Planning a trip up the California coast.Any advice

[lancer1701]

Hello,
Im planning to take my 390express up the coast,from San francisco up north.Ive done some short runs,but this will be our longest trip.Any advice would be much appreciated thanks in advance

 

[HUMPH]

What time of year are you planning to go? We want to cruise down to Monterey but being a 32' boat I want to wait until October when the weather gets real still...

Make sure you know where the Potato Patch is and go around it!

 

[lancer1701]

headed up mid july.Never heard of the potato patch

 

[sbw1]

headed up mid july.Never heard of the potato patch

It's an area near the Golden Gate bridge known for great 16 foot surf. Also has a rocky bottom and is close to the shipping lanes. Popular with surfers and the site of a few boat broaching incidents. Freighters transit the area every day.

 

[SR400DB]

headed up mid july.Never heard of the potato patch

Up the coast as in Bodega Bay or beyond? Mid July is not the best month to go north. I have done the trip a couple of times. I go in Nov now, unless on a delivery that must go. If you are going just to Bodega, go early and watch the wind.

 

[HUMPH]

headed up mid july.Never heard of the potato patch

OK, I don't mean to be rude but if you don't know the Potato Patch you probably should not be outside the gate. Ask around, do some research (even Google it). I went through the Southern Potato Patch in a 32' Chris Craft and had waves breaking over the top of the boat landing on the aft deck! NOT a place to be if the seas decide to F with you! I had a friend with a 36' Erickson sailboat that had a wave hit the sail and turned it turtle!

The 16' waves referred to in a prior post are "Dainty Waves" so KNOW YOUR SEAS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HUMPH]

Just out of curiousity, since I have seen the potato patch from the air, and it doesn't look pretty, are the waves caused mainly by currents opposing the frequent, ever present wind? I know there are significant currents through the bay.

There is a shelf that takes the natural swell and makes them much larger. When the wind kicks up on top of that they become monsters! There are 20' to 30' breakers out there often! From the air must just look like a messy chop, I can't say I have flown over that area...

 

[sbw1]

OK, I don't mean to be rude but if you don't know the Potato Patch you probably should not be outside the gate.

That was my thought as well. Our son used to live across the street from the Palace of Fine Arts and I walked the harbors every day when visiting. Never saw any SRs in the club basin across from Bay Street. I think the 39 would be more suited to cruising the Delta and staying east of the bridge.

 

[HUMPH]

It depends on the time of year and your knowledge of the seas and what the options are. Being 50 miles or more from a harbor in less than a 50' boat is tough. If someone has never battled the Pacific before I don't think a solo trip is wise. I have no problem taking my 320DA to Monterey but only at certain times of the year and I would like to partner up with another boat or two. Safety in numbers and all of that stuff!

 

[lancer1701]

Thanks for all the good advice.I think we will stick to Bay Area,for now.Maybe Angel island or head up the delta.Thanks agian for all the good input.

 

[HUMPH]

Thanks for all the good advice.I think we will stick to Bay Area,for now.Maybe Angel island or head up the delta.Thanks agian for all the good input.

Angel Island is a great place to go. They have docks or moorings you can rent. On the island there is a lot to do if you like hiking, bicycling or even Segue rentals. The cove is protected and you get great views of Tiburon, Belvedere, Sausalito, etc.