[FlyingJunior]

forgive me, I've only really sailed in the Midwest (lakes) and BVI....

If I were to sail from Oxnard to Channel Islands (almost due west, or WSW), with the prevailing and strong currents coming out of the North, what's my navigational plan if the wind is also out of the North? I realize it would be a sbd reach, but how much off course would the currents take me, and how much further north should I plan to begin sailing to accommodate?

total ocean sailing newb question, I realize....

thanks,

 

[scotthenry]

Leave real early in the morning, and motor 3/4 of the way to Anacapa before you get enough wind to sail... Long time ago when I did it, I just used the mark-1 eyeball, keep Anacapa Isl on the port side...
I kinda recall that when the wind did come up it was a close reach stbd tack.

 

[PitApe]

forgive me, I've only really sailed in the Midwest (lakes) and BVI....

If I were to sail from Oxnard to Channel Islands (almost due west, or WSW), with the prevailing and strong currents coming out of the North, what's my navigational plan if the wind is also out of the North? I realize it would be a sbd reach, but how much off course would the currents take me, and how much further north should I plan to begin sailing to accommodate?

total ocean sailing newb question, I realize....

thanks,

It all depends on your boat and the conditions that day. I would set a course five or ten degrees to windward of the rhumb line to your destination. Plan to adjust your course to leeward as you progress toward you destination, trying to keep the boat pointing a bit to windward of your destination. As you get closer to your destination you'll be able to sail a more direct course. Remember, it's usually easier (and faster) to error to windward and fall off a little, rather error to leeward and have to point up (or even tack), to make it to you destination.