Good Place to Anchor Near Point Conception

[rebel heart]

Looking for a good recommendation; some place to anchor or tie up for an evening just south of Point Conception. I don't know if I'll use it but I'm planning a run up to San Miguel and would like to know what options are on the mainland if we want to run and hide for the night.

[sded]

are the commonly used refuges just South of Pt Conception, assuming the usual Northwest wind pattern. Cuyler Harbor at San Miguel is also OK, just lots of wind off the cliffs at night. Or you can anchor at Johnson's Lee on Santa Rosa and go around to Cuyler in the morning. Wind and sea conditions can be highly variable.

[sded]

There is also a Cabrillo monument, Ranger station, lots of good hikes to see seals and such. Weather permitting, of course.

[Bash]

Cuyler can get rough, but Cojo is a great refuge in a northwesterly. It's labeled on Google earth, if you want to take a peek at it.

[Christian Van H]

Be careful what you do around Point Conception... I'm sure there's a reason it's named that!

[Charlie]

RH I have tried to visit Cojo about four or five times and have never got the chance. One time we left Santa Barbara at midnight and were able to make it around to to Port San Luis and then to San Simeon. We were planning on stopping at Cojo if the wind got too strong. It didn't. Another time I had dropped the family off in Santa Barbara and was planning on heading up to Cojo to surf the Hollister Ranch area. The Ranch History | SURFLINE.COM It is supposed to be some of the best surf in California. That time there were 40 knot winds and we got "Stuck" in Santa Barbara. SB is really a nice spot and for the first 14 days the fees aren't outrageous at $.50 a foot per night. The showers are really clean and nice. You also have to buy a gate key. I have been in SB harbor twince over the last couple of years and really enjoyed it. TotalSantaBarbara.com - Visiting or Transient Slip Fees for the Santa Barbara Marina. From there going south you can also visit Ventura the prices are more expensive but it is nice.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Be careful what you do around Point Conception... I'm sure there's a reason it's named that!

Not to worry, mate -- Cojo is an impregnable anchorage!

Cheers, Jim

[rebel heart]

Charlie: Thanks for the info on Santa Barbara; that's exactly what I was looking for. Dana Point and south I know the harbors fairly well (what's offered, what to expect, etc) but Newport and north I get pretty dumb.

Ed: We're planning on hitting up Cuyler on San Miguel but if that doesn't work we'll either go back to Emerald Bay or zip over to Santa Barbara.

Basically I just want to have about twenty different options (including just hanging out in Emerald Bay and not bothering to go further) that we can pick from once we get moving.

[sded]

is via Santa Barbara Island. Then to Smugglers or Coches Prietos on Santa Cruz, from there to Johnson's Lee and Cuyler or directly into Santa Barbara Harbor or Ventura Harbor based on the weather.

[rebel heart]

Thanks man. I've been reading Fagan's book: Amazon.com: The Cruising Guide to Central and Southern California: Golden Gate to Ensenada… ; loaded with smarts and know-how. I know a lot more about the Channel Islands than the average Joe but after reading Fagan's book I feel like I don't know them at all. His knowledge and explanations of the weather systems and approaches are top notch.

Any use in getting Charlie's Charts on the area? I've got the paper charts, digital, and Fagan's book.

Also, I think we'll be stopping in at Avalon first to meet up with some friends and do some diving off Casino Point.

[Roy M]

Avalon and Two Harbors are going to be challenging to get moorings on weekends, plus they are expensive, crowded, noisy and bouncy from the water taxis, patrol boats, idiots screaming about in fast dinghies, and the usual afternoon chop. You might consider going direct to the back side of the island, coming from the south, then anchoring inside Cat Harbor. If you really need to go ashore for an expensive cold beer or an ice cream, it's only a short walk of ten minutes over the Isthmus. Then you can jump off for Santa Barbara Island (my personal favorite) where there are few cruisers. Take your dinghy past an anchored commercial fishing boat, hold up a box of cheap and cheerful red wine and ask if they have anything to trade. I have been given a wonderful selection of varied filets, cold and ziplocked, from their personal stash. It's my ideal form of "trolling". Then shoot, again, for the back side of the Channel Islands for fewer crowds and nice diving.

[rebel heart]

I actually just noted that Two Harbors has a scuba shop. I want to go diving with a friend (who will meet me there), so the remote islands are out and they'd like a hotel they can stay at. I've been to Avalon a bunch of times and know the drill; not looking to stay there any longer than required and if I can get a dive in at Two Harbors / Emerald, I'm good to go.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Avalon and Two Harbors are going to be challenging to get moorings on weekends, plus they are expensive, crowded, noisy and bouncy from the water taxis, patrol boats, idiots screaming about in fast dinghies, and the usual afternoon chop. You might consider going direct to the back side of the island, coming from the south, then anchoring inside Cat Harbor. If you really need to go ashore for an expensive cold beer or an ice cream, it's only a short walk of ten minutes over the Isthmus. Then you can jump off for Santa Barbara Island (my personal favorite) where there are few cruisers. Take your dinghy past an anchored commercial fishing boat, hold up a box of cheap and cheerful red wine and ask if they have anything to trade. I have been given a wonderful selection of varied filets, cold and ziplocked, from their personal stash. It's my ideal form of "trolling". Then shoot, again, for the back side of the Channel Islands for fewer crowds and nice diving.

I love the tip about the red wine Roy. That is great I'll have to try that the next time I go out that way. I think that Two Harbors won't be too crowded after Labor Day. I was there in October and it was empty I think there were less than a dozen boats. It can be a long uphill slog from Catalina to SB, The Channel Islands or Ventura. We did that two years ago left before dawn and made Ventura in the late afternoon. The next day we had a nice sail up to Santa Barbara but had to motor the last bit to get in in time to meet the harbormaster.

[highseas]

We stopped at Cojo coming south,it was fairly smooth inside,15 to 20kn. coming in.Anchored in 30ft., west of mooring bouy and opposite culvert (under tracks) on beach.Some kelp.

[Rearsteer]

Any use in getting Charlie's Charts on the area? I've got the paper charts, digital, and Fagan's book.

You should do fine with Fagan's book. Parts of the Channel Islands are off limits for fishing. You can still dive, and I often do in the restricted areas, just don't take anything. Scorpion to Potato Bay and parts of the back side off of Santa Cruise Island. They are great islands with good protection. I have rode out about three gales at Santa Cruise, two at Anacapa and one at San Miguel. You won't have to go to the mainland unless you want to. You can get water at Little Ladies by hiking about a quarter mile or so up the canyon, but will find the anchorage full of kelp. It was one of my favorites in the 80s as back then it had no kelp. Enjoy your trip!