Southbound Berthing Tips
PLEASE NOTE: The Baja Ha-Ha Rally Committee
DOES NOT arrange berthing at San Diego.
There have never been enough berths available in San Diego to accommodate the entire Baja Ha-Ha fleet, so most entered boats anchor in a specially designated anchorage (explained below). We’re happy to tell you, however, that this year there are more temporary slips available than in years past due to the sluggish economy.
In order to minimize berthing headaches in San Diego, we suggest that you take advantage of the many berthing opportunities while you’re on your way south. Then, once you arrive at San Diego Bay, our advice is as follows:
San Diego Slip Availability. When you arrive (or shortly before your arrival), give a call to the friendly folks at the Mooring Office of the San Diego Harbor Police: (619) 686-6227; hours: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m every day. The 24-hour dispatch line is (619) 686-6272. The staff does their best to keep tabs on availability at all San Diego marinas. Also. . .
Cabrillo Isle Marina, located on Harbor Island, directly across a land bridge from the airport and adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel, has always been a friend to the Ha-Ha. Manager Elaine Lutz and her staff can be reached at (619) 297-6222. They will accept reservations and maintain a waiting list. As with all West Coast Almar Marinas, Cabrillo Isle is offering our fleet up to 50% off normal rates!
The two-year-old Pier 32 Marina, located east of downtown in National City, should have a number of slips available to the fleet. Call Manager Greg Boeh and his staff for reservations and/or details at (800) 729-7547.
Harbor Police Docks: If you’re lucky, you may have a chance to berth right at the San Diego Harbor Police Docks, located on the north side of Shelter Island. They have 30 transient slips available on a first-come-first-served basis. For boats of 55 feet or less, the fee is only $10.50 per day for the first five days, and $21 per day for the next five days, with a 10-day maximum stay. Again, the Mooring Office number is (619) 686-6227.
Anchoring in San Diego: The San Diego Harbor Police have always been very supportive of the Baja Ha-Ha rally. This year they’ve set aside a free ‘special event’ anchorage for exclusive use by the Ha-Ha fleet. (*Non-San Diego-based boats only please, as there is limited availability.) The anchorage is located near Glorietta Bay, close to the Coronado (Island) Golf Course and will be open to officially-registered Ha-Ha entries October 1 through November 1. A chart of the Bay, info on local activities and discount coupons for local businesses are available at the Police dock on Shelter Island.
For over a decade, the Harbor Police have bent over backwards to accommodate the Ha-Ha’s special needs, so please treat them with the respect they deserve.
Berthing at Cabo
At Cabo San Lucas, you should be prepared to anchor in the free public anchorage. A limited number of slips will be available at Cabo San Lucas, and will be assigned by the Rally Committee via radio during Leg Three based on the chronological order that each boat entered the event. There is no way to know in advance how many slips will be available, however, the Cabo Marina staff will do their best to accommodate as many boats as possible. The Marina staff will not take advance reservations, except perhaps for periods after the conclusion of the event on November 6.
Berthing Along the Way to San Diego
Even though more slips are expected to be available this year than in years past, we encourage you to take your time while heading south and enjoy some of Southern California’s other harbors and anchorages. The following are some berthing suggestions for your trip south.
Cojo Anchorage. Just around Pt. Conception. It’s beautiful, it’s unspoiled, it’s free and there’s often some good surf.
Santa Barbara Harbor. They often have space at this time of year on a first come, first served basis. The first 14 days are 90¢/foot/night, plus $7 (non-refundable) for a key card. The second 14 days are $1.80/foot/night. You can call for availability: (805) 564-5531 or (805) 564-5530 on weekends.
In addition, the Santa Barbara YC has a long end-tie. It’s also possible, before October 31, to anchor off Stearns Wharf at no charge. Check with the Harbor Master for dinghy tie-up instructions. Santa Barbara is a lovely city, so you don’t want to miss it. If coming from the northwest, the entrance requires a nearly 180 degree turn, and there is frequently shoaling. Enter slowly and carefully. At night the background lights make seeing the navigation lights very difficult, so go even slower or call the Harbor Patrol (VHF 16 or 12) for assistance.
