Harbormaster Brian Nelson Welcomes You to Monterey Bay

We had a quick catch-up the other day with Monterey Marina harbormaster Brian Nelson. We’re always grateful to people like Brian and places like Monterey Marina, which distribute copies of Latitude 38 to help get them into the hands of sailors up and down the coast.

Brian is a Monterey Bay sailor, having grown up sailing Hobie cats off the beach in Santa Cruz. There he kept a Hobie on the beach among the active fleet stored in front of O’Neill’s Yacht Center.

He reports that Monterey Bay Marina is full with a waiting list, but he keeps some transient slips open for boats heading up and down the coast (or returning early from the Pacific Cup). That’s a good thing for boats heading south for the Baja Ha-Ha. It’s a great stop on the coast, but it’s wise to check in early to make sure there is space.

Brian also tells us that sailing continues to be very active. The local diving is down some, as much of the kelp off the California coast has fallen prey to sea urchins. Meanwhile the whale population is up, bringing with it lots of people who want to go out to see the marine mammals in their migration. It’s an ever-evolving world.

If you’re on your way south or just sailing to Monterey Bay for a long weekend, a stop in Monterey Marina will get you a copy of Latitude 38 and a visit to one of the most scenic and historic waterfronts along the California coast.

Correction: this story initially identified the person in the photo as Harbormaster Brian Nelson but reader Jim Johns helpfully informed us that it is security chief Alex Callison.