Best Moorings in San Diego?

[sww914]

We're planning to spend 2-4 weeks in San Diego stocking up and fixing things before we head south of the border. I've heard that the cruiser' anchorage, although free, is a miserable location. Where is the best place to get a mooring with easy access to showers, laundry, dinghy parking, groceries, and boat parts?
Fortunately the mooring company has visitor's moorings available, apparently there is a shortsge of long term moorings.

[sww914]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Zee?

[Stevens 47]

The free anchorage in SD is closed. The customs police dock has transient slips for up to 10 days. They used to be cheap...no longer. The good thing is that they are on the end of Shelter Island near the boat yards and services. You can anchor at the La Playa basin or Glorietta Bay on the weekends. The problem is nothing is cheap in SD.

[Rigamorand]

Is the "cruisers anchorage" still available?

[prof_mariner]

Here's a webpage that may help:
Visitor's Dock and Anchorage | Port of San Diego

[MarcHall]

See the previous reference with the link describing the anchorages.

As a non-San Diego resident you have more options.

The A9 anchorage near the Coast Guard Station is decent but a bit isolated.
With a good dinghy you could easily travel from A9 to dinghy dock near Marine Exchange on Shelter Island Drive. From there the marine businesses are close by - Marine Exchange, Downwind Marine, West Marine, etc. Post office, laundry etc are all within walking distance.

Grocery stores are a bit further away. Vons at Liberty Station is probably the closest and best and Liberty Station has a number of other retail businesses - Trader Joes, etc.

If you have a military connection you may be able to land your dinghy at the marina on the Navy base accros from Harbor Island.

On the weekend I would probably try to anchor at La Playa as it puts you next to Shelter Island and you can shorter dinghy run then from A9.

Plenty of slips at the marinas these days so you might be able to work a deal on a weekly slip rent.

Marc Hall
Crazy Fish, Crealock 37, Hull 207

[SayGudday]

I recently spent 90 days at the A9 anchorage and I have to say that I liked it. Withing walking distance of down town, if that's yer thing. Other sailors complained about the noise from the airport but I completely tuned it out. Feel free to contact me directly if you need any local help.