keeldraggervideo

Sailing to Santa Barbara Island - part 1 as we tour 3 Channel Islands in 48 hours (May 2024)

May 13, 2024 · 20 min · 826 views

What this video covers

A 42-nautical-mile passage from San Pedro, California, to Santa Barbara Island requires careful sail trim and navigation through active shipping lanes. The crew departs San Pedro in 16 to 18 knots of wind, motor-sailing to maintain a direct course.5:18 To improve performance, they adjust the mainsail halyard to remove luff scalloping and tighten the mainsheet to reduce sail twist, increasing speed to over 7 knots.6:54 During the transit, the vessel maneuvers to avoid a commercial ship in the traffic separation scheme and encounters multiple fin whales.12:36 A bilge pump cycling issue is traced to debris clogging the intake, rather than a hull breach.15:48 Upon arrival at 11 p.m., the crew anchors in 57 feet of water off Santa Barbara Island, noting the proximity of other vessels and planning a 2:30 a.m. departure for the 55-nautical-mile leg to Santa Cruz Island.18:36 Proper sail tension and halyard adjustment significantly improve boat speed when motor-sailing into a headwind.

Watch on YouTube

Boats in this video

Valiant Yachts 40-2Their boat

More from keeldragger

Sailing to Keeldraggerpalooza (July 2026)Aug 2026Single-handed sail to Two Harbors, Catalina Island (June 2026)Jun 2026Sweet Home Catalina... and Island White (May 2026)Jun 2026OPB: Crewing aboard Beneteau 57, "Vanishing Point", from LA Harbor to San Diego (May 2026)May 2026

From keeldragger — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue