Visiting Los Angeles by yacht

When to come to Los Angeles by yacht, the fog and wind months, where yachts anchor and how to reach Marina del Rey.

Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.

Climate

When to come

Months	Mean high	Rain per month	Notes
November to March	19 to 22 C	21 to 76 mm	Most rain falls from December to February
April to June	20 to 22 C	2 to 15 mm	Spring
July to September	24 to 25 C	0 to 3 mm	Warmest and driest months
October	24 C	12 mm	Rain starts to rise again

Source: NOAA NCEI 1991 to 2020 monthly normals, Los Angeles International Airport. Season bands are our own estimate.

Weather

Fog and wind

FogFor the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors, the Coast Pilot says fog is most likely from October through February. Out over the bay it cuts visibility below 0.5 mile on about 11 days a month in this period (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

Santa Ana windWinds are variable in fall and winter. The Santa Ana is an offshore desert wind that is infrequent but may be violent, with speeds of 50 knots or more along the coast (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

Windiest monthsMarch, April and May are the windiest months. December is the most calm (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

Anchorages

Where yachts anchor

Marina del Rey

A special anchorage is in the upper reach of the harbour channel. Limits and rules are in 33 CFR 110.1 and 110.111 (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

San Pedro Bay

General, naval, explosives and special anchorage areas have limits and rules in 33 CFR 110.1, 110.100 and 110.214. Inside the breakwaters, vessels must anchor in the prescribed anchorage area except in a great emergency (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

Getting here

By water

Marina del Rey entrance

Two openings lie between the jetties and the detached breakwater. Vessels under power keep the No Sail buoys to port when they enter or leave. Sail-only vessels use the centre lane (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

Nearby

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is 3.5 miles northwest of Marina del Rey and has a large pleasure pier (NOAA Coast Pilot 7).

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