Dana Point to San Diego

Dana Point — Dana Point has two anchorages. One of them is immediately to starboard when you enter the harbor. Head for the fuel dock, then anchor clear of the bait barge. You can leave your dinghy at the fuel dock or just paddle to it. Now walk across the parkway to Doheny. In the summertime this place will be good all day because the wind does not hurt it. There are three breaks: the Boneyard, Second break and the River. The boneyard has a left and a right, and usually gets very crowded. Second spot is a right that offers a nice long ride, and a long paddle back out. The River has a left and a right also and is sometimes less crowded than the other two breaks. The bottom for this area is rock, so it does not change much. Lots to do in the harbor also.

Oceanside — Oceanside has really good waves and rarely gets that crowded. There is no real anchorage (although I've seen boats anchor just inside the west breakwater). It's usually easy to get a slip at the Embarcadero where the little lighthouse stands. From your slip, you just walk to the beach. There are several breaks to choose from. My personal favorite is at the jetty next to the harbor entrance. With your slip you get hot showers after surfing good waves. If you have to get a slip in some other part of the harbor, take your dinghy to the fuel dock and get permission to tie up while you surf.

San Diego — Mission Beach has some beach breaks along the boardwalk in front of the roller coaster, but the best wave is at the south Mission jetty. You can anchor just inside Bonita Cove (32 deg. 45.75 min N, 117 deg. 14.81 min. W.), paddle to shore and walk to the break. Here you'll find a very good left near the jetty. This wave offers a long ride, and can be powerful. Also from this anchorage you have access by dinghy to Ocean Beach, which features several breaks between the pier and the jetty. Next to the jetty there is a nice long right that is easy. Anchor your dinghy offshore and make sure the hook holds. If you visit San Diego Bay, get a slip in Shelter Island or anchor as close as possible for access to Ralph's. Ralph's is just inside Point Loma ( 32 deg. 40.01 min. N, 117 deg. 14.02 min. W.) and you pass it on the way into the bay. You can take your dinghy there or you can take the big boat and anchor for a few hours in the lee of the point to surf Ralph's. It's a right that wraps around the point over a rock bottom. There are other good breaks in Point Loma if you can get to them.