Santa Cruz Island. There are great places to anchor all over the island. If you can anchor here, you’ll have no trouble in Mexico. If the weather is not so good on one side of the island, it’s usually good on the other — although it’s often good on both sides. If it’s dry and extremely clear, be on the lookout for a Santa Ana wind. There are no services or supplies, but there’s great hiking and beauty. And it’s free.
Ventura. The Commercial Marina will probably be packed because of squid season, so check out Ventura West Marina (805-644-8266; $1.50/foot/night, with reduced rates for longer stays) and Ventura Isle Marina (805-644-5858; $1.50/foot/night, slips from 25 to 90 feet). Historically, the Ventura YC has been very accommodating. The channel entrance is currently dredged to about 30 feet in the center of the channel, so it’s safe except in extremely high surf. But be very careful at night. If you have a problem, the Harbor Patrol can help (805-642-8618 or via VHF 12 or 16).
Channel Islands (Oxnard) Harbor. Channel Islands Harbor has transient slips in two spots, allocated on a first come, first served basis. For availability, call the Harbor Patrol 24/7 (805-382-3007 or VHF 12 or 16). The charge is $1.00/foot/night, with a 10-day limit. Longer stays require an application and listing of Ventura County on your insurance. Heads, showers and shorepower available. In addition, there are a half-dozen private marinas and a couple of restaurants with docks that might have short-term space. The T-shaped harbor entrance is safe, but be careful at night. The south entrance is favored.
Paradise Park. This anchorage is around the corner from Pt. Dume inside of Santa Monica Bay. There’s not really anything there but some protection from northwesterlies.
Marina del Rey. The L.A. Department of Beaches and Harbors has 38 transient slips at Burton Chase Park. You can stay for seven days out of a one-month period for $1.00/foot/night. It’s first come, first served, but if you have questions, call (310) 305-9595. Usually there is plenty of room from Sunday afternoon through Thursday night. There are also several yacht clubs and privately run marinas that might have space. Marina del Rey is close to LAX.
King Harbor (Redondo Beach). There is a well-protected anchorage behind the breakwater, but you must — by regulation — set a bow and stern anchor, and with good reason. The maximum stay is 72 hours, but it’s free. You do, however, need to get a permit from the Harbor Patrol (310) 318-0632. The folks at the King Harbor YC have quite a bit of transient dock space and they’ve always been very hospitable. It’s about a $20 cab ride to LAX.
Catalina Island. There are tons of places to anchor for free at Catalina, and some guys live on the hook year ‘round. Moorings are dear on a cruiser budget, at least until Nov. 1st. After that, you can get a 40-ft mooring for about $62/week at Two Harbors (310-510-0303 or VHF 9 or www.visittwoharbors.com), or about $75/week at Avalon (310-510-0535 or VHF 12). However, you cannot leave your boat and fly home, as the harbor patrol might need you to move your boat to another mooring. But if you’re buddyboating with some other folks who can take this responsibility, you’re in there. If you’re starting your cruise and have plenty of time, Catalina is worth a long visit. And, a stay there can be quite inexpensive compared to many coastal options.
Long Beach Shoreline Marina. This marina may have some transient slips available. For reservations and info call: (562) 570-4950.
Long Beach Alamitos Bay. This is one of the rare places that takes reservations: (562) 570-3215. Unfortunately, they say they are pretty tight right now. If you can get an end-tie, it’s 80¢/foot/night, and you can stay for 15 days. Also try the Long Beach YC.
