Best anchorages and harbours in Central California

Pillar Point Marina

Public harbour at Princeton near Half Moon Bay, California, on the open Pacific coast about 20 miles south of San Francisco.

Monterey Municipal Marina

City-run marina at the south end of Monterey Bay in California, sheltered behind a stone breakwater and adjacent to Old Fisherman's Wharf.

Monterey Basin General Anchorage

Open anchorage in Monterey Harbour, on the Monterey Peninsula in California, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

• Sheltered E, SW, S, SE

Port San Luis

Open harbour on the central California coast, about 1.3 miles west of Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County.

• Sheltered N, NE, W, NW

Morro Bay

Anchorage in Morro Bay harbour on the central California coast, set behind the 23-million-year-old volcanic plug of Morro Rock, on a sand bottom.

• Paid
• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW

Westpoint Harbor

Privately owned marina at the mouth of Westpoint Slough in Redwood City, California, on the southern reaches of San Francisco Bay.

Stillwater Cove

Anchorage on the north shore of Carmel Bay at Pebble Beach, California, in the lee of Pescadero Point.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, E, SE

Half Moon Bay Anchorage

General anchorage inside Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay, California, in San Mateo County, with a sand bottom and shelter from NW through SW winds.

• Sheltered NW, N, W, SW

Morro Bay State Park Marina

Small state park marina at the south end of Morro Bay, 18 berths and 14 mooring buoys for boats from 7.5 to 12 metres.

Bair Island Marina

Private marina of 95 concrete berths on Redwood Creek, south San Francisco Bay, in Redwood City.

Bay Front Marina

Private marina on the Morro Bay Embarcadero, slips for boats up to about 18 metres in the lee of Morro Rock.

Blu Harbor Marina

Marina of 64 concrete berths at the junction of Smith Slough and Redwood Creek, in Redwood City.

Breakwater Cove Marina

Small marina tucked behind the Coast Guard pier at the north end of Monterey harbour, around 80 berths.

Docktown Marina

Former floating-home community on Redwood Creek in Redwood City, being decommissioned by the city after a 2014 State Lands Commission ruling against residential use.

Eagle Rock

Anchorage within Morro Bay harbour, central California, the only all-weather small-craft harbour between Monterey and Santa Barbara. Mud bottom.

• Sheltered N, NE, E

Elkhorn Yacht Club

Private club marina in the north harbour of Moss Landing, on Monterey Bay, with around 60 berths.

Guest Mooring up to 55'

Guest mooring field at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo Bay, California, for vessels up to 55 feet. Sand bottom, sheltered behind the harbour breakwater.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, SW, S

Half Moon Bay Yacht Club

Volunteer-run yacht club inside Pillar Point Harbour at Princeton-by-the-Sea, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Morro Bay Boatyard

Only haul-out yard inside Morro Bay harbour, at 261 Main Street, with a sling hoist for repairs, painting and hull maintenance.

Morro Bay Yacht Club

Member-run yacht club inside Morro Bay harbour on the central California coast, with six mooring buoys and a 150 ft visitors dock at 541 Embarcadero.

Moss Landing Harbor District

Working harbour at the head of Elkhorn Slough on Monterey Bay, around 650 berths shared between commercial fishing and pleasure craft.

Redwood City Marina

Municipal marina of 190 berths at the Port of Redwood City, the only deep-water port in south San Francisco Bay.

Redwood Landing Marina

Small marina of 28 berths on Redwood Creek, in Redwood City, at the Port of Redwood City.

Pillar Point Harbour

Public harbour run by the San Mateo County Harbor District at Princeton-by-the-Sea, 25 miles south of San Francisco, with 369 berths behind a double breakwater.

Santa Cruz Harbor

Same facility as the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, the Port District site at 135 Fifth Avenue accommodating over 800 boats from small craft to commercial fishing vessels.

Santa Cruz Small Craft Marina

Municipal harbour at the north end of Monterey Bay, built 1962 on the former Woods Lagoon site, with around 1,200 wet berths and 275 dry berths.

Santa Cruz Yacht Club

Private yacht club on the south basin of Santa Cruz Harbour, on the north shore of Monterey Bay. The only yacht club in Santa Cruz.

Sequoia Yacht Club

Member yacht club on Redwood Creek at the Port of Redwood City, founded in 1939.

The South Bay Yacht Club

Private yacht club on Alviso Slough at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay, in Alviso district of San Jose.

UCSC Community Boating Center

University-run boating centre on FF Dock inside Santa Cruz Harbour, used by UCSC students and Santa Cruz residents for sailing, rowing and kayaking on Monterey Bay.