Northbound Passage in Southern California (LA to Ventura)

[HobieFan]

I am planning a route from Long Beach to Ventura in a few weeks (end of September).

I have the Fagan Cruising Guide to Souther California and it provides good information, and indicates the northbound route, especially in the chute between Anacapa island and point Mugu (and especiall approaching winter) can have some nasty NW winds and seas.

I was hoping someone might share their experience with the route and if it's possible to sail or avoid the worst of it, or whether it is 24 hours of slogging through waves on diesel power much of the time. I have limited experience in these waters!

I can always hope for a nice helping breeze that day, but the odds seem slim.

Unfortunately, I'll only have 2 days to accomplish the trip, at best and i'm thinking an even steam to Marina Del Rey the evening before embarking might shave some of the risk of not making it in time to catch my flight out.

Obviously, there's always the risk of having to abandon the trip due to harsh weather, but I was hoping someone might share any experience they have in the timing of that trip and the conditions.


Plan is to leave harbour at like 0400 to catch the morning calm and make some headway before the sea kicks up and then just keep at it until we arrive, hopefully before dark, but possibly well into the following night.

Thanks!