Sailing from LA to San Francisco

[Bert]

Returning from southern Ca. I want to avoid the traditional northern "beat". I'm planning on sailing west from Catalina about 150 miles then taking a heading for north of San Francisco then head in as I get close.I've been told this is the least painfull way to go other then motoring up the cost during the night. Has anyone out there done this? If so, how did it go?

 

[Jim WIllis]

It's usually much less rough out deep!

It's amazing how the swells lengthen out when you are way from the shelf. And you avoid lots of coastal traffic too and no foggy lee shore!I 've been told that the return otherwise is really hard work- often motoring much of the way and that the cape (I forget its name) N. of Santa Barbara is hell.An alternative is to travel at night when the wind is down.Go for it!JimW

 

[Jack Tyler]

Why not coastal hop?

Bert, I haven't done it offshore but didn't hear you ID the reasons most folks do it in short hops while benefitting from the ports along the way, night-time calms, and the Cojo anchorage. Do you have radar? Even if you don't, do you have adequate power and fuel tankage? Looks like you're doing it at the right time of the year, so the much longer (in distance tho' perhaps not in time) routing is a bit confusing to me. Why not take the bad weather in port or at anchor vs. finding you have no choice offshore?To contradict myself a bit, I can see a good case being made for cruising up the Channel Is. (perhaps last anchoring on the SW corner of Santa Rosa) and jumping off from there. Your overall distance to cover with a good f'cast is less and there's some good cruising along the way, too.Good luck on the passage.Jack

 

[Bert]

I may end up coastal hopping....

I'm still in the decision making process and will probably still be right up to the day I either head west or north. I find portions of both options attractive.I'd like to spend some time out on the open ocean just for the sake of saking "I did it" but without the commitment of going all the way to Hawaii (I don't like Hawaii anyway....).I plan on hoping all the way down from San Franciso so hopping all they way back will be revisting places I've been before....Pleanty of provisions, fuel, water, Zodiac w/motor and EPERB's so the risk's arn't that great.At this stage of the game I'm leaning toward the west....

 

[Rick]

I'm going July 1st.

The week after next I'm leaving Alameda to sail to Ventura. Fortunately its the easy way - downwind and with the current.Check out Brian Fagans cruising guide that covers the coast from Ensenada to SF Bay. It list all the ports between LA and SF that you would be interested in. Unfortunately they are few and far between. Between Monterey and Morro Bay there is nothing but rocky, dangerous lee shore for about 150 miles. If the wind and seas pick up while you are on that strech it will be in your face and there will be no place to hide. Going way offshore for the northbound trip is much safer. If you get caught in a gale out there you can at least heave-to and wait without worring about becoming part of the scenic Big Sur coastline.