San Diego Sailing Guide
- Marlan Hoffman
- Dec 8, 2022
- 3 min read
San Diego is one o
f the most popular spots in the world for sailing, with three main harbors: Oceanside, Mission Bay and The Big Bay (consisting of Coronado, Downtown Waterfront, Point Loma Peninsula, and Chula Vista). Spectacular scenery, year-round sailing weather, and a variety of nearby marine attractions await in each harbor. Mission Bay is full of marinas, resorts and boat rental companies, but contains many bridges that might be an issue for larger boats. One Mission Beach peninsula, Sail Bay, provides access to any area north of Mission Beach, including Riviera Drive and Crown Point.
To get to Sail Bay, the large parking lot in Fanuel Street Park is a good choice for public parking. Another access point is at the intersection of Riviera Drive and Moorland Drive, usually called Riviera Shores Beach.
San Diego Bay (which includes Coronado, Downtown Waterfront, Point Loma Peninsula, and Chula Vista), is more accommodating for larger sailboats and yachts. Many sailing enthusiasts seek yacht rentals, yacht charters, and other larger, longer excursions due to the larger area and number of Port District launch points.
Nearby resorts:
Bahia Resort Hotel
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
Bay Club Hotel and Marina
Anchorages
According to the port of San Diego, general day use anchorage grounds include all the harbor waters except those for pipeline and cabling, as well as any designated for special and Naval Restricted access. Numbered buoys south of Ballast Point and west of the channel’s east line, are reserved for U.S. Government vessels and harbor patrol. The requirement for anchoring in the harbor are to leave a free passage for other vessels.
Overnight
La Playa Cove – Located in the Shelter Island Yacht Basin and marked with yellow buoys, this weekend-only anchorage requires all boats to have a holding tank,
Glorietta Bay – Located south of the Coronado Golf course in Glorietta Bay. It is marked with yellow buoys and allows 72 hour anchoring any day of the week. Watch for shoals entering the channel located at the edges.
Mission Bay – Located
Water Navigation Hazards
If your sailboat is under 28’, then it is required to remain inside San Diego Bay, which is between Coronado Bridge and Ballast Point.
Point Loma
Thick beds of kelp stretch for over a mile south of Point Loma, making for great fishing, but presenting the hazard of kelp getting stuck in the engine intakes. A jetty also runs east of the channel entrance to San Diego Bay for 2 miles. Rocks are difficult to see during high tide, but are visible during low tide.
Shelter Island
Shoaling waters near the entrance to Shelter Island are dangerous and so be sure to follow the channel markings. A red buoy 500 yards from the beach will show the beginning of the channel.
Coronado
A few shoals to lookout for are: 1) at the south side of Coronado bridge and the Sweetwater Channel entrance, 2) on West of the Ferry Landing and east of the carrier basin, and 3) at the entrance to Glorietta Bay, which is located between the #1 green buoy and the amphibious base.
La Jolla Kelp Beds Map
List of Contacts
Boat Repair Services
Executive Yacht Group: (619) 780-3333
The Yacht Docktor: Marine Carpentry, upholstery: (619) 223-9190
Safe Harbor Shelter Island: Full service boat repair yard: (619) 222-0481
Fuel Docks
High Seas Fuel Dock, 2540 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island, 619-523-2980
Harbor Island Fuel Dock, 2040 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island, 619-291-6443
Pearson Marine Fuel Dock, 2435 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island, 619-222-7084
Glorietta Bay Boat Launching Ramp, 1715 Strand Way, Coronado
National City Boat Launching Ramp, foot of Goesno place, National City
Shelter Island Boat Launching Ramp, 2200 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Pump Out Facilities
Pearson Marine Fuel Dock, 2435 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island, 619-222-7084
High Seas Fuel Dock, 2540 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island, 619-523-2980
Harbor Island Fuel Dock, 2040 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island, 619-291-6443
Chula Vista Boat Launching Ramp, foot of Marina Way, Chula Vista
Glorietta Bay Boat Launching Ramp, 1715 Strand Way, Coronado
National City Boat Launching Ramp, foot of Goesno place, National City
Shelter Island Boat Launching Ramp, 2200 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Copyright |2022| EYG| Executive Yacht Group's Newsletter: Yachting Lifestyles
Comments