Anyone with experience sailing from Seattle to San Diego or southern CA? Our boat is located at Shilshole Bay in Seattle and we thought we would "abandon" the NE for winter and head to San Diego. We'd love to get some first-hand info on prevaling winds, currents, tides, time required, stops enroute, traffic, or whatever. I expect that we will depart about the first of October. Thanks! Michael O' s/v m
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T
Tom
S
Steve
Headin' South
Michael. We brought our Catalina 42 down to SF from Sidney, BC last August 8 - 16. We encountered a rather mild trip through the Strait of Juan de Fuca past Cape Flattery. We stayed out about 20-25 nm, stopping in Gray's Harbor, WA and Newport, OR. Then on to SF. In Gray's Harbor we spoke with a couple who had been out as much as 100 nm looking for a better ride, but did not find it. We had pretty constant NW wind blowing in the high 20's and low 30's right up our centerline along with a few days of 15' following seas. We did not do much sailing...pretty much motored and averaged about 8 knots. You will need a lot of time or the right conditions to do a great deal of sailing. This will most likely be the roughest part of your planned passage. Generally, things will get flatter and slower as you go further south toward LA and SD (with the exception of rounding Pt. Conception). If I were you, I would haul ass down to SF, enjoy the bay for a while, then enjoy the trip south - Monterey, Channel Is., Catalina Is. and SD at a more leisurely pace. Beware of hundreds of small, crab trap bouys and lines up north. They are everywhere and impossible to see at night. Further south you will encounter much more vessel traffic and fog during the summer months. Make sure you, your crew, and your boat are well prepared. The coasts of WA, OR, and CA are not to be taken lightly. Have fun! By the way, we bought our boat from a gentleman who kept her at Shilsole. You may know the boat...she was named Nasty Boyz at the time. Familiar?
Michael. We brought our Catalina 42 down to SF from Sidney, BC last August 8 - 16. We encountered a rather mild trip through the Strait of Juan de Fuca past Cape Flattery. We stayed out about 20-25 nm, stopping in Gray's Harbor, WA and Newport, OR. Then on to SF. In Gray's Harbor we spoke with a couple who had been out as much as 100 nm looking for a better ride, but did not find it. We had pretty constant NW wind blowing in the high 20's and low 30's right up our centerline along with a few days of 15' following seas. We did not do much sailing...pretty much motored and averaged about 8 knots. You will need a lot of time or the right conditions to do a great deal of sailing. This will most likely be the roughest part of your planned passage. Generally, things will get flatter and slower as you go further south toward LA and SD (with the exception of rounding Pt. Conception). If I were you, I would haul ass down to SF, enjoy the bay for a while, then enjoy the trip south - Monterey, Channel Is., Catalina Is. and SD at a more leisurely pace. Beware of hundreds of small, crab trap bouys and lines up north. They are everywhere and impossible to see at night. Further south you will encounter much more vessel traffic and fog during the summer months. Make sure you, your crew, and your boat are well prepared. The coasts of WA, OR, and CA are not to be taken lightly. Have fun! By the way, we bought our boat from a gentleman who kept her at Shilsole. You may know the boat...she was named Nasty Boyz at the time. Familiar?
J
Justin
That's too late...
Michael we're in Shilshole now too. We left in September 1997 from Seattle and went to San Diego. Then we went to Mexico and back to San Diego. In December 2000 we trucked the boat up to Seattle. I've done this trip twice. Once in June and once in September. If I did it again I'd go in July or August ONLY. First off, leaving Seattle in October, the nights are long and it is damn cold. Second, sailing from Neah Bay to Northern California could very well be the toughest sail you'll ever encounter in your life. Then again it might be a piece of cake, but the potential is huge. The later you wait the better the chance of storms and strong winds from the south. In simple terms. Every time it rains in Seattle it is usually a low pressure system that generated LOTS of rain on the coast, and strong southerly winds. It's not really a fun place to be when the weather isn't sunshine and diamonds. If you do decide to go, go sooner if possible, watch the weather, and know your options for ducking in BEFORE the weather hits. Avoid trying to cross a bar after it hits. On our 32 footer it took us 16 days on the water to get to San Diego. We stopped in Coos Bay and Half Moon Bay. We added a few days, by sailing very far offshore. Much farther than necessary. We're planning to go again next summer, but like I said we'll be going in July or August. Maximum daylight, warmer, and better chance of fair weather.
