Best anchorages and harbours in California

Catalina Harbor

Mooring off the West End of Santa Catalina Island, California, near Howland's Landing, set on a sand bottom with all-round shelter.

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

Clipper Yacht Harbor

Largest full-service marina in Sausalito, on Richardson Bay about 3 nautical miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Indian Rock

Open anchorage off Santa Catalina Island, California, on a sand bottom. It lies roughly 19 nautical miles south-west of San Pedro.

• Sheltered S, SW, W

Lanning cove

Small open cove on Santa Cruz Island, off the California coast, with a sand and rock bottom.

• Sheltered NW, W, SW

Quarry Bay

Anchorage south of Quarry Point on the east side of Angel Island, in San Francisco Bay, with sand and mud holding.

• Sheltered NW, W, SW

Cabrillo Way Marina

Large public marina on the West Channel of Los Angeles Harbor, in San Pedro, California.

Paradise Cay Yacht Harbor

Public marina on the east side of the Tiburon peninsula in Marin County, on the north shore of San Francisco Bay.

Horseshoe Bay

Small cove on the north shore of the Golden Gate at Fort Baker, Sausalito, California, with a mud bottom.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E

Marina Bay Yacht Harbor

Large marina in Richmond's Marina Bay district, on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.

Lovers Cove

Open anchorage off Santa Catalina Island, California, on sand. It lies about 22 nautical miles south of San Pedro across the channel.

• Sheltered S, SW, W

Clipper Cove

Anchorage between Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, California, with a mud bottom.

• Sheltered NW, N, W, SW, S

Oakland Marinas

Marina group of around 500 berths in the heart of Jack London Square, on the Oakland Estuary.

Fifth Avenue Marina

Independent 100 berth marina on the Oakland Embarcadero, on the north bank of the estuary, with a long standing artist community on the docks.

Isthmus Cove, Two Harbors

Anchorage and mooring field at Isthmus Cove, Two Harbors, on the north shore of Santa Catalina Island, California.

• Paid
• Sheltered NW, W

4th of July Cove

Small mooring cove on Catalina Island, just west of Isthmus Cove and Two Harbors, with a sand bottom.

• Sheltered NW, W, SW, S

Alameda Marina

Large 530-berth marina on the Oakland Estuary, opposite Coast Guard Island, built on a former shipyard.

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club

Private members yacht club on the west side of Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, California.

Alamitos Bay-Lido Lane

Section of the large Alamitos Bay Marina on the east side of Long Beach, California, between Belmont Shore and Naples Island.

Anacapa Yacht Club

Member yacht club inside Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, chartered in 1967 and focused on sailing.

Antioch Marina Harbor

Municipal marina of 310 berths on the south bank of the San Joaquin River at Antioch, 5 km west of the river confluence with the Sacramento.

Arrowhead Harbor Marinas

Marina with 100 berths on the Sacramento River at 4396 Holland Road, between Clarksburg and Walnut Grove in the California Delta.

B & W Resort Marina

Resort marina on the Mokelumne River at Isleton, founded in 1947. Around 100 berths from 18 to 42 ft, 69 of them covered.

Bair Island Marina

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

Balboa Basin Yacht Club

Small private cruising club inside the city-owned Balboa Yacht Basin, on Harbor Island Drive in Newport Harbour.

Balboa Marina

Private CRC marina on the Balboa side of Newport Harbor, at 201 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach, California.

Bay Front Marina

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

Bayshore Marina

Private CRC marina on the north shore of Newport Harbor, off Pacific Coast Highway, in Newport Beach, California.

Bayside Village Marina

Marina attached to the Bayside Village community on the north side of Newport Harbor, in Newport Beach, California.

Beacon Harbor

Delta marina on Piper Slough at Bethel Island, with launch ramp, fuel berth and houseboat rentals.

Berkeley Marina

Municipal marina of about 1,000 berths on the east shore of San Francisco Bay, within reach of the city by water.