July 4th Weekend--Beginning of the California Summer?

[Kings Gambit]

The weekend certainly seemed like the beginning of summer here in Southern California, albeit an unusual one. Departing Ventura Harbor on Saturday the 10-12 kt breeze arrived largely from the SE, permitting us to sail on port tack straight into Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz Island where there were few boats anchored. The light and variable breezes through the weekend coupled with mostly sunny afternoons kept temperatures warmish and mild. A side benefit was very little lumpiness for us! After hauling anchor on Monday a light NW wind arriving early gave us a leisurely sail around Cavern Point with a brief tour of Little Scorpion b/f gybing back over to port tack for our sail home to Ventura Harbor on a freshening wind from the west! Altogether, about 45 n.mi. RT under sail reaching in nice air. One just does not get to sail often from Ventura to the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, and back, on a comfortable reach in low seas. Sooo very nice!!

 

[Brian D]

Very nice. Wish we had some islands closer to home. Catalina is 48nm and San Clemente is 52nm, but I could be mistaken for a Naval Target. LOL

Your sailing sounds like my Dana Point trip. Broad reach up and reach coming home. Two great days of sailing. Glad you had a good time.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Very nice. Wish we had some islands closer to home. Catalina is 48nm and San Clemente is 52nm, but I could be mistaken for a Naval Target. LOL

Your sailing sounds like my Dana Point trip. Broad reach up and reach coming home. Two great days of sailing. Glad you had a good time.

Yeah-- the folks sailing from Santa Barbara Harbor probably have it best across the Santa Barbara Channel with the prevailing westerly and northwesterly winds. It's usually a reach both ways for them b/c they are sailing southerly or north/northeasterly most of the time, and essentially can choose anchorages from among any of the four islands. From Marina del Rey southeast to San Diego the closest U.S. island destination is Santa Catalina. The two outer islands, San Nicolas and San Clemente, are not that inviting as they are military owned; thus going ashore might not be permitted, etc. However, an adventuresome, mostly down-wind, loop would be Ventura-eastern Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, San Clemenete, and then into San Diego with overnight stops at each. Probably plenty of sailing there!