Michael we're in Shilshole now too. We left in September 1997 from Seattle and went to San Diego. Then we went to Mexico and back to San Diego. In December 2000 we trucked the boat up to Seattle. I've done this trip twice. Once in June and once in September. If I did it again I'd go in July or August ONLY. First off, leaving Seattle in October, the nights are long and it is damn cold. Second, sailing from Neah Bay to Northern California could very well be the toughest sail you'll ever encounter in your life. Then again it might be a piece of cake, but the potential is huge. The later you wait the better the chance of storms and strong winds from the south. In simple terms. Every time it rains in Seattle it is usually a low pressure system that generated LOTS of rain on the coast, and strong southerly winds. It's not really a fun place to be when the weather isn't sunshine and diamonds. If you do decide to go, go sooner if possible, watch the weather, and know your options for ducking in BEFORE the weather hits. Avoid trying to cross a bar after it hits. On our 32 footer it took us 16 days on the water to get to San Diego. We stopped in Coos Bay and Half Moon Bay. We added a few days, by sailing very far offshore. Much farther than necessary. We're planning to go again next summer, but like I said we'll be going in July or August. Maximum daylight, warmer, and better chance of fair weather.
M
mark v.
steve/nasty boyz
did you keep that name? i remember the boat and the name was hard to read from a distance, i remember thinking it read "nasty boil"because of the graphics and the letter styling.
did you keep that name? i remember the boat and the name was hard to read from a distance, i remember thinking it read "nasty boil"because of the graphics and the letter styling.
M
Michael O'
Great Info! Thanks!
Great info, guys! You're confirming my suspicions about the potential difficulty of the trip.... We were planning to leave Seattle on Sep 29 (earliest) or Oct 27 (latest) and make it to Coos Bay or possibly (hopefully!!) Arcata within 8-10 days. The boat is a Pearson 28, very good condition and very well rigged. There will be three of us going - my brother, my lady and me. Maybe I should send my brother in August and tell him to taxi the boat to Coos Bay!?!? Justin - Your comment about "know your options for ducking in" brings up a question... seems like that coastline has VERY FEW opportunities for "ducking in"? Also, what's the difference between sailing the boat out of Shilshole through the winter (cold/wet) vs. sailing down the coast (cold/wet)? And Steve - sorry, but no recollection of "Nasty Boys". We just purchased the boat in June and were wanting to get the most out of sailing the area before bringing the boat back to Utah, probably next summer, now. Thanks again! Michael O' s/v m
Great info, guys! You're confirming my suspicions about the potential difficulty of the trip.... We were planning to leave Seattle on Sep 29 (earliest) or Oct 27 (latest) and make it to Coos Bay or possibly (hopefully!!) Arcata within 8-10 days. The boat is a Pearson 28, very good condition and very well rigged. There will be three of us going - my brother, my lady and me. Maybe I should send my brother in August and tell him to taxi the boat to Coos Bay!?!? Justin - Your comment about "know your options for ducking in" brings up a question... seems like that coastline has VERY FEW opportunities for "ducking in"? Also, what's the difference between sailing the boat out of Shilshole through the winter (cold/wet) vs. sailing down the coast (cold/wet)? And Steve - sorry, but no recollection of "Nasty Boys". We just purchased the boat in June and were wanting to get the most out of sailing the area before bringing the boat back to Utah, probably next summer, now. Thanks again! Michael O' s/v m
L
LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
October? Ugh!
Ok, this was some time ago but when my family went cruising to Mexico, we left Oregon in October due to unforseeable medical problems. We had planned on an earlier departure but that's the way the ball bounces. Anyway, can you say "nasty"? The trip down was literally sheer hell till we were midway down Baja. I would suggest going as early as possible - do what you can to leave before October. And go out far enough to avoid the crab pots - you don't need to get a wrapped prop in the middle of the Pacific! LaDonna
Ok, this was some time ago but when my family went cruising to Mexico, we left Oregon in October due to unforseeable medical problems. We had planned on an earlier departure but that's the way the ball bounces. Anyway, can you say "nasty"? The trip down was literally sheer hell till we were midway down Baja. I would suggest going as early as possible - do what you can to leave before October. And go out far enough to avoid the crab pots - you don't need to get a wrapped prop in the middle of the Pacific! LaDonna
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