"5200" wrote in message
...
Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

Here's a good link for you...

http://www.baja-haha.com/

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

It depends a lot on what boat you have, how much crew, what time of year,
etc. The major part of this trip is Seattle to San Francisco. Most folks go
in late Aug, early Sept.. After you get out of the Straits and turn left,
you can plan on getting a wide variety of winds. Everything from days of
dead calm, to nice NW down wind run, to on the nose, to screaming 35kts+.
Cape Mendicinco is where the worst of it usually hits. Most of the ports on
the way down are river mouths and can be hairy to enter in rough conditions.
Stops often include Newport in OR, Crescent City or Eureka in CA. And then
San Fran.

Paul
"5200" wrote in message
...
Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

On Mon, 30 May 2005 12:35:29 GMT, 5200 wrote:

Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

That's always the question....harbor hop, or go offshore. According to
the "World Cruising Routes", the best route between Seattle and San Francisco
is to go offshore 100 miles. This assumes the boat and crew are up to it.
Part of the reason is that you'll have a favorable current and steadier winds.
The whole west coast is a lee shore when the prevailing winds, out of the W and NW
are blowing. The Capes are no fun either if it's stormy. As another poster pointed
out, entering the few ports enroute usually require crossing nasty river bars.

If you want to avoid SF, aim for Pillar Point (Half-Moon Bay)....small and well protected.
From there it's a day's hop to Monterey..another nice stop. From there it's a long one
to Santa Barbara, you'll pass Cape Conception enroute. If you have to duck in because
of weather, be sure to treat Morro Bay with caution...may be better to "go outside"
From SB to San Diego, with an optional stop at Catalina, and you're home free.
Don't miss San Diego just because it's a 'big' city. Besides you'll have to do the
paperwork 'stuff' to continue on to Mexico. Try Shelter Island Marina. I've been there
several times, and always have enjoyed it.

Charlie's Charts of the US Pacific Coast may be of help too.

Norm B.

"engsol" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 30 May 2005 12:35:29 GMT, 5200 wrote:

Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

That's always the question....harbor hop, or go offshore. According to
the "World Cruising Routes", the best route between Seattle and San
Francisco
is to go offshore 100 miles. This assumes the boat and crew are up to it.
Part of the reason is that you'll have a favorable current and steadier
winds.
The whole west coast is a lee shore when the prevailing winds, out of the
W and NW
are blowing. The Capes are no fun either if it's stormy. As another poster
pointed
out, entering the few ports enroute usually require crossing nasty river
bars.

If you want to avoid SF, aim for Pillar Point (Half-Moon Bay)....small and
well protected.
From there it's a day's hop to Monterey..another nice stop. From there
it's a long one
to Santa Barbara, you'll pass Cape Conception enroute. If you have to duck
in because
of weather, be sure to treat Morro Bay with caution...may be better to "go
outside"
From SB to San Diego, with an optional stop at Catalina, and you're home
free.
Don't miss San Diego just because it's a 'big' city. Besides you'll have
to do the
paperwork 'stuff' to continue on to Mexico. Try Shelter Island Marina.
I've been there
several times, and always have enjoyed it.

Charlie's Charts of the US Pacific Coast may be of help too.

Norm B.

Last I went down the coast from SF to Cabo, we were 100-150 offshore. It was
easy, but not particularly interesting. Next time, I think I'll harbor hop
if at all possible.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

5200 wrote:
Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

Lots of small harbours all along the coast. More the
further south you go. WA and OR have few "all weather"
harbour entrances.

I would not go 200 miles out because if the weather turns
foul and you want to run for shelter then you're at least a
day or so away from the coast.

It's up to you where you want to stop - "Charlie's Charts of
the (US?) West Coast" is a decent guidebook

Evan Gatehouse

"Evan Gatehouse" wrote in message
...
5200 wrote:
Are there customary stopovers for fuel and parts, half&half etc? Or do
you stay 200 miles out the whole way down? Are there smaller marinas
outside huge industrial areas like SF and San Diego? Thanks.

Lots of small harbours all along the coast. More the further south you
go. WA and OR have few "all weather" harbour entrances.

I would not go 200 miles out because if the weather turns foul and you
want to run for shelter then you're at least a day or so away from the
coast.

It's up to you where you want to stop - "Charlie's Charts of the (US?)
West Coast" is a decent guidebook

Evan Gatehouse

Errr.... The safest place to be is either far enough away from the coast to
not have to worry about hitting it in a storm or close enough to get into a
storm hole.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com