California Has the Goods When It Comes to Climate
I am finding Los Angeles to be more and more of an outdoor city. There are beautiful mountain trails, camping destinations from the shore to the desert, and people constantly enjoying nature outside.
The weather here makes this possible. The ocean current brings cold water down from Alaska, while the sun shines at approximately the same latitude as Georgia. The result is warm sunshine with a cool breeze. This creates a Mediterranean climate that generally stays between 50 and 70 degrees throughout the year, making it perfect sailing weather.
If you are a fan of light jackets and ocean breezes, this might be the place for you.
While this is true for much of coastal California, Los Angeles has a unique geological feature that makes it especially appealing to anyone considering a nautical life: Santa Monica Bay and the Channel Islands.
Santa Monica Bay Runs From Malibu to Palos Verdes
The water here is shallower and warmer than in many other coastal areas of California. The eight Channel Islands and numerous offshore seamounts help break up the wind and waves, making the ocean more comfortable for sailing.
When departing from Marina del Rey in Los Angeles, winds commonly average between 5 and 15 knots, and the swells are generally milder. With the typical western winds, you can take a comfortable upwind tack to Catalina Island, camp for a few days, and ride a broad reach home.
Travel a mile offshore and you may find virtually no boat traffic, creating a true boater's paradise. However, dense fog can sometimes sweep in unexpectedly. Your boat can become surrounded by a cloud so thick that you cannot see ten feet beyond the bow.
Why does the fog roll in this way? When cold Pacific breezes pass over the warmer ocean air of Santa Monica Bay, the water vapor above the surface condenses into California's famous fog. These mists blanket Santa Monica and stop at the inland marine layer, where warmer land temperatures cause the moisture to dissipate.
While inland Los Angeles may be experiencing a clear 90-degree day, Santa Monica, Venice, and Malibu may remain in the 60s under fog thicker than pea soup. This is one of the interesting facts I have learned at my new sailing school.
Teaching With Bluewater Sailing
I began teaching sailing with a school called Bluewater Sailing. They have a fantastic program featuring vessels ranging from 22-foot keelboats to 57-foot cruising sailboats.
In addition to basic classes and weekend trips to Catalina, Bluewater Sailing is expanding into adventure travel. They now offer captained sailboat charters to destinations such as Bora Bora, Tonga, and the British Virgin Islands.
As someone who has sailed all my life, I feel fortunate to learn the details of so many different sailboats and to have future opportunities to discover remote coastlines around the world.
I look forward to sharing my journey as it continues to unfold, including all the hiccups, detours, and meanderings. California provides a great education. The water is blue, and because of that Alaskan current, it is colder than you might expect.
Make sure you bring some Merino wool clothing along with you.
