advice sailing san francisco to marina del rey

[arch007]

Any issues with bringing a 30 ft sailboat from san francisco to marina del rey ?

Also would like someone help me bring the boat down.

I have not sailed from san francisco to marina del rey and would feel more comfortable with someone experienced.

Thanks

arch

[Terra Nova]

It's a piece of cake. Just pick a good weather window.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy Arch.

The voyage down the part of the coast can be wonderful, depending upon the weather and your ability and boat.

Be prepared for thick fog in the summer, and watch the weather reports to see how local weather will be and also if there are high seas (swell) due to far offshore storms.

I have enjoyed the sail down that coast, cruising and racing, but have also seen people rescued by helicopter due to capsize in high winds and waves.

A few more tips since you are in a small boat:

1. Make sure your cockpit can self-bail easily and quickly, as you may have following seas "poop" you in some conditions.

2. Make sure you have your hatches closed and your hatch boards in place in the companionway if you are in big swells or waves.

3. Have a RADAR reflector on your boat. Take good sound signaling device too. The fog can be THICK.

4. Read about Point Conception. Study what you can about it. Expect the conditions around it to be different and possibly challenging.

5. When leaving San Francisco, be aware of the shoals just south of the Golden Gate. The seas there can build up and break (sneaker waves) even on days that appear relatively calm and suprise and capsize small boaters (similar to the Potato Patch which is north of the Gate).

6. Light winds in the morning may require you to motor. Be prepared.

Have fun. Bon Voyage! I hope this helps.

I may be able to help you more later this summer, but not in the next few weeks.