Newport Beach. Traditionally this has been a great pre-Ha-Ha place to keep a boat on a mooring, as they have plenty of vacant ones and they go for just $5/night — which is a bargain! The problem is that you used to be able to stay for 20 days in a calendar month, which meant you could leave your boat and go home and work for almost three weeks. But a recent county rule was passed that says you can only stay for five days at a time, although you can renew twice. However . . . you have to do it in person. That’s not much help if you don’t know anybody in Newport who can renew for you. We spoke to the Captain in charge, who was very pleasant, and explained what a hassle this could be for folks who need to fly back to the Bay Area or Seattle to wrap up affairs. This is off the record and not for general consumption, but he said they’ll try to do all they can within the regulations to allow Ha-Ha folks to renew once without being there to do so. If you can take a hint, this means you should show up with your boat looking nice, you looking nice, and be on your best behavior. Nobody would admit it, but the renew-in-person business was apparently instituted specifically to keep derelict boats — and derelict people — out of Newport. Derelict boats are the bane of harbormasters up and down the coast. They also have a few slips next to the Harbor Patrol office, (949) 723-1002, at 60¢/foot/night with a 15 out of 30 day max. in summer. (October 1 - April 30, 60-day max.)
Newport also has a 5-day anchorage and several yacht clubs with transient slips. Newport is a great place — a fun place to dinghy and ride your bike around — with nice people, but officials are a little more formal than at Catalina. It’s a $20 taxi ride to John Wayne airport and only 75 miles to San Diego.
Dana Point. Dana Point does have a number of transient slips and they will take reservations at (949) 496-6137. As with all the places we’ve mentioned, you’ll have a much better chance of getting in on a Monday than on a Friday or Saturday, when they always fill up. Dana Point charges $1/foot/night based on the length of the slip. During “high season” between — Memorial Day and Labor Day — you can stay for 30 days, renewable for 30 more. After Labor Day you can stay up to 90 days, but like Newport, you have to renew after five days. Also like Newport, and many other places, you have to come to the harbormaster’s dock and walk up to the office with boat identification and photo I.D. before you’ll be given a berth. Reservations are taken up to six months in advance.
It’s also possible to anchor for 5 days protected by the breakwaters in the west or east basin, on a single anchor, though they recommend bow and stern anchors if it’s crowded. This is managed by the Dana Point Harbor Patrol (949) 248-2222. You’re only supposed to leave your boat for provisioning, not for a weekend at Disneyland. It’s also possible to anchor with some protection outside of the breakwater altogether, as it’s often quite calm along this part of the coast.
Oceanside. This harbor frequently has open transient slips, but they mostly cater to smaller boats. They do take reservations in advance with cash or check (no plastic). You must show a copy of current registration or documentation. Call (760) 435-4000 for information. The maximum stay is 30 days, and the charge is $1.00/foot/night. The Oceanside YC also has a long dock.
Mission Bay. We haven’t been to San Diego’s Mission Bay in a long time, but the last time we were there you could anchor for free for 72 hours in Mariners’ Basin, which is in the outer part of Mission Bay.
Ensenada. You can almost certainly get a slip in Ensenada at Marina Coral or Cruiseport Marina for the dates you want — but you’ll probably be shocked at the prices. The website for the new Cruiseport Marina advises that they charge $40/night or $720/month for a 40-footer (three-month special is $340/month). And that’s before the 12% tax. Some Ha-Ha boats have already asked permission — and been granted it — to start the Ha-Ha from Ensenada.
The bottom line is that if you are starting your cruise and don’t have to commute back to the Bay Area or Seattle, there are plenty of places to stay in Southern California prior to the start of the Ha-Ha, and lots of them are free. If you do want a slip or mooring, always look for it on a Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. Even in October, transient slips tend to fill up.
For those who have to move the boat south early and leave it for a period of time, you may want to try to leave a crewmember on board and leave the boat in Catalina or Newport. Both of these places have close to unlimited openings, and are only about 75 miles from San Diego, so you could leave your boat there until the Saturday morning before the start of the Ha-Ha, and be in San Diego in time for the Kick-Off Party on Sunday, October 26.
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