Cruising Guide Recommendations?

[uneven_sailor]

Hi All,

I am seeking recommendations for cruising guidebooks or similar resources! I'm fairly new to sailing and getting out 1x/month or so with a municipal sailing club in Southern California.

Areas of interest:

*West Coast/Southern California/Channel Islands/Baja etc. (Hopefully in next year).
*Caribbean (Hopefully next few years)
*South Pacific (Hopefully next few years)

I am excited to advance from where I am now (weekend day sailing) to where I would like to be (bluewater cruising) and one thing that would be super helpful toward that end would be to know about anchorages, destinations, routes, etc.

I would be grateful for any recommendations and advice, thank you all for your time!

[Calif.Ted]

Best for local was Brian Fagan's guide to central and southern calif., the phone numbers are out of date no doubt but otherwise it's invaluable. Probably cheaper on Ebay or Amazon.
https://www.landfallnavigation.com/c...html#prodspecs

[uneven_sailor]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Best for local was Brian Fagan's guide to central and southern calif., the phone numbers are out of date no doubt but otherwise it's invaluable. Probably cheaper on Ebay or Amazon.
https://www.landfallnavigation.com/c...html#prodspecs

Hi Calif.Ted, thanks, I was actually seeing this book appearing in my searches and so it's super helpful to have the endorsement! I just reserved a couple of the author's previous books from the public library and then I'll probably take your advice and pick up a used copy from Amazon/eBay.

Thanks!

[Livia]

https://www.landfallnavigation.com/c...of-cortez.html

[uneven_sailor]

Originally Posted by Livia

https://www.landfallnavigation.com/c...of-cortez.html

Thanks! I was able to reserve this from the Library, excited to start reading.

[uneven_sailor]

Replying here because I just stumbled upon a couple of other free cruising guides to the Channel Islands and wanted to update the thread in case folks come across this.

1) SailChannelIslands.com Free Cruising Guide -- detailed info on anchorages.

2) Royal Cruising Club Pilot, "Southern California Channel Islands." -- Free PDF

[Benz]

In addition to any cruising guides, the Coast Pilot series, though published for commercial vessels, is a good resource, expecially where guidebook coverage is thin. I always have the relevant Coast Pilots aboard.

Charlie's Charts was always the standard for Mexico--don't know if they've been superceded. Same for Sail Sarana which covered Pacific Central America.

I know everyone swears by the newer Bauhaus (sp?) Panama guide, but the old (it was new first time I sailed there.....) Tom Zydler one remains the best cruising guide I've ever seen, and covers the Pacific side as well.

[uneven_sailor]

Super helpful to know, thanks Ben!