San Diego : Profile

Clearance

Since international security has been beefed-up, it is important that the rules relating to clearance are strictly adhered to. Going into Mexican waters, even for a day, entails reporting your arrival on return. The U.S.-Mexico border is clearly marked as a dotted line on all navigation charts. Two white boundary monuments on shore line up as range markers, and at night, the border is marked by a white flashing light (fl 4, 5s) from a tower that stands 157 feet high. Just south of the monuments is the Tijuana bull ring, a round structure more easily visible on a hazy day than the monuments.

San Diego is the first port of entry into the U.S. for coastal boats coming up from Mexico. Yachts coming in from Hawaii can lay a direct course for Los Angeles/Long Beach, but a yacht coming up from Mexico that does not clear customs at San Diego must remain outside the three-mile limit.

There are 2 reporting stations in the San Diego area; Shelter Island and Mission Bay.

For Shelter Island, go alongside the gated San Diego Harbor Police dock on the south end of the island in San Diego Bay. Do not go to the larger municipal guest docks to the north. Only the skipper may go through the gate and only for the purpose of contacting U.S. Customs and Border Authorities. There is a payphone near the gate or at the Harbor Police and moorings building. Phone star (*)82 and request to be cleared into the U.S. Alternatively dial (619) 557-5370, option #4 from another phone.

If the Harbor Police dock is occupied, you may pick up one of the yellow quarantine mooring buoys just across the channel.

The Mission Bay reporting station is at the Dana Launch Ramp Public Dock at Dana Landing Road, Mission Bay. This station can only be used by vessels of less than 50 ft and with under 42 ft air draft as this clearance is needed to pass under the Ventura Bridge (at LW). On arrival call (619) 557-5370 Option #4.

During heightened alerts, U.S. Coast Guard patrols routinely stop to question or board vessels entering San Diego and Mission bays. A boarding by the Coast Guard does not fulfill the requirement to report your arrival and clear customs at the Harbor Police dock.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Web site

Docking

There are five anchorages within San Diego Bay that are popularly used, as well as a large number of mooring buoys, harbours and marinas. Permits are required for most of the anchorages (contact the Harbormaster’s office) and holding tanks must be used.

Transient slips are available at the Harbour Police facility at the south end of Shelter Island, near the mouth of the harbour. Boats may stay for up to 10 days.

There is a dedicated cruiser anchorage, for non-locally registered boats, in an area adjacent to the United States Coast Guard Air Station and the east tip of Harbor Island.

Other anchorages are at Glorietta Bay, south of the Coronado Golf Course; South Bay anchorage, west of the main shipping channel, near the 24th Street Marine Terminal in National City; La Playa Cove, a 72-hour, weekend-only anchorage located between San Diego and Southwestern Yacht Club in the Shelter Island yacht basin.

There are several marinas fronting the area along Shelter Island Drive and North Harbor Drive.

Cabrillo Isle Marina
1450 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego
Tel:(619)297 6222

Chula Vista Marina
550 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Tel:(619) 691-1860, Fax:(619) 420-9667, VHF Channel 16
boatslips@cvmarina.com
Opening Hours: Office 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, daily
552 berth full service marina situated at the south end of San Diego Bay, in Chula Vista Yacht Harbour. Dock at the red pump-out station while reporting to the office.

Gold Coat marina
2358 Shelter Island Drive
Tel:(619) 225 0588

Half Moon Marina
2323 Shelter Island Drive
Tel:(619) 224 3401

Harbor Island Marina
2040 Harbor Island Drive
Tel:(619) 291 6440

Kona Marina
1551 Shelter Island drive
Tel:(619) 224 2489

Pier 32 Marina
2040 Harbor Island, San Diego, CA 92101-1047
Tel:(800) 729 7547
office@pier32marina.com
A new marina due to open 2008. Located just S of the US naval base, on the E shore of the bay. All facilities.

San Diego Harbormaster Office
Tel: (619) 686-6227
For anchoring permits.

Shelter Cove marina
2240 Shelter Island Drive
Tel:(619) 224 2471

Shelter Island Harbormaster
1401 Shelter Island Dr.
Tel: (619) 686-6227, VHF Channel 16
Opening Hours: 08:30 - 11:30, 12:30 to 15:30 daily
Anchoring permits.

Sun Harbor Marina
5104 North Harbor Drive
Tel:(619) 222 1167

The San Diego Mooring Company
2040 Harbor Island Drive, Suite B116, San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 291-0916
Mooring are situated at Shelter Island, America’s Cup Harbour, Laurel Street and Bay Bridge Roadstead.

Yacht Clubs

Chula Vista Yacht Club
642 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista
Tel:(619)422 7888

Kona Kai International Yacht Club
1551 Shelter Island Drive , San Diego CA 92106
Tel:(619) 223-3138, Fax: (619) 223-1723
kkiyc1@compaq.net
Slips: First two days free, additional days at $1.50/ft./day. Contact marina office (619) 224-7547. Reciprocity offered November through May. An international club with sister clubs in 10 other countries.

San Diego Yacht Club
1011 Anchorage Lane , San Diego CA 92106-3005
Tel: (619) 221-8400, Fax: (619) 224-3059
www.sdyc.org
Opening Hours: 7 days a week
Please call Dockmaster (619) 758-6308 for guest dock reservations The club welcomes visitors from bonafide yacht clubs throughout the world. A valid , dated, membership card from club, or a letter of introduction from your club on letterhead will do. Restaurant, bar, swimming pool.

