3. VHF Radio, Weather & Video Links

Basic Cruising 1

Website and Video Link Resources – click on the URL to view

VHF radio channel frequencies, their purpose and use

https://www.boatsafe.com/us-vhf-marine-radio-channels-frequencies/

Note that channel 16 is the hailing and distress frequency, and most communications begin here.   After hailing on 16, switch to one of the non-commercial channels:  68, 69, 71, 72, 78A.

Weather – NOAA Marine Point Forecast

https://www.weather.gov/marine/point

Zoom in on the map to the area of interest, and get a marine forecast for just that point.  Note that the larger zone in which your point resides has a different forecast – see below.

Weather – NOAA Coastal/Great Lakes Forecasts by Zone – West – Los Angeles, CA

https://www.weather.gov/marine/loxmz

This is the portal that allows you to see the various zones in the southern California bight and their individual forecasts.  This is essential for passage planning from one point to another, as conditions tend to get progressively stronger as you head in to the northwest portion, toward the Northern Channel Islands and Point Conception.

NOAA Tide Predictions

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html

Find West Coast on the left, then click on California, scroll down to San Pedro Channel, and click on Newport Bay Entrance, Corona del Mar.  From there, select the date ranges you are looking for.  Why is this important?  There are several places in the harbor where we can run aground on a “minus” tide, and I’d rather not do that.  Also, maximum current flow is in the 3rd and 4th hours after high or low tide, and it’s good to know which way the flow is going so you are not so surprised and can take this into account when returning to the dock.

Fun Videos from OCC Trips:

40+ Knots in the northern Channel Islands