Sailing Upstream on the California Coast ???

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Jan 22, 2008
250
Cherubini 37c HULL#37 Alameda
Any body know how long it takes to motor sail up from Long Beach to SF ? I'm looking at a 30 ft Islander there and really don't want to have it trucked. Its cost prohibitive.
 

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
About A Week

I was looking into doing it this season. Decided not to. Anyhow, most of the folks who have done it who I talked to said figure five to seven days to allow for weather windows and rest. You can spend a couple of days at Cojo, waiting for a window to get around the point. Give yourself lots of time for comfort and safety. Have fun!
 

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
in a 30 ft islander-- yipes. out farther than 60 miles for loss of the prevailing chop, but ye have a southbound current to fight. i would try way off shore if i could, but i dunno with the islander--was 2 weeks for a 45 ft steelie in 1996.....with engine problems.....i would consider giving that much time, as it always takes longer than you think. take lots of water ...watch your weather closely.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I sail an Islander thirty and if you plan for more than five kts average you will be very disappointed. Mine is a good solid boat and she will drive well against the current but she isn't fast.
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Nearshore surface current map

Going up the coast has certainly been done many times and before GPS, satellite imagery, and now surface current charts.

Just did a short search to see what I could find and lo and behold, here is an interesting surface current chart: http://www.sccoos.org/data/hfrnet/

It would probably be really hard to hit every positive counter current but one could try. The other thing to look out for is where the current is against the wind as that would have steeper waves.

I'd expect with a few search terms one could come up with more valuable information. I know that similar wave height information is also available.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
We did a trip up from Dana Point to SF on a H'376 three years ago. We stopped along the way (Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Monterey) and I think we did it in 5 days with an overnite in Morro Bay. Personally I would allow a week incase you hit some bad weather. The worst part of the trip is around Point Conception.

We also had fairly high fuel consumption (motor sailed most of the way).
 
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