California Sailing Articles
8 articles — destinations, conditions, tips, and local knowledge.
Sailing Monterey Bay: The Central California Coast's Most Dramatic Anchorage
Monterey Bay is 30 miles across, 2 miles deep, and home to one of the world's largest marine sanctuaries. The working version of why this is the central California stop on a Pacific Coast passage — and why most sailors stay longer than planned.
Sailing the Channel Islands: California's Least-Known Cruising Ground
Five islands off the Southern California coast, a national park, a marine sanctuary, blue whales in summer, and anchorages that feel nothing like the mainland 30 miles away. The working version of how to sail the Channel Islands.
Sailing to Catalina Island: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
Catalina is 22 miles from the mainland and feels like a different country. The working version of how to plan the crossing, where to anchor, how to get a mooring buoy in Avalon, and what nobody tells the first-timer about the backside anchorages.
Sailing San Francisco Bay: The Most Challenging — and Most Rewarding — Sailing in California
San Francisco Bay is not the easiest sailing in California. It is 20-knot thermals, 4-knot tidal gates, and container ships in the fog. It is also the most dramatic sailing water on the West Coast — and sailors who learn it here come away changed.
Sailing Marina del Rey: The Complete Guide to LA's Sailing Hub
Marina del Rey is the largest man-made small-craft harbour in the United States — and most people driving past it on Lincoln Boulevard have no idea it's there. The working version of what sailing from the middle of Los Angeles actually looks like.
Sail an America's Cup Yacht in San Diego: What It's Actually Like
San Diego is one of the few places in the world where guests can crew on an actual America's Cup racing yacht. The working version of what happens when the boat hits 12 knots and the professional crew hands over the winch handle.
San Diego's America's Cup Legacy: How Two Controversial Defences Changed Sailing Forever
San Diego hosted the America's Cup in 1988 and 1992. The first defence ended in lawsuits and a catamaran-versus-monohull showdown. The second created the IACC class that governed the Cup for 15 years. Both changed the working sport permanently.
Sailing San Diego Bay: The Complete Guide
San Diego Bay offers the most reliable sailing conditions in the United States — 300 days of sunshine, consistent afternoon thermal, and the Coronado Islands just 12 miles offshore in Mexican waters. The working version of how to sail it well.