Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Island
This short passage across the Santa Barbara Channel is similar to the Strait of Georgia, with island anchorages beckoning about 20 miles away. Lo took us around the suction dredger and out of the harbour.
Leaving Santa Barbara under clear skies
We had an awesome sail across the channel…sunny, breezy and warm (yes, warm)! The island itself is nearly devoid of all trees, which makes a rather stark, galapagosian vista (it’s an author’s perogative to make up words).
The northeastern coast of Santa Cruz Island
The eastern headlands of Santa Cruz Island
Anchorages…the more we travel this coast, the more we realize how lucky we are in our home cruising grounds. Southern California, which probably has 20 times the number of boats we do, has only the Channel Islands to cruise in, which have way fewer high quality anchorages than our local BC waters (anyone for a good game of musical anchorages?). Despite the crowded summer conditions, the Channel Islands are truly an exotic escape from the mainland chaos that reins in LA and San Diego. Under good conditions, there are some amazing spots to anchor, but you don't want to be there when it gets ugly.
Demelza approaching the natural rock bridge
With westerlies forecasted for the area, we selected a lee anchorage on the southeast of Santa Cruz Island (Yellowbanks anchorage). We tucked Demelza close into shore under dead calm conditions and anchored for the first time since leaving Vancouver (we always anchor while cruising local waters, but didn’t want the hassle of getting the inflatable in/out on these short passages). We had the entire anchorage to ourselves with a beautiful sunset view of neighbouring Anacapa Island!
Anacapa Island at sunset
Leaving Santa Barbara under clear skies
We had an awesome sail across the channel…sunny, breezy and warm (yes, warm)! The island itself is nearly devoid of all trees, which makes a rather stark, galapagosian vista (it’s an author’s perogative to make up words).
The northeastern coast of Santa Cruz Island
The eastern headlands of Santa Cruz Island
Anchorages…the more we travel this coast, the more we realize how lucky we are in our home cruising grounds. Southern California, which probably has 20 times the number of boats we do, has only the Channel Islands to cruise in, which have way fewer high quality anchorages than our local BC waters (anyone for a good game of musical anchorages?). Despite the crowded summer conditions, the Channel Islands are truly an exotic escape from the mainland chaos that reins in LA and San Diego. Under good conditions, there are some amazing spots to anchor, but you don't want to be there when it gets ugly.
Demelza approaching the natural rock bridge
With westerlies forecasted for the area, we selected a lee anchorage on the southeast of Santa Cruz Island (Yellowbanks anchorage). We tucked Demelza close into shore under dead calm conditions and anchored for the first time since leaving Vancouver (we always anchor while cruising local waters, but didn’t want the hassle of getting the inflatable in/out on these short passages). We had the entire anchorage to ourselves with a beautiful sunset view of neighbouring Anacapa Island!
Anacapa Island at sunset
posted by G.Mann at 3:56 PM
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