Destination: Half Moon Bay
While San Francisco Bay can offer exhilarating sailing conditions, cruising options are, to put it kindly, limited. For those wanting to expand their horizons, Half Moon Bay is just 25 miles south of the Bay — a nice day hop for just about any boat — but a world away.
When leaving the Bay, use caution if you decide to cross the South Bar. Good-sized ocean swells can cause breaking waves at any time of the year — though it’s most common in the winter. We’ve had to report on far too many disasters on sections of beach that lie outside the Golden Gate. If there’s any question, don’t turn south until you reach at least red buoy #8.
Summer’s prevailing northwesterlies will shove you down the coast so fast that, before you know it, you’ll see Colorado Reef breaking off to port. Keep a sharp eye out so you don’t find yourself inside Red #26, just off the big reef. The approach to Pillar Point Harbor can be a bit confusing, especially if it’s fairly calm. Too many boats have been tempted to take a shortcut only to fetch up on a reef that extends south from Pillar Point to Green #3. Watch your chart and don’t take any shortcuts!
Once inside the outer breakwaters, there is ample room for hundreds of boats to anchor. A few years ago, authorities cleared out a slew of derelicts, opening up space closer to shore. The bottom is sand and broken shell with excellent holding. We sat through several days of 30-knot winds on our Rocna anchor with no issues.
Note: The harbormaster asks that all anchored boats check in, in the event of an emergency. You can stop by their office at the marina, call them at (650) 726-5727, or hail them on channel 74.
If you’d rather not anchor out, Pillar Point Yacht Harbor usually has plenty of room for transient boats at 85¢/ft/day. Good water, diesel, pump-out, showers and laundry are all available at the marina, with plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance.
A convenience store is just across Cabrillo Highway, but for more comprehensive provisioning at Safeway or New Leaf Market, you’ll need to catch the #17 bus into five-mile-distant Half Moon Bay. It runs once an hour (see schedule) and there’s a stop right outside the marina’s entrance as you walk toward Hwy 1. The fare is $2 per person each way, no transfers. If you’ve never been to the town of Half Moon Bay, you’ll want to budget some time to stroll along its adorable Main Street downtown area.
If you prefer your strolling to be less touristy, dinghy to the beach at the west end of the harbor and walk along the beach trails. The legendary surf spot Mavericks is just offshore, though don’t expect to see any action there in the summer.
Before you leave, be sure to drop in at Half Moon Bay YC. Their clubhouse is on the north side of the harbor and is easily spotted by the floating docks just off the club. Visitors are welcome, especially to their Friday night dinners. Like most yacht clubs, HMBYC is crazy-friendly and even offers free sails on Sundays.
Whether you’re preparing to go long-distance cruising and use the trip as a shakedown cruise, or you just want to bring the family down for a long holiday weekend, Half Moon Bay is a relaxed spot with a rich maritime history and is sure to become one of your new favorite destinations.