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From the Boathouse: A how-to for harbor-hopping

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Ahoy!

This time of year, when the summer boating season is over and the waterways are not congested, boaters ask me about cruising to neighboring harbors. This is the perfect time of year to venture out and visit other harbors, since our weather is still great and the seas are usually calm before the winter storms.

A majority of the local boaters will limit their cruising along the Southern California coast, since they do not want to round notorious Point Conception to our north. Some skippers are held back from rounding the point because of the long distances between harbors and insufficient time in a weekend to visit Morro Bay.

Another restriction can be the boating region limitation on vessel insurance, which normally does not include the waters north of Point Conception. Of course, we have boaters who have heard the stories about the point, and they do not want to tempt the sea gods, who can change the point into a furry in what seems like only seconds.

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I have seen Point Conception at its worst, and I would recommend that the weekend sailor stay south.

Boaters can find beautiful harbors south of Point Conception to the Mexican border that are great getaways for a weekend. Set your sights to cruise north, since three are within range between Point Conception and Malibu.

Santa Barbara Harbor, the most northerly harbor south of the point, is well known as a destination by land or sea. About 22 miles before Santa Barbara to the southeast are quaint Ventura Harbor and neighboring Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. However, do not plot Port Hueneme as a destination, because it is not open to recreational boating, since it is strictly a military and commercial operating port.

Ventura Harbor, situated in a corner of the coasteline, is mostly overlooked by harbor-hopping sailors. Many cruisers stop at Oxnard and then head off to Santa Barbara. Ventura, a smaller manmade harbor, is home to almost 2,000 boats as well as guest slips. Three private marinas there have very reasonable daily and weekly rates for transient boaters.

I have delivered a lot of vessels to this harbor and have had smooth waters at the entrance without any breaking bars. However, this entrance is known to kick up the seas if powerful westerly winds are blowing or big swells are bending around Point Conception.

The harbor entrance can look somewhat confusing with the breakwater, nicknamed the sand trap and constructed parallel to the shore to protect the harbor’s entrance channel. Boaters simply enter Ventura Harbor by leaving the breakwater’s southern tip to port and follow a straight line between the two jetties, similar to being on a 45-degree angle to the shoreline. On many occasions, I have seen a harbor patrol boat floating outside the entrance to assist those entering the harbor.

If you arrive after sunset, do not worry. Both jetties are lighted and a series of buoys will lead you easily into the main harbor. Once inside, you will want to cruise to the south side of the harbormaster’s office to the marinas. The fuel dock is easy to spot on the mainland side, and the slips are well marked to help you find your home-away-from-home.

Keep in mind that the harbormaster does not have any slips for overnight guests, so I always recommend making reservations at a marina for a slip.

It’s a great destination. Just make sure you study your charts before you cast off your docklines for an enjoyable weekend adventure.

As always, keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Please be boat smart and boat safe. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.

The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched coast-to-coast for over two decades. See the details at https://www.boathousetv.com, https://www.facebook.com/boathouseradio and https://www.twitter.com/boathouseradio.

Safe voyages!

MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to https://www.boathousetv.com.

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