V Wiley captdan@sailchannelislands.com Port: Ventura

Landing See Restrictions below Restrictions

Frenchy's Cove

On a clear winter day, Anacapa is so inviting that local sailors occasionally call in sick to enjoy mid-week solitude in Frenchy's or East Fish Camp. It's an easy 12nm run from Channel Islands, about 15 from Ventura. This picture was shot from a distance of 8nm and is on a line direct from Channel Islands Harbor. The spot just to the left of the high peak is Frenchy's Cove and is pictured in detail in the panorama below.

Let's Do Lunch

Frenchy's Cove, the most popular lunch spot on the island, usually provides adequate protection from West wind and swell. We anchored in 20' of water (near low tide) slightly west of the gap between the west island and the middle island. Yachts commonly anchor at the east end of the West Island as pictured, but there are numerous spots sheltered from the west wind. When the wind tends to the north, the areas of shelter are reduced. Any wind of significance from NE to NW will make this spot uncomfortable and possibly dangerous.

Orientation note: The charlet to the right and the panoramic shot below cover approximately the same geography in roughly the same orientation. The pinnacle rock to the far left in the picture is the rock directly above the 'F' in Frenchy's on the chartlet.

Please let me know if the pic and chartlet are useful in your planning.

Restrictions and Cautions

Excerpted from NPS Channel Islands Boating:

A permit is not required to land or hike on East Anacapa Island or at Frenchy's Cove. West Anacapa Island (except at Frenchy's Cove) is a protected research natural area and is closed to visitor access. Visitors are allowed on Middle Anacapa only when accompanied by a park ranger. There are two moorings near the landing cove at East Anacapa Island. These are reserved for use by the National Park Service, the Coast Guard and the park concessionaire. Private boaters must anchor a reasonable distance from these moorings. This is not an all-weather anchorage.

It is recommended that one person stay on board the boat at all times. The landing dock is available for unloading purposes only. No craft, including kayaks and inflatables, should be left moored to the dock. Please lift your inflatables and kayaks up to the lower landing and leave room for others who may come behind you.

A brown pelican fledgling area is designated from the mean high tide mark seaward to a water depth of 20 fathoms (120 feet) on the north side of West Anacapa Island between a line extending 345 magnetic off Portuguese Rock to a line extending 345 magnetic off the western edge of Frenchy's Cove, a distance of approximately 4,000 feet. No person except department employees or employees of the National Park Service in the performance of their official duties shall enter this area during the period January 1 to October 31.

Note: PWC - personal watercraft - are prohibited in Marine Reserve Areas. For Marine Reserve information and restrictions.

Cautions

Getting to any of the Channel Islands means crossing the Traffic Separation Zone i.e. "Shipping Lanes." The rules tell us sailors to remain clear, but, if we must cross to do that at best possible speed at right angles to the zone.

Coastwise traffic is frequently heavy and the massive container ships often truck through at 25+ knots. If equipped with radar, it is wise to keep a close watch even on clear days. Monitor #16 and turn up the radio volume in case one of these monsters hails you, and, of course, keep a sharp visual watch.

Approach

When heading to Frenchy's from Ventura or Channel Islands Harbor, shape course for the east (left) end of the West Island. Once the West Passage is in site - the jagged rocks in the picture above - aim just to the left. That's the "offcial" spot, which is where our boat was moored for this picture.

We anchored in 20 feet of water, which put us pretty close to shore. For a longer (longer than lunch) stay, I'll drop the hook in 30 feet next time and get a bit more margin from the rocks. Twenty feet was OK, but I felt like I had to keep a very close eye on our position and be ready if the wind shifted clockwise, which would have put us on a lee shore and close to visible rocks and maybe on submerged ones.

Approaching Anacapa from the West, specifically, when leaving Smuggler's anchorage on Santa Cruz, the West Island is prominent. A reef extends a bit to the west. According to the Coast Pilot, approaching in low visibility can be dangerous as the slope of the beach is precipitous and soundings give no warning of the proximity of the island.

The Anacapa Light, Arch Rock and Cathedral Cove, all great photo ops, lie about 2.5 nm east.

For additional NPS information on Anacapa wonders, click NPS info

Updates

If you have new or amplifying information concerning this anchorage or the surrounding area, please contact Capt. Dan. His e-mail link and phone are below.