[livnthedream]

I am buying a boat in Ventura, CA- at Channel Islands and am sailing it down to San Diego. I am picking it up (1987 Catalina 34) May 16th and was thinkng I would sail it from Channel Islands to Newport Beach in 1 day, and then Newport Beach to San Diego the next day? This is going to be my first Coastal Cruising for an extended period and was wondeirng if anyone has done that sail and has any suggestions/advice? I'm 25yrs old and am sailing down with a couple friends. Thanks!!

 

[jbrockpiano]

Add at least a couple of days to your plans. You must account for weather and
refueling. Also on a boat new to you it is possible you might encounter mechanical challenges. Wind is fickle in Southern California. Good luck on your trip.

 

[livnthedream]

thanks for the response. Ya, I was thinking if need be I could always stop in Redondo or LA first and then oceanside as well. Hopefully there is enough wind though that I was thinking I wouldnt really need to motor that much.

 

[windward54]

Redondo Beach does not have a lot of guest spots. You might want to think about Ventura to Isthmus Cove or Cat Harbor at Two Harbors/Catalina. That would give you a good angle to head for either Dana Point or Newport Beach.

 

[livnthedream]

Windward-

I like the Catalina suggestion to do on the first leg! Plus I can then hang around Catalina for a day or 2 and then head down to Dana Point and stay the night and then make the final stretch to SD the following day.

 

[swadiver]

Livin,

If Newport Beach is in your plans there are only 5 guest slips and they are first come first serve. Contact the Harbor Master/Harbor Patrol. There is the possibility of picking up a mooring in the harbor, again contact the Harbor Master. Newport does have a free anchorage in the turning basin but I think your stay is limited and depending on the time of year you are required to stay on your boat. You are going to have a great time. When I bought my Catalina 30, I motor/sailed solo from Oceanside to Long Beach. As someone said before plan extra time for unknown problems. I had cooling problems on my trip and it took longer than I had planned.

 

[svHyLyte]

The trip you are contemplating is not inconsequential, particularly if you are sailing a yacht new to you and your experience is limited. From Channel Islands to Two-Harbors is about 65-70 miles (nautical) and likely a good 12 hour trip. It might be wiser to make your first leg to Marina Del Rey and then, if all goes well, to make the jump to Two Harbors, and .from there directly to San Diego or, for harbor hopping, to Dana Point and down the coast. If you are not acquainted with Newport harbor, it might be wise to skip that in favor of Dana which is more accomodating.

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

 

[windward54]

Going to MDR will shave off an hour or two on the first leg, but adds the time onto the second leg as Palos Verdes Pennensula gets in the way. Plus it blocks wind. The advantage of heading to Catalina is having a great angle on the second day.

Newport is a GREAT place to stop. SWADIVER is right in that there are only 5 guest slips, but there are a ton on moorings available. The Harbor Patrol is helpful, and even told me that they have NEVER run out of moorings. Best part is the cost. There are available for $5 a night. Couple of things to remember though; there is no shoreboat and you need two very long lines as the mooring cans are fore and aft. That means you have to run one line on your foward cleat and back all thge way to the aft can. Most cleat the lines on either side of the boat in a V. The smaller the boat, the longer the lines that are needed.

Dana Point is also a great stop. Best part is if you need to stop on a weekend, they will accept reservations for the guest slips. The phone number is (949) 496-6137. They will require a copy of your doc paper or registration as well as proof of liability insurance. Plenty of restaurants within walking distance and it is a fun harbor to stop in. Be ready for afternoon wind. It does tend to blow hard on that side of the marina in the late afternoon.

 

[livnthedream]

Thank you everyone for your responses!!! They are a HUGE help. I will keep you guys posted on what my trip ends up being and how everything goes! Again, I really do appreciate all of the advice!! I am sooo excited to have my boat soon and having the opportunity to sail as often as possible and sharpening my skills and all of the other life benefits that sailing has to offer!!!

 

[SeekerSkip]

Congratulations on your purchase -- you should have a great time!

I agree with all that has been said before, but I would also recommend that you leave a float plan, or at least a schedule, with someone reliable enough to notify the Coast Guard if you are late in arriving at one of your destinations.

We have done the Channel Islands - Catalina - Sand Diego trip several time and will be doing it again in August. We found that the wind was not reliable enough to count on quick passages by sail alone, so make allowance (either fuel-wise or time-wise) in the eventuality that you have a very calm trip.

