Mission Beach area San Diego

[A-1 Boss]

Hey boat. I was reading an earlier post about the Queensway bridge and someone said they go under it all the time. I'll look for the post and try to show the link.

[A-1 Boss]

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... na#p306718

I'm not sure if posted this link correctly but this is regarding long beac california and the Queensway bridge

[BOAT]

Wow, that was a great post A1, and I don't even remember it. There are so many guys out there in our area - I wonder why they do not post on the site much? Sometimes i feel all alone!

[A-1 Boss]

so do you think Long Beach is do-able from that south shore launch ramp near the Queen Mary? I have been on scuba trips a few times out of 22nd street landing at Long Beach. That would be a great place for me to drive to from Southern Utah and launch for Catalina.

[BOAT]

so do you think Long Beach is do-able from that south shore launch ramp near the Queen Mary? I have been on scuba trips a few times out of 22nd street landing at Long Beach. That would be a great place for me to drive to from Southern Utah and launch for Catalina.

We actually had planned to drive up to the Queensway Bridge last weekend for a little day trip in our van to check the height but before we left I called the Department Of Harbors at the City of Long Beach and they told me the bridge was only 35 feet! After that call we dumped our plans. Now that I see the post you found it seems to me someone has the wrong info so I really need to check this out firsthand and see what the heck is going on.

That Mission Bay Bridge is another one that should be confirmed because it would be a great place to camp out vs. the hassle of getting permits that San Diego Bay requires for overnight anchorage.

These two bridges need to be explored - for the good of all our friends in Southern California I think there should be an entire section dedicated for ramp conditions and bridges in the So Cal waters. I'm still trying to figure out a trick to do Newport Harbor (the birth place of the MacGregor sailboat!) is not even sailboat friendly! There is a bridge right next to the launch ramp!

[budgates]

I've never had any problems with any of the bridges mentioned, but then I have a D not an M. The posted heights are for "mean high tide" so as long as you keep track of the tide you shouldn't have any problems. If you think you'll have an issue just check the tide charts and plan to arrive during the receding tide.

[Newell]

I have done both Mission Bay bridge and Queensway in my X. Haven't done Mission Bay since 99 and it's a close fit for the X, go only at low tide if in a M and have your friend check your clearance. Queensway is no problem for either X or M, I was told it is 47' but can't find a reference.

[BOAT]

Thanks you guys, this is good information. There are a lot of people on this site that live in the southwest - one of the sailors that lives in the southwest is a guy named Sumner - he is a consummate sailor and in my opinion one of the finest skippers in the entire fleet. His knowledge of seamanship, boat construction/rigging/sails, and navigation far surpass my own.

One time 'boat' and I were sitting at the dock in front of one of our watering holes in Oceanside Harbor and a couple from Arizona in an X boat walked up to us and introduced themselves. They were extremely capable ocean going sailors and had logged a lot of miles along the coast and even had weather radar on their x boat.

I see a great resource in the captains that live in the desert and mountain areas of the southwest yet they seldom post on the site. My wife and I travel all over the US in our camper van from New York to New Orleans but I must say our favorite places are Monument valley and Arizona/Utah and Zion and New Mexico and we frequent those places often because they are so close to us. It sure would be great to know more people from these areas - I wish more of them posted here. I guess the guys in the Southwest and the Bay Area are those "men of few words" types - I guess you gotta admire that. (Not motor mouth like me).

[K9Kampers]

WADR, this thread sounds like it's looking for an elegant solution to a problem that doesn't exist!

These boats; X, M, D, S, whatever, were designed to accommodate the bridge issue. The MRS is just as useful underway and at anchor, even adrift, as it is on the trailer at a launch ramp. With and/or without the sail attached, the mast can be lowered just enough or all the way to clear a bridge without having to calculate anything. You can even figure out (and should know) the minimum height of your rig lowered to clear a bridge. An can lower it's rig enough so that the cabin top stanchions are the limiting height above waterline factor.

Where I sail, I don't have to deal with bridges, and have raised and lowered the rig underway and afloat.

It ain't rocket surgery!

[Tomfoolery]

Queensway is no problem for either X or M, I was told it is 47' but can't find a reference.

This might be where you saw it.



Charts reporting low clearance is not unusual, as it's usually in the channel, and for a certain width, as ships are wider than the point of a mast.

I mentioned the same issue in the thread that was linked a few posts above, in that the bridge in the middle of the bay I'm in only shows 44 ft on the charts, but it will clear a 56 ft mast on one side of the main span, with deep water yet, like 60 ft even at the sides (steep canyon-type walls continue under water). But it's not the 'official' pathway under the bridge, so the low clearance is on the charts. I put the note in Active Captain about where the high clearance is in 'my' bay, similar to what's in the pic above.

Gotta love Active Captain.



Far side is east, and is the high side, between the last two concrete piers. Much lower in the middle. I haven't even gone under the middle in the Mac.

[A-1 Boss]

Regards to previous post. It's more about planning at this point. I understand we can drop the Mast to go under a bridge but maybe a sailor would just choose a different spot to launch instead for example in San Diego it looks like shelter island is very close to Mission so maybe just go there instead just for convenience. that's all. I personally would rather not bring the MRS along if not needed. We'll have limited room by the time you pack fishing gear, snorkel and spearfishing stuff and the usual supplies.

[BOAT]

I agree boss, I would rather go to the Pepper Park ramp than step the mast on the water - but I guess everyone is different.

[K9Kampers]

All things considered BOAT, Pepper Park would be my choice too.

Looking at Google Maps of the area brings back memories of when I was out there 30 years ago!