Sailing from SF-> Santa Cruz/Half Moon Bay. Anchorages?

[YoloSF]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to do a little shakedown 3 day cruise this weekend out of San Francisco. Are there any recommended anchorages around Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay that anyone could recommend?

Thanks!

[DoubleWhisky]

Hi, this is purely technical forum, so may be better to post Your query here:

Pacific & South China Sea - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Cheers,

Tomasz

[YoloSF]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Hi, this is purely technical forum, so may be better to post Your query here:

Pacific & South China Sea - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Cheers,

Tomasz

I only read the 'Anchoring & Mooring" part, thanks for the heads up!

[model 10]

Originally Posted by YoloSF

Hello everyone,

I'd like to do a little shakedown 3 day cruise this weekend out of San Francisco. Are there any recommended anchorages around Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay that anyone could recommend?

Thanks!

How about right in both harbors? If you are looking for something else, Moss Landing. Pretty exposed coast line for anchoring just anywhere. Would have been pretty rock and roll the other day.

[ssanzone]

i kept one of my boats at Pillar Point in HMB for a few months.

cold (the water too which is a long and largely unpleasant story) but lots of sea lions.

as a working marina there are always fisherman selling the day's catch.

mezza luna is right down the road with good italian food.

-steve

[scotty c-m]

Great anchoring in both places.

The harbor at Half Moon Bay has a protected anchorage in the outer harbor. It is safe in all conditions. Getting into the harbor is a bit tricky in that it looks easy to cut the corner around the entrance buoy ( I forget it's number -#1??). Don't take a short cut, there are shoals in that line. Also be careful to keep offshore around the headlands. Think Maverick's Surf Spot. Just follow the channel and you'll be fine. Same thing leaving. I think there is also some area available for anchoring, and mooring, in the inner harbor. Call the harbormaster before you go for details.

Santa Cruz has several fine anchorages. Around the wharf people often anchor to the east of the wharf, in front of the Boardwalk. I personally like to anchor to the west (Cowell's Cove) in front of the Dream Inn Hotel. It's a bit quieter there. Both of these anchorages have good (sand) holding, but roll a bit in a South (or any big) swell. Should be calm this weekend. Both of these are lumpy and on a lee if the wind is from the South - or during big storms. Not expected this weekend.

Another choice is to go a bit East to Capitola. Quiet and warmer, it has a mooring field that has taken much of the anchorage area around the Capitola Wharf. There is still plenty of room to the West and outside the wharf. Look out for kelp in there, but the holding is fine.

By the way, Monterey offers great anchorages to the south-east of the harbor, and at Stillwater Cove. Don't anchor at Stillwater when large waves are forcasted from any direction. Not the case this weekend.

What's your boat's name? Give a shout if you see us on Rosa Nautica!