SeekerSkip
Caliber LRC 40

 

[montenido]

Livn, congrats on your new boat! Please post after the trip and let us all know how it went.

Seeker, I am interested in the times for the various legs of the trip, as my boat is in Channel Islands also. How long does it take to get to Catalina with decent wind? I would like to make the trip this summer.

Thanks, Bill

 

[sailingdog]

I would highly recommend you get the Reed's West Coast Almanac and take a look through it and write down a sheet or section for each possible harbor you may need to stop at. Write down what the buoys, lights, and other markers for each harbor approach are as well as a rough set of courses, based on looking at the charts for your approach into each harbor.

The reason I recommend doing this is to prevent you from having to figure all this stuff out under the pressure of a crisis—when mistakes are far more likely to be made—if you have to bail and head for a harbor you didn't plan on using.

It goes without saying that you should have paper charts for the whole trip.

 

[livnthedream]

Saildog- great advice on getting the Reed's West Coast Almanac! I'll have to go this weekend and pick it up. I for sure want to be over prepared (which there probably isnt such a thing) so that I can account for any surprises that may come along. It looks like I may have to push this trip out for a couple weeks because of my brothers college graduation and the Rock and Roll Marathon I'm running the following weekend but I am getting sooooo excited for it!!! I will for sure keep you guys posted on everything. Thanks again for everyones advice and tips!!

 

[imagine2frolic]

Congradulations on the boat, and getting the chance to live your dream. One can never be over prepared....better safe than sorry, and especially at sea......i2f

 

[windward54]

It is not a hard trip, just long. Just watch out for the commercial traffic, as there is a very active shipping lane that runs through the area. The wind is usually very light early morning, but will build up later in the morning.

 

[sailtimeci]

Montenido - at 5 knots two harbors on catalina is 12 hours away from CI harbor. We usually do it as an overnight as it tends to be DDW as well, so we look for calm night conditions and motor sail. you have to go out beyond Anacapa first or you are stuck too close to the shipping lanes all the way down. Its perhaps two hours longer from Catalina to San Diego as it is about 85 miles or so and can also be DDW. The mate who recommended a stop in MDR on the way down to this gent with the new boat is giving good prudent advice as you become quite a bit offshore making the run from CI to catalina. The run from MDR to Catalina can be a nice broad reach if the winds sets up nice and once you get past Pacific Palisades.

When we come back to CI from Catalina we usually leave in the middle of the night or an hour or two before dawn. if it is late summer the last 15 miles into CI can be a real bear in the late afternoons. important to stay outside the shipping lanes on the return trip or you get pasted against the coast with nowhere to go.

Chris
SailTiime Channel Islands

 

[montenido]

Thanks

Chris, sorry for the tardy reply, but thank you for the information. I might give Catalina a try this summer. Otherwise, it's the Channel Islands for me.

Thanks again, Bill

 

[windward54]

Bill, you can always use the opportunity to do a little island hopping. Gives you a chance to stop at Santa Barbara Island, one of my favorite spots. Breaks up the trip into a couple of shorter day trips if you plan well.

 

[JoeyP]

I am buying a boat in Ventura, CA- at Channel Islands and am sailing it down to San Diego. I am picking it up (1987 Catalina 34) May 16th and was thinkng I would sail it from Channel Islands to Newport Beach in 1 day, and then Newport Beach to San Diego the next day? This is going to be my first Coastal Cruising for an extended period and was wondeirng if anyone has done that sail and has any suggestions/advice? I'm 25yrs old and am sailing down with a couple friends. Thanks!!

Wow I was just looking for info on the web and I found this post... I am literally doing the exact same thing. I just bought a boat in Ventura I need to sail it down to San Diego next week. 8.10.20208 I am not a sailor. This is my first Coast to run ever. Do you have any advice or can you help me with a plan?

 

[jephotog]

I am not a sailor. This is my first Coast to run ever. Do you have any advice or can you help me with a plan?

I suggest hiring a Captain. I have sailed San Diego to Catalina and back. It is roughly 18 hours one way, maybe faster in a faster boat. We had two sailors who knew what they were doing but arrived at night and tired.

If you or a crew member does not know how to sail it will be faster, safer and likely cheaper to hire a Captain and have your boat delivered in about a day. If you try to do the delivery without hired help you will have to pay for slips or moorings and meals plus the risk to your boat and others getting into and out of harbors. If you are interested I can suggest a Captain in SD.