I'm going to be sailing to Oceanside from San Diego. I'm curious as to the approximate sail times going and coming. I certainly don't want to come in at night and am not sure when to leave to avoid that. aMAZEinGrace
First overnight trip
- Thread starter sallylynnh
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You need a basic navigation system.... a gps or chartplotter.. to set a way point appox. 6 nm. off LaJolla that will put you on a 360/0 deg course to the Oceanside light. That will allow you to enjoy the seabreeze and basically beam reach the last 22 nm. planning your arrival around 4-5 pm and allowing an average saling speed of 4.5 kts. that's about 5 hours on port tack..... meaning you will need to hit your Lajolla mark around 11 am.
The distance from Harbor Island down and around Pt Loma and north toward your rendevous with the Lajolla mark is the flexibe feature in your plan. It's approx. 18nm.... but as you are probably aware there is a large kelp forest to be avoided plus, the prevailing current and wind direction may not cooperate... so if you find yourself watching the clock.. and stressing a bit.... turn on the damn motor and work your way farther off shore so you can make your Lajolla waypoint within reason.
On the way back you'll have about 40 nm of offwind sailing... should be doable in 10 hours or less unless the wind flat out dies.... not unusual this time of year.. but in any event you will be returning to a familiar harbor nowhere as difficult to find and enter as Oceanside is at night.
Have fun.... nice weekend trip.
The distance from Harbor Island down and around Pt Loma and north toward your rendevous with the Lajolla mark is the flexibe feature in your plan. It's approx. 18nm.... but as you are probably aware there is a large kelp forest to be avoided plus, the prevailing current and wind direction may not cooperate... so if you find yourself watching the clock.. and stressing a bit.... turn on the damn motor and work your way farther off shore so you can make your Lajolla waypoint within reason.
On the way back you'll have about 40 nm of offwind sailing... should be doable in 10 hours or less unless the wind flat out dies.... not unusual this time of year.. but in any event you will be returning to a familiar harbor nowhere as difficult to find and enter as Oceanside is at night.
Have fun.... nice weekend trip.
Yeah... pretty much... this time of year it's predominantly sea breezes that dictate our sailing. Although low pressure systems occasionally give us more southerly winds .... which is great if you are going northwards to Catalina, Newport Beach, Long Beach etc. It's not so much about reliable wind.... but rather putting yourself in a position to take advantage of varying conditions.
So....when you plan a trip northards from San Diego you must always assume the seabreeze phenomenon. If the wind goes southerly at departure time.... well....that's cool... However, if you plan your trip around an anticiated southerly wind... you're likely to be disappointed and will end up motoring most of the way.
Whether you shape your course directly to Catalina or harbor hop up the coast... you must always assume a headwind and adverse current... that would be your worst case scenario.... then you can take advantage of things such as the "catalina eddy" or an Arizona summer monsoon that generates southeasterlies.... if they occur near departure time.
That said.... most San Diego - Catalina voyagers.. if they have time constraints..... simply motorsail the 70nm up overnight during calmer evening conditions.
14 to 16 hours overnight puts them in Avalon around noon to pick up a mooring, R&R, then go ashore for a nice dinner... the return trip is most likely a comfortable run back home. This was the M.O. for my last trip and we flew the spinnaker for 55 or the 65nm back to Mission Bay. Great fun!
I assume that Catalina Yachts was named after the Catalina Island off of the California coast. When I named our boat Avalon, I didn't even know there was a town / port on Catalina Island called Avalon, how Ironic. Guess it was a subconscious way of paying homage to Catalina, & Frank Butler, who's designs have certainly stood the test of time.
Thanks Frank, I've already engoyed sailing on & owning at least 3 of your designs, all good ones.
Thanks Frank, I've already engoyed sailing on & owning at least 3 of your designs, all good ones.
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