for a pleasant trip during the summer. Stay close to shore or far away? Stop every other day at a nice port (which ones?) or get to SF ASAP? thanks for the reply abe
Seattle to San Francisco.....what stops do you rec
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ABe
I have made that 806nm over a hundred times... Neah is a favorite not much there, friendly indians, a coffee shop, fuel is easy the last end tie a 1/2 mile ;ast teh marina. Then round Cape Flattery, with a fair weather report, stop at Greys 100nm south, then Tillimook, I ALWAY"S skip the Columbia river, but Astoria is inside there, Newport is a beautiful port, but watch the old wooden pilings on starboard, not lit, just under the bridge go right then sharp left into the fuel dock, Cliff there has loaned me his pick-up. The best breakfast on this coast is by the aquarium walking distance, Coos Bay (Charlston harbor) is an easy one, Crescent City will fuelyou 24hrs and no bar, sand-bar theys got dee other kind, but I usually fo for Eureka in Humbolt Bay, as it is closer to the CApe. Cape Mendocino is the BIGGIE! Worst point on the coast from Mexico to Alaska. I miss Ft. Bragg, very nice marina though. Bodega is an easy stop 24 hr fuel too. I don't anchor unless forced too, but Drakes Bay is the best, just around the corner from Pt Reyes.Keep tight to the shore after Duxberry, and come down the Bonita channel, miss the traffic, then stay tight to the north,out of the separation zone entering the gate, close to the north tower, follow the land around enter Richardson's bay and drop the hook your safe with a beautiful view of Sausalito too.
I have made that 806nm over a hundred times... Neah is a favorite not much there, friendly indians, a coffee shop, fuel is easy the last end tie a 1/2 mile ;ast teh marina. Then round Cape Flattery, with a fair weather report, stop at Greys 100nm south, then Tillimook, I ALWAY"S skip the Columbia river, but Astoria is inside there, Newport is a beautiful port, but watch the old wooden pilings on starboard, not lit, just under the bridge go right then sharp left into the fuel dock, Cliff there has loaned me his pick-up. The best breakfast on this coast is by the aquarium walking distance, Coos Bay (Charlston harbor) is an easy one, Crescent City will fuelyou 24hrs and no bar, sand-bar theys got dee other kind, but I usually fo for Eureka in Humbolt Bay, as it is closer to the CApe. Cape Mendocino is the BIGGIE! Worst point on the coast from Mexico to Alaska. I miss Ft. Bragg, very nice marina though. Bodega is an easy stop 24 hr fuel too. I don't anchor unless forced too, but Drakes Bay is the best, just around the corner from Pt Reyes.Keep tight to the shore after Duxberry, and come down the Bonita channel, miss the traffic, then stay tight to the north,out of the separation zone entering the gate, close to the north tower, follow the land around enter Richardson's bay and drop the hook your safe with a beautiful view of Sausalito too.
geeeze ron
You obviously have the experience but how about slowing it down a little and try sharing it in a little more cohesive way? I would I would love to get some knowledge on the topic but hardly understood a word of it.
You obviously have the experience but how about slowing it down a little and try sharing it in a little more cohesive way? I would I would love to get some knowledge on the topic but hardly understood a word of it.
geeze Ron
what a great mini pilot! Concise, understandable despite typos, and to the point. Kudos to you!
what a great mini pilot! Concise, understandable despite typos, and to the point. Kudos to you!
"Cruising the Northwest Coast"
a little book/guide by a George Benson who has cruised the coast from the Golden Gate to Port Angeles close-in. I bought it a couple months ago, and it seems a pretty good sourse for what you are looking for. In any case you can reach him at gbdesign22@att.net. He doesn't have a website yet. I saw his little add in 48 North, and ordered one from him direct.
a little book/guide by a George Benson who has cruised the coast from the Golden Gate to Port Angeles close-in. I bought it a couple months ago, and it seems a pretty good sourse for what you are looking for. In any case you can reach him at gbdesign22@att.net. He doesn't have a website yet. I saw his little add in 48 North, and ordered one from him direct.
Only know the Calif. coast, but as Capt. Ron
pointed out there's not a lot of choices between SF & the border. This area is still known as "The Lost Coast", Mendocino Point is the most windy place I've ever been in my limited experience. It's either blowing a gale or foggy and sometimes both, look for a good weather window or give it a wide berth. Gotta be some of the most isolated, nasty, lee shore on the Pacific.
pointed out there's not a lot of choices between SF & the border. This area is still known as "The Lost Coast", Mendocino Point is the most windy place I've ever been in my limited experience. It's either blowing a gale or foggy and sometimes both, look for a good weather window or give it a wide berth. Gotta be some of the most isolated, nasty, lee shore on the Pacific.
I have heard
that there is a phenomenon which causes a calm water area which is about a hundred yards or so wide and about five miles off shore. He said it was like a highway for his power boat which made the trip much more pleasant. My friend told me about it but I have never seen it myself. As to whether to go far out or stay close to shore, it seems that wave action gets worse closer to shore. I can attest to that. It also seems to me that it might be safer a hundred miles out. If you haven't done so, you might want to learn about crossing bars and places like the Columbia River. The boating conditions can be the worst anywhere in those places.
that there is a phenomenon which causes a calm water area which is about a hundred yards or so wide and about five miles off shore. He said it was like a highway for his power boat which made the trip much more pleasant. My friend told me about it but I have never seen it myself. As to whether to go far out or stay close to shore, it seems that wave action gets worse closer to shore. I can attest to that. It also seems to me that it might be safer a hundred miles out. If you haven't done so, you might want to learn about crossing bars and places like the Columbia River. The boating conditions can be the worst anywhere in those places.
West Coast
Keep in mind that every stop on the coast is going to be 'a bar crossing', and they can all be mild to wild. Bar crossings are best at slack, and are at their worst 2 hours before low slack. Other conditions combine to make them what they are at any given time. I have crossed the Columbia bar many times, as well as Tillimook, and Newport. On the (relatively) short trip from Astoria to Puget Sound, I prefered to be at least 20 miles off to avoid crab pots, and other fishing vessels. If I were going farther I would be farther out. I would plan the stops far apart to shorten the trip.
Keep in mind that every stop on the coast is going to be 'a bar crossing', and they can all be mild to wild. Bar crossings are best at slack, and are at their worst 2 hours before low slack. Other conditions combine to make them what they are at any given time. I have crossed the Columbia bar many times, as well as Tillimook, and Newport. On the (relatively) short trip from Astoria to Puget Sound, I prefered to be at least 20 miles off to avoid crab pots, and other fishing vessels. If I were going farther I would be farther out. I would plan the stops far apart to shorten the trip.
Charlie's Charts
says (paraphrased) "unless absolutely necessary, do not try to enter any port between Cape Flattery and San Francisco." He obviously was addressing sailors with a lot less experience than Ron, but it should give anyone second thoughts about casual stopovers in that area. On the plus side, don't hesitate to contact the nearest CG if you do want to close with the land - they are delighted to give you all the guidance they can in lieu of an offshore rescue mission.
says (paraphrased) "unless absolutely necessary, do not try to enter any port between Cape Flattery and San Francisco." He obviously was addressing sailors with a lot less experience than Ron, but it should give anyone second thoughts about casual stopovers in that area. On the plus side, don't hesitate to contact the nearest CG if you do want to close with the land - they are delighted to give you all the guidance they can in lieu of an offshore rescue mission.
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