Clan VIII parked next to us in Monterey – note the crew member on the aft deck for scale
There are four classes of places to keep a boat while visiting Monterey. The top of the heap is one of the two marinas – these are well protected by breakwaters and of course provide electricity, water, and just one-step-down access to shore. One notch down on the convenience factor is one of the many permanent moorings inside the breakwaters that shelter the marinas. The third class place to stay is on one of the moorings outside the breakwater – these have the convenience of not having to use your own anchor, but they can be subject to rolling if the swell picks up.
Most people consider the bottom of the barrel to be the anchorage just beyond the outside moorings. We actually prefer to moor on our own anchor instead of on a fixed mooring – that way we know exactly how the anchor and chain are maintained, and we can set the anchor firmly and be confident that it won’t move. And we prefer to be anchored out instead of in a marina. Even though a dinghy ride is required every time we go ashore, while at anchor we have a view of the surrounding area and all the wildlife, the bow always points into the breeze so it’s never hot, and we don’t have to worry about neighbors being too close. And this time of year, the anchorage is generally flat; there’s no swell rolling through the anchorage.
Madrone looks like a dinghy next to the big boat…
So, we parked Madrone in the fourth class spot in Monterey, and after a day or two our anchorage was classed up with the arrival of Clan VIII. Reportedly owned by a German shipping magnate, the sailboat is 148 feet long and features a mast tall enough that it barely fits under the Golden Gate bridge. It was a nice addition to the neighborhood.
One downside of anchoring near a kelp bed is that you become part of it
