Anacapa Island in Springtime

[Kings Gambit]

No snow around here this past weekend! Saturday, although light for wind, was a gorgeous, sunny day on the coastal waters of Southern California. A spot on the north coast of Anacapa's west island, only 11 n.mi. from Channel Islands Harbor, known as Frenchy's Cove, was the perfect springtime venue for lunch and relaxation. The cove is modestly protected from westerly wind and swell; so with the light conditions of the day it was very quiet--no rolling or lumping about at anchor. We lay-to in a light, cool breeze-- the Island green, birds all around, & sea lions exploring nearby. Two other sailboats a decent distance away (we were the last to arrive, so I got to pick my spot!) provided additional charm. Add sandwiches from Lassens, a good Pinot Grigio, some truffle pate' of the Martha Stewart variety, friends, and one has perfection! A broad reach home with just a little help from the diesel to keep speed up concluded with a sail up Channel Islands Harbor to see the sights before returning to the slip. Whoever said there's no place to sail to in Southern California?

 

[justsomeguy]

Whoever said there's no place to sail to in Southern California?

Plenty of places from which to sail away.
But seriously, sounds like a nice time was had.

 

[Boomer54]

Well that got my juices flowing. I am as green as Kermit with envy. Very nice!! It'll probably be another month before I even splash.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Not that we have not had winter here with strong gales or storms blowing through at biweekly, or even shorter, intervals. Ventura Harbor was closed for a month due to sand shoaling from the large waves marching in from sea. The pier at Scorpion Ranch, Santa Cruz Island, was damaged and is now closed "for repairs." The landing dock at Santa Barbara Island was also damaged and is also closed "for repairs." The National Park Service (NPS) is evidently short of money to make repairs; thus, one ranger I talked to could not say when repairs might even be started. It's mostly been cold (for us), in the 50s at night, etc. Sunday it was overcast again, windier, colder, and with higher seas & wind waves. That day probably would not have worked out as well at the Island. The trip home to Ventura Harbor from Channel Islands Harbor on Sunday afternoon (6 n.mi.) was wet (i.e., were close reaching to close-hauled). Weekend and weather have to co-align with "personal schedules" for good days on the water!! How many days per year is that for most of us?

 

[Kings Gambit]

Plenty of places from which to sail away.
But seriously, sounds like a nice time was had.

From Long Beach, one has about a 90 to 100 n.mi. sailing ambit in each direction--i.e., either toward the northwest or toward the southeast, with stops in between. It's about 90 n.mi. along the rhumbline from Long Beach to Pt. Loma--the entrance to San Diego Bay. Likewise, it's about 95 n.mi. to reach harbor at Santa Barbara. The south coastlines of the northern Channel Islands lie about 70 to 90 n.mi. toward the northwest, with Catalina Island much closer at 22-24 n.mi. heading south or southwest. For a sailboat not really going anywhere, that's a pretty good sailing venue, a mostly storm-free one except for fronts that blow in during winter, or the occasional T-storm during the, at-times, "humid" summers. It's not that much different from when I lived in St. Peterburg, FL. It's about 100 n.mi. from there to Pine Island Sound/Ft. Meyers area to the southeast, and even less than that northwest to Dunedin. The main difference is that in SW Florida there's an ICW with lots of little gunkholes in the lee of something or other for quiet anchoring. A 20-25 n.mi. destination with overnight anchoring and back is a full weekend journey for a sailboater, especially if he's sailing. We have that here--there just aren't that many of 'em. But, probably less than even 2% of boats ever leave their dock for overnight cruising more than even once a year, if even that. So, there's not much difference. There's plenty here to keep a body busy for several years of weekender sailing, and even beyond!!