Santa Cruz Island - Potato Harbor anchorage, Channel Islands

Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island

Loc: North coast Santa Cruz	Lat: N 34-02.9	Long: W 119-35.45	Last visit: Sept 08
Tide/Sun/Moon/WX	Dist: 3	Prisoners, Santa Cruz	WX
Chart	18729	Anacapa Passage	Google Earth
Skipper: John Gilbert	Boat: S/V Sherpa	Capt. Dan	Port: Ventura
Landing Permit	Not Required

The Most Gorgeous Spot Potato Harbor - It's one of the prettiest anchorages on Santa Cruz. Maybe the prettiest. We're compelled by the grandeur of the cliffs to sail in almost every time we're in the neighborhood, yet we rarely get to drop the hook in there. Why? It's a death trap when conditions are normal i.e. westerlies of 15 knots. You're on a lee shore and if the wind pipes up above normal, you've got to fight a swell exacerbated by the shallow water at the mouth of the harbor.

Refuge from Santa Ana On the other hand, if you're surprised by Santa Ana winds, this is a great refuge. The towering cliffs to the north and east make this a great spot to ride out the "Devil Wind." I'm told the wind will come up and over, but you're completely protected from the swell.

Approach The anchorage is easy to locate. Just look for the white rocks east of Cavern Point. Potato Bay, as it's sometimes called, lies just to the east of to those, guarded by a 112' pinnacle rock on the east side and marked by an small arch on the northwest. I'd think you can fit two or three 35-footers in here, each anchored bow and stern. However, Labor Day of 2007, I counted 30 boats in there. Too much of a crowd for me and an outright disaster if any wind had come up. Boats were scattered everywhere, though, to be frank, many of them were quite small. Some were beached, perhaps not intending to spend the night.

On the few occasions we've stayed overnight, we've planted the stern hook in 15' or so, taking care to check tide tables so that we wouldn't find ourselves aground in the morning. The bow anchor ends up on a sand bottom in 25'-30'. I set the anchor alarm for minimum movement - on Sancerre, that's 60' - and then keep an eye on things throughout the night.

It should go without saying that we brief our crew thoroughly on our emergency escape plan and preposition our gear - searchlight, flashlights, life jackets and gloves.

Uncharted Hazards There are rocky areas, particularly in the NE corner and some kelp, but on this visit, the kelp was not much of a factor.

Updates If you have pictures to share or 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