Bodega Bay, California

[kclancy]

Hi All,

I am looking for information on anchoring in the Bay. Do people do it or is it not allowable. There are not many berthing options. I want to use my sailboat to do some crabbing in November. If anyone has a berth they are not using, or any advice, I'm all ears.....

Thanks!
Kevin

[Paul Elliott]

There is Bodega Bay, and then there is Bodega Harbor.

The harbor is inside the breakwater, has three marinas, fuel and supplies, and the town of Bodega Bay. I seldom see boats anchored in Bodega Harbor, probably because outside the narrow dredged channels it's mostly drying mud flats at low tide. I've spent a couple days in a guest slip there and it was fine.

Bodega Bay (the bay itself) is outside the breakwater, and I do occasionally see boats anchored off Doran Beach, but this is not as well-sheltered as you might like and can see some large waves. I don't think I would consider this for anything but a lunch-stop, but perhaps others have better info.

[model 10]

I was too chicken to sail up there when we were in SF. I drove up there once and it looked just as Paul described.

[Paul Elliott]

While we wait for someone with more experience than me, here is a photo I took in 2008, showing the tall ship Bounty (the one that sank in 2012), at anchor in Bodega Bay:


Bounty had just turned around from an attempt to sail (motor) north from San Francisco to Seattle, during one of our regularly-scheduled coastal gales. Here's a shot of her at sea:


And a Youtube video of her battling the heavy seas and strong winds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auoju1sl5wc

My blog has more info: Fun With AIS « VALIS

Bottom line: this coastline can be tough. If there's any chance the weather is going to get bad, make sure your anchorage is secure. Fortunately, we usually have good warning of approaching gales -- they aren't surprise attacks.

These typical gales come from the NNW, and Bodega Bay is actually fairly well protected, although the swells do hook around Bodega Head. During a southerly blow the Bay is quite exposed.

Again, I've never anchored there myself, and haven't done any serious research. In any case, I suspect you are actually asking about Bodega Harbor, and that's completely different.

[kclancy]

I camp a lot at Doran beach. I wouldn't want to spend the night out there. Pretty rough. The harbor drains low too. I didn't think I was going to back able to anchor, but thought that I would check.

Thanks!

[AKJerry]

Beware of Bodega Bay.


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