San Diego Sailing

JohnVTX · Feb 10, 2016

For what it is worth. I sailed San Diego Bay back in 1992 on a C-22. It was a rented boat. Do not recall what marina I rented from. Anyway, my wife and I sailed the bay for 4 hours. Lot's of room and great sailing. We decided we would try the ocean for the first time ever. It was easy making it out and back through the channel. However, the current at the end of the channel, sent us quickly south, and we spent most of the rest of the day tacking bay to the channel.

Jackdaw · Feb 10, 2016

Paging Captain Don, Paging Captain Don.......

Brian D · Feb 10, 2016

Sorry, can't comment on the frist.

Second, without a doubt exit the bay and head north to Mission Bay. You can anchor overnight in Mariners Basin. Just drop the hook and enjoy the weather. A word of caution. Make sure you go ALL THE WAY to the last marker before heading north. Otherwise you will end up in the kelp beds and you do not what to be there. Same thing returning. Head more west than south then make you way to the marker G3 then back into the bay.

http://www.mexfish.com/enad/enad/plkelpmp/plkelpmp.jpg

Third, purchase a Salt Away sprayer and use that for the trailer and the boat and anything else that touched salt water. Also use it to flush out your motor.

Have fun!

Dave Groshong · Feb 10, 2016

The swells can be intimidating in a small boat at certain times of year, especially coming back in with a large following swell. Brian D. is right on about the kelp beds, stay out of them! Haha. I used to sail out and in with no motor on my 1963 Cal 28, so of course tide/current was a big consideration. It's been many years since I've been there, but don't overstay your 72hr welcome, the San Diego Lifeguards that patrol that anchorage were less than nice. Mission Bay isn't much for sailing, but it is a good anchorage (Mariner's Basin). San Diego Bay is good for sailing, and has a few good anchorages, in particular Glorietta Bay (Coronado). I'm not sure what the anchoring rules are now but you should check in with either the police dock in SD bay or the Lifeguards in Mission Bay, could be a reservation or waiting list situation.

CaptDon01 · Feb 10, 2016

Flamingo1,
We recently left San Diego and moved to Florida, but I haven't done a complete mental dump yet. First, with a fixed keel version, the only thing I would recommend is having your boat lifted at Driscol Marine at Mission Bay......probably expensive. We kept our C-22 at the Mission Bay Yacht Club and used the crane to launch our boat. But you have to be a member, and have your own harness, so that's out of the question. None of the boat ramps at Mission Bay have finger docks at the ramps, so launching and retrieving are a real problem. There are several marina's that will rent you a slip by the day, week or month. ANY marina in Southern California will required a copy of your boat and trailer registration, and proof of insurance showing $300K liability coverage, and several require $500K liability coverage. I would get this all arranged before you tow the boat to make sure what paperwork you have is what they will require. No problem heading out to the ocean, but as an inland lake sailor, stand by for some waves at the mouth of the inlet. I would highly suggest San Diego Bay, and use the facilities of the Chula Vista Marina. They have the only ramp in the San Diego area where I would launch and recover my boat. On the south side of the ramp, they have a finger dock so you can float your boat off the trailer, and when you're done, you can easily float the boat back onto the trailer walking right along side of her. GREAT marina, world class facilities, great restaurant and bar right there, and you'll be able to store your trailer there. Slip rental gives you access to the RV park next to the harbor, with a pool and hot tub. They also have coin laundry for your use. South San Diego Bay was my favorite sailing area. Big, steady wind, protected harbor, and not many other boats. Plus access to all the neat views in San Diego Bay. Much more room to sail on San Diego Bay, and you don't have the paddle boards, kayaks and rental boats to contend with. There is a channel from South San Diego Bay into Chula Vista Harbor, well marked with red and green pilings, get out of the channel and you're instantly grounded. On a good day, it's 45 minutes to the Coronado Bay Bridge, and 2 hours to the ocean from Chula Vista. Don't even think about Pier-32 Marina, nice boat ramps with unmarked power lines overhead. Nice slips, and facilities, but expensive, and limited restaurant hours, require $500K insurance. Yes, traffic heading south on I-5 can be a problem in the afternoon, so you've been warned.
I know someone will advise you to just use a rope and let the boat and trailer roll into the water.....just remember, to recover the boat, someone will have to be chest deep in the water, and the water is very cold in San Diego.
Sorry, but for Mission Bay, with a fixed keel boat, the only way I would go is Driscols Boat Yard.

