San Francisco - San diego trip advice please

[kevandraper]

Hi,
Need some advice guys on the first leg of my planned trip in Jan from SF to SD. Will be doing this singlehanded in a Westsail 32. The charts don't show too many overnight anchorages, Half moon Bay, monterray, Morro bay etc Would appreciate any views from cruisers who have done this trip, especially getting round Point Conception. Looks like a 4-5 days trip. Have a reasonable amount of single handed experience but mainly open ocean. Don't like being coastal but it has the advantage of being able to catch some sleep at anchor. Any advice on legs would be helpful.
Thank you

[puddinlegs]

Two words: Weather window.

Nothing else counts in January. If you have one, fine. If you don't, wait until you do.

[dabnis]

Kevan,

Just about the worst time of year weather wise even though
you will be going downhill. Some links you might be interested in:
Northern California NOAA/CDIP Buoy Data
Marine Forecast : Weather Underground
On the second link you can enter the locations going south.

Dabnis

[imagine2frolic]

2 more words.....dress warm! I left Nov 22nd, and nearly froze to death. Get well offshore of Point Conception if it's blowing. I saw 50+ in wind, and 20+ in feet of water. Oh 2 more....reef early. .......i2f

[SJ34]

What everybody else said, "Weather Window".

Looks like you may have under estimated the duration of your trip if you will be stopping at anchorages along the way. I would not fore-go the anchorages if you have the time, there are some really beautiful places to stop along the way, just be sure to revise your eta to account for time on the hook. SFO to SDO is about 430nm by sea and assuming an average speed of 4kn, you're looking at about 108 hrs at sea.

[kevandraper]

Thanks for the responses, unfortunately I have to leave due to my 3 month visa running out. The latest I can go is end of February, not sure that would be any better than mid Jan. I did think about going way off shore and doing it in one hit. I would then probably miss out SD and carry straight onto Cabo San Lucas. I don't normally sail to a schedule but don't want to fall foul of US immigration. Looks like it will be wet, windy and cold.........yuk!

[imagine2frolic]

It will be cold all the way to Cabo. Life changes at the cape, and the sun actually comes out in Cabo. BEST WISHES on a safe, and good trip........i2f

[dabnis]

Kevan,

Sounds like you are going to do it, one way or the other. Let us
know how it is going along the way. One can always learn from
someone else's experiences. Be careful and good luck.

Dabnis

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by kevandraper

Thanks for the responses, unfortunately I have to leave due to my 3 month visa running out. The latest I can go is end of February, not sure that would be any better than mid Jan. I did think about going way off shore and doing it in one hit. I would then probably miss out SD and carry straight onto Cabo San Lucas. I don't normally sail to a schedule but don't want to fall foul of US immigration. Looks like it will be wet, windy and cold.........yuk!

Isn't it possible to leave the US for a few days or a week (Mexico, Canada) then return? (I'm assuming you're from a country that allows 3 months w/o a visa a la most EU countries, Japan, etc...) Trying to head south in the winter on anything other than Mo' Nature's schedule is a recipe for very bad things happening. Think it though very carefully.

[dabnis]

Kevan,

Totally agree with Puddinlegs. Although my experience is mostly from SF
north, this time of year is mostly rough with a few days of calm mixed in
from time to time. Suggest you make the shortest legs possible to minimize
your exposure to sudden weather changes.

Dabnis