If anyone could comment on the boat bar beach storage sites in Mission Bay near San Diego that would be great! I am about to move out there and thinking this would be a convenient place to store but would like to know if there are problems with vandalism, storm damage, parking, etc...

I've also heard there is a spot to launch in Del Mar or Solana Beach, does anyone know where its located?

Congrats on your move to the west coast Ryan. Look up Robert Todd, another NCSU sailing alum, and John Williams. They should both be able to help you out with the west coast cat sailing scene. We'll miss you out here. Any chance you'll be at Duck Cup this weekend?

I've just left SD for Massachusetts, but sailed plenty while I was there.

Info on the Mission Bay beach bars is here: http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/safety/mooring.shtml. Most important note about the beach bars is that most are limited to boats 14 feet or less, so your 5.0 wouldn't be allowed. A few (but it's not clear which ones) allow boats up to 17 feet. I don't know anything about the safety of leaving a boat there.

You'll find an active multihull fleet at Mission Bay Yacht Club (www.mbyc.org) on El Carmel Point. The racers are mostly on N20's, with some F18's and A's. There is also a diverse collection of Nacras, Prindles, and Hobies that sail recreationally.

I don't know of anyone regularly (or ever) launching out of Del Mar or Solana Beach. Not even sure where you would launch. The only ocean launch I know of is on La Jolla Shores (street parking only, and crowded in summer). Generally, boats are restricted from launching/beaching on ocean beaches in the area. Most boats launch out of the northwest part of Mission Bay and get to the ocean via the channel between the Mission Bay jetties.

Be proficient at raising and lowering rudders/boards...kelp will be something new for you.

Thanks Derek, I will look them up and see what they have to say. I really wish I could make it out to Duck Cup, but the moving truck comes in two weeks and we have to start packing/getting rid of stuff.

Thanks Robert, hopefully the kelp is not much worse than the grass out in the sounds here. I may look into MBYC after I get out there, if the social scene is decent (younger than typical YC) then it might be worth it, but just as a place to store a 5.0 it seems a little pricey.

If you're under 30, MBYC gives a big break on initiation fee, and half price on dues (~55/month for Junior Flag). Mast-up storage is ~100/month for a cat. The MH fleet is pretty social, with regular cookouts at the club (particularly after regattas). You'd be on the young end, but not the only one; several of the crew are juniors or recently got out of the junior program. Join the MH fleet google group at http://groups.google.com/group/mbyc-multihulls to find out what they're up to.

Yeah I saw that, I have just under a year til 30 so if I do join, the lower initiation fee might be worth it.

Try Camp Land on the Bay. They had a storage yard there a few years back with some cats in there.

Just found out there is a 3 or more year wait list to beach your boat so that option is out now.