Weather

The Santa Barbara Channel can be a real challenge when it kicks up. Be sure to check the marine weather report and the NOAA buoy data before making a crossing. In general, the last few miles to the islands are the most challenging because the lee of Point Conception that protects the mainland is no longer a factor. This is the famous "Windy Gulch". Often, there is no windy gulch at all, but when there is, you will be faced with steep seas of close duration.

To enter the NOAA Weather Site for the Santa Barbara Channel click here.

For more detailed information on how to cross the Channel read below:

• Check the marine weather forecast. Outer channel winds of above 25 knots and wave frequency intervals of less than ten seconds indicate a rough trip.
• Check the NOAA weather buoys at the West Channel #46054, East (Mid) Channel #46053 and Pt. Conception #46063. If crossing to mid Santa Cruz Island or eastward, the East Channel Buoy indicates the conditions you will be experiencing, but beware if the West Channel is blowing above thirty knots. The east channel may soon be experiencing about six knots below the west channel.
• The weather buoys indicate wind velocity, but also wave height and frequency and category of waves from "swell" to "very steep". Don't go if waves are in the 6-8 second frequency and steep to very steep.
• A good trick in crossing is to steer about ten degrees high of your destination course for the first half of the trip. When the wind and seas fill in, you can "crack off" and go more with the waves than into them. Use the reverse strategy returning to the mainland. If you are pounding into the seas, turn east until the ride is more comfortable. After mid channel, you can head for Santa Barbara. Your GPS makes this navigation problem easy. If your destination is a waypoint, it will continue to show the correct course home, even if you steer off course a while for a better ride.

Some other means to predict passage conditions:

• If you see clouds on the west end of Santa Cruz Island, it's blowing.
• Learn to count the frequency of the waves hitting Leadbetter Beach. You can see if the outer channel has 8, 10, or 14 second conditions. Also, you will learn that seemingly small waves hitting the beach may be very large in the channel. Learn by experience to identify channel conditions by the varying size of these smaller waves and the intervals they break on the beach.
• Prepare your boat ahead of time (before leaving or before the winds pick up while underway) to be ready to anchor when you arrive at the islands. It will be a lot easier at the harbor than bouncing in a windy island harbor.
• If you have a sailboat, be prepared to reef, and do it earlier than later before the wind picks up to full velocity.
• Don't be scared to go to the islands - just be prepared. Their distance, weather, and remoteness make them one of the last uncrowded and unspoiled places to visit in California. They are beautiful and ever changing.

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