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Forney's Cove, Santa Cruz Island
 Getting There: We left Channel Islands Harbor about 1300 in calm conditions. Uncharacteristically, we never, ever had wind over 4 knots. Most of our transits of this end of the island have been in fair winds, sometimes more than fair. In fact, about 20% of our passages have required a bit of a mainsail reef, a few have found us reefed down to the lower spreader with a roll or two taken up in the Genoa.
Approach: We rounded West End about 20 minutes before sunset. We've done this a number of times in varying conditions - from calm and bright sunshine to our latest approach relying on radar and GPS in zero-zero fog. This last time around was more exciting than most. We missed the Maui-like spectacle at West End, but our adrenalin was pumping because we could hear breakers but still could not see the rocks.
We could finally make out the rocks and cliffs with radar showing we were inside a quarter of a mile. Fortunately, this end of Santa Cruz, like most of our cruising grounds, has few rocks more than a 100 yards offshore.
Visibility improved in the Santa Cruz Passage and we were able to see the reef and feel our way around the corner. Rounding the West End and travesing the end of the island was exciting with functioning GPS, chart plotter and radar, but would have been suicidal if we had to try to find our way strictly by dead reckoning. One stroke of good fortune: the difficult-to-pass kelp forest we'd encountered on our other visits this summer, was considerably diminished and our passage into the anchorage turned out to be quite easy.
We anchored in about 20 feet of water, veering out about 150 feet of chain. The anchorage provided good sleeping conditions as the formidable swell was broken up by the reef. For reasons we could only guess, we encountered a couple of periods of severe rolling. Other than those brief (but startling) episodes, we passed a comfortable night.
Hazards: None that aren't charted or visible. The reef is formidable.
Landing Permits Required: If you intend to go ashore, you'll need a landing permit ($70 for all year) from the Nature Conservancy. Go to permit app for a pdf form, mailing and e-mailing instructions.
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 top left.
 Photos:
 Video:
click the play icon, or, to view a larger version click here
 Map: View Forneys Cove Google Map
 Links: None
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