Destinations
Capitola is one of our favorite destinations for a day sail or overnight. You can reserve a mooring by calling- 831-462-2208. If you are sailing in, you can call the Capitola Wharf on your vhf on channel 11. They have a shuttle boat that will take you ashore. Capitola is a picture perfect village in a protected cove that has a wonderful ambiance to it. There are some excellent restaurants, a theater, and many shops that will especially please the non-sailor type crowd.
With our normal North West winds, Capitola is very protected. Thus, the temperature can be almost 5-10 degrees warmer than at the mile buoy. This serves as a great place for a lunch break.
Another good lunch anchorage is North of the Santa Cruz Harbor at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. The Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is only 15 minutes from the Santa Cruz harbor. There’s no shuttle boat at the wharf so you can’t go ashore. It’s great to anchor off of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk beach and watch the roller coaster and screaming children from a distance.
The opposite of the Santa Cruz Wharf – http://www.santacruzwharf.com/ in front of West Cliff Drive is quieter and a bit more protected. With a good set of binoculars you can watch the pro surfers at Steamer Lane. If you’re brave enough, you can take a swim in the 54-59 degree Pacific Ocean. You get used to it after about 5 minutes. Or, you just get so numb you don’t feel the water temperature any more.
Note: You cannot berth any vessels up to either the Santa Cruz or Capitola Wharfs. At the Santa Cruz Wharf you have to anchor on either side and at the Capitola Wharf you can anchor on the NW side and pick up a Mooring on the SE side.
About Us
Pacific Sailing is an accredited American Sailing Association sailing school and yacht charter company with a fleet of 10 sailing yachts from 27-46 feet. We offer all levels of sailing instruction, Team Building Regattas, Skippered Charters, and Bareboat Charters.
790 Mariner Park Way
Santa Cruz, CA 95062