Silver Gate Yacht Club
2091 Shelter Island Drive , San Diego CA 92106
Tel:(619) 222-1214, Fax: (619) 222-4506
www.sgyc.org
Opening Hours: Open daily
Restaurant and bar. Vacant member slips as available, 30-50 feet, for members of reciprocal clubs with three days free. There is also a guest dock, depending on availability. Contact the port captain or the office.

Southwestern Yacht Club
2702 Qualtrough St. , San Diego CA 92106
Tel: (619) 222-0438, Fax:(619) 222-8214
www.southwesternyc.org, frontoffic@swyc.coxatwork.com
Friendly, family orientated club. Two 90ft guest docks are available and guest slips, when available, three days are free to member of reciprocal clubs, then $0.50/ft/per day. Contact Betsy Hoag, office manager or Jeff Wheeler, general manager.

Page Sponsor

Click here

Related Reports

Buying a second hand yacht in the USA to export (15 Jul 2008)

San Diego to Brisbane - South or North? (11 Jul 2008)

Eastward Route in North Pacific  (10 Jul 2008)

From the Chesapeake to Lake Ontario, via the Hudson River (26 Jun 2008)

Azores to Jacksonville, Florida (24 Jun 2008)

USA, Los Angeles to Hawaii (24 Jun 2008)

Charleston, SC to St.Marc, Haiti (24 Jun 2008)

Questions about US and Thai Formalities (05 Jun 2008)

Sea of Cortes - A Cruiser’s Guidebook (05 Jun 2008)

Marshall Islands to USA (22 May 2008)

Azores to Bermuda to USA, Rhode Island (22 May 2008)

USA, Florida to Cape Town, South Africa (22 May 2008)

USA, Florida to Margarita, Venezuela (18 May 2008)

USA, South Florida to Costa Rica  (15 May 2008)

Los Angeles to Hawaii (15 May 2008)

B.C. Victoria to San Francisco in September (15 May 2008)

B.C. Victoria to Pt. Montt, Chile (15 May 2008)

Caribbean, St. Lucia to Maine, USA (14 May 2008)

USA to Panama in April (14 May 2008)

Chile, Valdivia to San Diego, CA. (14 May 2008)

New Discharge Permits To Affect Yachts (27 Mar 2008)

Washington & Alaska State Pilotage Requirements (26 Mar 2008)

Bahamas Trip in April 2008 (03 Mar 2008)

US Coastguard To Install Summer Arctic Base (01 Nov 2007)

Southbounders Discussion Group (17 Sep 2007)

Erie Canal Charges Waived For 2007 (20 Apr 2007)

Where is safe in the Caribbean in Hurricane season? (19 Mar 2007)

FCC drops Morse Code Requirement for US Hams (09 Feb 2007)

US Charts Now Available Online (16 Jan 2007)

Pets And Air Travel In The Caribbean (05 Aug 2006)

Philippines to North America (29 Mar 2006)

Useful Coastguard Fax Numbers (08 Mar 2006)

Delivery from NY to the Great Lakes (11 Oct 2005)

Nordhavn Atlantic Rally Yachts Arrive In Horta (17 Jun 2004)

US Coastguard Alert on Liferafts (07 Jan 2004)

New expanded "Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama" now published (07 Jan 2003)

Related News

Yacht Express Makes Debut Down Under (18 Jul 2008)

FLORIDA – Skipper arrested for Anchoring for more than 10 days (26 Jun 2008)

Switlik Liferafts - Safety Alert and Recall (19 Jun 2008)

US Visa Waiver Program NOT for cruisers (14 Jun 2008)

US Coast Guard Announces Decision to Continue HF Weather Broadcasts (29 Feb 2008)

Dockwise Yacht Transport Completes First Voyage to Dubai (28 Feb 2008)

Report Of New Reporting Requirements For Foreign Yachts Entering US (07 Feb 2008)

DYT Announces New Routes and Voyages (12 Dec 2007)

US Regulations For Yachts Vary From State To State (23 May 2007)

Successful US-owned Boat Builder in China is the first Sponsor of the Month for 2007 (29 Jan 2007)

Dockwise Yacht Transport Launches Super Ship (26 Jan 2007)

Fate Of North American LORAN-C Radionavigation System To be Decided (16 Jan 2007)

Med Bound 2007 Motor Yacht Rally Gathers Steam (09 Jan 2007)

Coast Guard Issues Reminder on EPIRBs (15 Dec 2006)

North American Rallies Attract Record Numbers Of Participants (01 Nov 2006)

New US Immigration Requirements (02 Aug 2006)

US President Declares Largest Marine Sanctuary On Earth (26 Jun 2006)

US SAILING creates International Proficiency Certificate for Bareboat Chartering (06 Oct 2005)

US senate bill to shut down the National Weather Service: Updated (16 Sep 2005)

Seeking French Yacht Athanor (25 Apr 2005)

Dockwise Yacht Transport Expands Service To Alaska (19 Apr 2005)

New powers to seize vessels in US territorial waters (29 Apr 2004)

French Yacht Completes First Polar Circumnavigation (01 Oct 2003)

Bahamas Raises Cruising Permit Fees (22 Jul 2003)