Chula Vista Marina: 619-691-1860, FAX: 619-420-9667, Mike Sullivan, Harbor Master

Don

Brian D · Feb 10, 2016

Sorry, thought you were talking about San Diego Bay. Either way, get to the ocean and enjoy. Head south or north, either way. But just be aware of the kelp beds. Head north to Oceanside. Nice harbor, a good day's sail. Stay the night then head back south. Easily done in a C22.

Joe · Feb 12, 2016

Well.... if you're staying in mission beach, why on earth would you truck all the way down to Chula Vista when you have a perfectly great patch of water in your back yard. Mission Bay is fabulous...Plenty of water for a C22.. The launch ramps are free... you shouldn't have any problem dropping your boat in the water at the main ramp next to the Dana Inn and Fast Lane Sailing center.. The back bay ramps are behind some bridges you might not clear. There's a ramp on Santa Clara Pt. right in Mission Beach that I used for years... that is plenty deep enough... you can use the adjacent Mission Bay Aquatic Center's dock to board... then I recommend you rent a slip over at Marina Village (that's my marina) .. It's the largest and most reasonable priced... about $30/day....no bridges to the ocean... very convenient. Parking at my marina is very nice... each dock has its own gate... secure and safe... very quiet.
Your C 22 will be fine in the areas east of the Ingraham bridges... but you will want to go out in the ocean for sure... and it is very easy access.... no kelp until you go way south... and even then you just stay out side or it. You can make a day excursion to San Diego Bay.. that'll be fun...but most days you can sail up and down the coast off Mission Beach, practice your trim and turns, wait for the wind to pick up and head out for a few hours... or take an evening sail... 'cause it's so damn convenient with your boat sitting in the water already rigged. You'll be stoked.
Marina Village Marina bottom and right in the picture of quivera basin below. Mission Beach is over bridge to the left... ocean just beyond.

The main launch ramp is in the upper right hand corner by the Dana Inn Marina.... Here's a better shot....

Mission Bay Aquatic Center on Santa Clara Pt. in MB.

CaptDon01 · Feb 12, 2016

Flamingo1.... I can't count the number of times we've made the trip between Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. It's a GREAT trip, and always interesting seeing the ships returning or leaving the port. Some pointers, San Diego Bay entrance is south, and there is a fairly big shelve off Pt Loma. There are also a thick kelp forest off the coast. So we always stayed several miles out off the coast, you don't want to get into the kelp. I don't know about your fixed keel C-22, but our wing keeled C-22 was a kelp magnet. So I kept a close eye out for any floating kelp and stayed well clear.

In Mission Bay the only bridge you have to worry about is the one by Riviera Point, there is a channel between Sail Bay and the big bay for the power boaters.

Attached are some photos from various trips around Pt Loma. You can see the sub and the aircraft carrier during the voyages.

Saltwater is no big deal for your boat. Most of the slips will have water, but usually no hose, so a simple rinse down when you leave, and she'll be fine. If your trailer is painted, that's another story. Saltwater will start to work on a painted trailer pretty quickly. My Capri-18 had a painted trailer and I carried a garden sprayer with a Salt-A-Way, and would rinse it down with this after coming out of the water. The only ramp with a wash down faucet is the ramp in Coronado, and it's not sailboat friendly, especially a fixed keel sailboat. I would also swing by the car wash on the way home a give the boat and trailer a good rinsing with the high pressure wax. If you have a galvanized trailer, not a problem.
Don

San Diego Sailing

.

.

.

.

SBO Staff

.

.

.

.

.