OK all you SoCal people. Beginning Oct. 16 I'm crewing (navigating) a Tartan 37 from Monterey to San Diego. This is a delivery of the boat to SD for the Baja-HaHa starting October 25. The owner plans to do the harbor-hopping thing on the way back to NorCal after the HaHa, and would like to have several days in SD for provisioning, fixing stuff, etc. before the HaHa starts. So this will be a delivery trip, not a vacation cruise. I've done lots of NorCal coastal stuff, but have never done the Big Sur/Point Conception/SoCal passsage. Any suggestions on passage planning? When and how close to Conception should we be? Do we go inside or outside the Channel Islands and Catalina? It's not necessary to be absolutely non-stop, but we'd like to minimize stops and have good winds to make tracks, while still being comfortable and taking advantage of changes in wind strength thruout the day, etc., as might make sense. Boat is equipped with radar, autopilot, windvane, and SSB, as well as the normal GPS. Any ideas/help is appreciated. Peter
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Not an expert
But, I have experienced Point Conception from the beach side - never at sea but it blows hard through the afternoons and into the night- sometimes all night. I think I would stay 15-20 miles off shore at PC - even more if setting up for the wind into SoCal. I think I would track the wind since mostly down hill but shoot to pass the channel islands just outside of them and then down to Santa Barbara Island and on to the Isthmus (Two Harbors Catalina Islands) for a nights stay. You can then head south out of Two harbors to San Diego. If you come into the leeward at Two Harbors, you will not have as good of wind leaving the island until you clear Avalon (16 mi). Leaving Catalina Harbor on the windward side of the island may give you better sailing earlier on but might be alittle longer course. Monterey to Point Conception - I would also track inside or outside of the ship channel at night for obvious reasons. Soundas like a good trip - when are you leaving. I hope other more experienced sailors respond - but these are my ideas. You must stop at Two Harbors - it is such a wonderful little place.
But, I have experienced Point Conception from the beach side - never at sea but it blows hard through the afternoons and into the night- sometimes all night. I think I would stay 15-20 miles off shore at PC - even more if setting up for the wind into SoCal. I think I would track the wind since mostly down hill but shoot to pass the channel islands just outside of them and then down to Santa Barbara Island and on to the Isthmus (Two Harbors Catalina Islands) for a nights stay. You can then head south out of Two harbors to San Diego. If you come into the leeward at Two Harbors, you will not have as good of wind leaving the island until you clear Avalon (16 mi). Leaving Catalina Harbor on the windward side of the island may give you better sailing earlier on but might be alittle longer course. Monterey to Point Conception - I would also track inside or outside of the ship channel at night for obvious reasons. Soundas like a good trip - when are you leaving. I hope other more experienced sailors respond - but these are my ideas. You must stop at Two Harbors - it is such a wonderful little place.
If you're the chief navigator,
...AND YOU ASK THIS QUESTION ON THIS FORUM, your crew should believe that they are in peril!
There is already lots of very good reference material on this trip. Since about 1849. LIKE IN big book SIZE. and/or Latitude 38 articles. I am wondering why other respondents are not expressing responses that there are entire BOOKS written on these subjects. And that a person who is taking responsibility to navigate a boat is asking here? I understand that you are looking for reasonable answers for a question, but your question is pretty similar to: "What's the BEST way to do a circumnavigation, left or right?" Have a good and safe trip, and go to a library, a marine store or a magazine subscription and do some reading first. Take a right at San Diego and head north on the way back. It's a bit windier going that way. Read first, plan your courses, and Fair Winds. Stu
...AND YOU ASK THIS QUESTION ON THIS FORUM, your crew should believe that they are in peril!
There is already lots of very good reference material on this trip. Since about 1849. LIKE IN big book SIZE. and/or Latitude 38 articles. I am wondering why other respondents are not expressing responses that there are entire BOOKS written on these subjects. And that a person who is taking responsibility to navigate a boat is asking here? I understand that you are looking for reasonable answers for a question, but your question is pretty similar to: "What's the BEST way to do a circumnavigation, left or right?" Have a good and safe trip, and go to a library, a marine store or a magazine subscription and do some reading first. Take a right at San Diego and head north on the way back. It's a bit windier going that way. Read first, plan your courses, and Fair Winds. StuWhy are we so critical
More and more I see the same people thrashing others for asking nice honest questions. I don't get it - Well I probably will "get it" after I post. I don't mean to be critical but I think that is alot of the problem with human interaction today. Ever go to a small town and ask an 80 year old man one question. It turns into a half day conversation that you will never forget. Well compassion is often times hard to find.
