at Glass Beach and some fun river runs off Sandy Beach and Brannan Island. Most of the high performance sailing takes place on Sherman Island, as the chop and wind tend to be strongest here.

How's the temperature?
Comfortable to warm. Early mornings can be a bit nippy, so on colder days you might want to bring a full wetsuit. But during the middle of the day most people use a shortie or vest. In fact, lots of people just wear trunks. A sunburn is a bigger concern than being cold during a typical Delta day.

Getting There
Take Highway 4 east through Pittsburg and Antioch. At the junction in Antioch take Highway 160 over the Antioch Bridge (Hwy 12).

Sherman Island: Make a left on Sherman Island Road. Powerlines is a few miles up this road (launch under the powerlines) and the main Sherman Island launch spot is at the end of the road.

Glass Beach or Brannan Island: Stay straight on Highway 160. Both spots are accessible from the road and are clearly marked.

Sandy Beach: If you're going to windsurf at Sandy Beach, take the first exit after you cross the bridge (Hwy 12) and go under the bridge. Turn right on Main go one block and turn left on Second. Follow this to Sandy Beach.