The Bottom Line
With over 30-years of experience cruising the coast under all conditions, Fagan speaks with an authoritative "been there, done that" voice. The book provides comprehensive coverage of all the anchorages and harbors you'll find along the way. It also contains historical background, information on local weather and cruising conditions, passagemaking strategies and photographs of many ports and anchorages.
A great resource for a rugged and often dangerous area.
- Detailed coverage of a massive area.
- Includes Channel Islands and Catalina.
- The author knows the area from three decades of experience.
- Fantastic discussion about California's unique weather patterns.
- Photos are mostly black and white.
- Author's experience makes the difficult sound easy.
Description
- Content: Very detailed descriptions of a large area. In-depth descriptions of anchorages and harbors.
- Value: At about $30 in marine stores, less online, this book is a great value for anyone thinking about cruising California.
- Must-have factor: For planners and dreamers, high. For cruisers heading North or South along the coast, essential.
Guide Review - Cruising Guide to Central and Southern California
Brian Fagan's Cruising Guide to Central and Southern California takes a huge geographical area with several distinct weather zones and puts them all in one place. From the Golden Gate Bridge to Ensenada, Mexico, the guidebook details anchorages and harbors to make voyaging the coast safe and comfortable.
Of particular value to any sailor thinking about cruising the California coast is his detailed discussion about weather. Different times of year set up distinctive weather patterns, and understanding these patterns makes the difference between a safe cruise and potential disaster.
Fagan also discusses passagemaking strategies in detail, which are essential for making progress along the coast.
The author is a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and an avid sailor who knows the California coast.