More and more I see the same people thrashing others for asking nice honest questions. I don't get it - Well I probably will "get it" after I post. I don't mean to be critical but I think that is alot of the problem with human interaction today. Ever go to a small town and ask an 80 year old man one question. It turns into a half day conversation that you will never forget. Well compassion is often times hard to find.
Mark...I agree
I have enjoyed this site due to its focus on sailing etc. Recently the negativity has seemed to increase. All of us should be entitled to ask questions in good faith, some good, some bad. Our experience level varies and this site enables sharing of experiences. The questioner wanted information, that does NOT mean that would be the ONLY source. I always ask for info from locals, they are the best informed. As to the sailing route, I sailed down from Ventura, therefore knowing little about Conception. Sail inside the Channel Islands, out of the shipping lanes. Winds funnel next to the islands (Windy Alley) and you can stop at Catalina Is. Leave at about 3 AM for San Diego, you will have litle wind on this leg. Winds start about 11 AM, diminish about 5 PM. Conception is a toss up for passage, you may be lucky...most do a night passage, but there may be good wind at your back. Stay aware of possible "Santa Ana" winds from the East, come up fast, 40 - 50 Knots. Use the Wx channels. Good luck, if you get to La Paz call La Paloma on ch 22.
I have enjoyed this site due to its focus on sailing etc. Recently the negativity has seemed to increase. All of us should be entitled to ask questions in good faith, some good, some bad. Our experience level varies and this site enables sharing of experiences. The questioner wanted information, that does NOT mean that would be the ONLY source. I always ask for info from locals, they are the best informed. As to the sailing route, I sailed down from Ventura, therefore knowing little about Conception. Sail inside the Channel Islands, out of the shipping lanes. Winds funnel next to the islands (Windy Alley) and you can stop at Catalina Is. Leave at about 3 AM for San Diego, you will have litle wind on this leg. Winds start about 11 AM, diminish about 5 PM. Conception is a toss up for passage, you may be lucky...most do a night passage, but there may be good wind at your back. Stay aware of possible "Santa Ana" winds from the East, come up fast, 40 - 50 Knots. Use the Wx channels. Good luck, if you get to La Paz call La Paloma on ch 22.
There is also some commercial traffic
going South out of Long Beach/LA toward San Diego inside Catalina & San Clemente. It's not heavy but I have seen some huge container barges being towed halfway between coast & San Clemente Is. Going downcoast from Catalina prevailing winds are from West and follow pattern Jack mentioned re: up at 1100 and down at 5 PM, recently it's been 10 to 15 N. of San Mateo Pt. & 10 S. of SM Pt. with greatest wind between 1 & 3 PM when it starts to drop, This is typical for winds to be 5 knts. lower near northern San Diego County, which is SM Pt. & WX area divide, next north WX is SM Pt. to Pt. Mugu, winds always higher towards northern end of area. I usually expect Pt. Conception itself WX to be closer to the offshore report. Have a great trip, I & others have seen large Blue Whales in area near Dana Point last couple months so keep your eyes peeled. They are huge, really awesome to see them down here again. Very large schools of dolphin & porpoise also prevalent in Catalina Channel and will swim with and play chicken with your boat if you are sailing fast enough to make it interesting for them.
going South out of Long Beach/LA toward San Diego inside Catalina & San Clemente. It's not heavy but I have seen some huge container barges being towed halfway between coast & San Clemente Is. Going downcoast from Catalina prevailing winds are from West and follow pattern Jack mentioned re: up at 1100 and down at 5 PM, recently it's been 10 to 15 N. of San Mateo Pt. & 10 S. of SM Pt. with greatest wind between 1 & 3 PM when it starts to drop, This is typical for winds to be 5 knts. lower near northern San Diego County, which is SM Pt. & WX area divide, next north WX is SM Pt. to Pt. Mugu, winds always higher towards northern end of area. I usually expect Pt. Conception itself WX to be closer to the offshore report. Have a great trip, I & others have seen large Blue Whales in area near Dana Point last couple months so keep your eyes peeled. They are huge, really awesome to see them down here again. Very large schools of dolphin & porpoise also prevalent in Catalina Channel and will swim with and play chicken with your boat if you are sailing fast enough to make it interesting for them.
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