STOCKTON, Calif. — The arrival of warm weather means one thing for many Northern Californians: it's time to go boating on the delta and lakes.
Friends, families and seemingly everyone else was on the local rivers Sunday. Many of them like Lisa Freitas, were disembarking from Stockton's Buckley Cove.
"We're big-time boaters. It's usually pretty packed on holiday weekends," said Freitas, who takes to the water almost every weekend. "You forget about all your worries. All your worries go out the door."
Connor Harden could hardly wait to let his six-year-old worries float away, sitting in the driver’s seat before his boat was even touching the water after a long drive from Valley Springs.
"This boat goes fast," said Harden, while still on land. "I'm sitting in the back so my eyes don't hurt like last time."
Unfortunately for the captain of one boat, Alex Brown, he has to sit in the front in order to navigate more than just the fast-flowing waters.
"(We) come out to party, hang out with friends and family, enjoy the smooth waters out here on the delta and just see what we can get into," said Brown. "Avoid all the drunk drivers for sure."
Avoiding accidents can be hard. So far this year, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office Boating Unit has responded to 20 after-hours call-outs. More than half of those have been in the last three weeks
"It can range from five to 10," said Deputy John Canepa on the number of calls for service he and his boating unit colleagues respond to while on shift. "But we'll probably do even more boat stops than that."
Those stops include safety inspections, investigating illegal behavior and making sure every boat driver is sober and has a state-certified boater card.
During a ride-along Sunday, ABC10 saw deputies stop at least four boats and jet skis and respond to one call for service in the same area in a span of less than an hour.
"Ultimately, our number one goal out here is safety so if you see us or need our help, feel free to give us a call or flag us down," said Canepa. "Have all your safety gear and designate a sober operator."
If you don’t want to listen to Deputy Canepa, at least consider advice from the six-year-old.
"Always have a life jacket on," said Harden.
Watch more from ABC10: Safety officials urge waterway safety this Memorial Day weekend
