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Learn to Sail with Capt. Dan |
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Scorpion and Little Scorpion Anchorages
Chart & PicChart 18729 There is one rock near datum on the east side of the large rocks that demarcate Little Scorpion from Scorpion. Other than that, you can see everything that can damage your boat.
The aerial shot of the anchorage shows both Scorpion to the right - west - and Little Scorpion behind the rocks to the east. The larger rock, known locally as Bird S**t Rock, is visible for 10 miles or more on clear sunny days, attesting to the reflectivity of guano. The "Clump of Trees" on the hilltop above the anchorages is also visible for long distances, particularly when the rest of the island is "Golden" i.e. brown. Note: the chart does not depict the pier, but it does show the "Ldg." Nor does the chart show the mooring balls, which are just off said non-pictured pier. The shore near Gherini (Scorpion) Ranch has two distinct anchorages. Island Packers uses the western one at the mouth of the valley where the ranch house is located. For a yacht on the hook, this is, at best a fair weather anchorage.
Little Scorpion anchorage lies to the east of the prominent rocks. It's pretty well sheltered, but only if you're nestled pretty close to BS rock. And here is the double bind: It's the best spot, rock and roll-wise and closest to the best caves, but it can be awfully stinky. On a recent cruise, we anchored out of the sMell zone - back there in the second-tier. That put us in the sWell zone. No matter where we went, our passengers were very uncomfortable. And, frankly, Dennis and I were not enjoying the motion and wondered if we'd get any sleep. We weighed anchor and headed for Smugglers. The dots in Scorpion (west/right) anchorage include a rock, which is on the far left of the color picture of the anchorage. The place to anchor here is just off the beach between that rock and the Island Packer's mooring buoy. It's a fair weather anchorage, where wind and surge are a constant problem and can be a lee shore if the wind clocks around to the north.
Scorpion Attractions
Scorpion has the best kayaking spots on the island. Painted Cave, further west, is far more vast, but the caves near Scorpion are easily accessible and require no spelunking gear. They're not very scary, either. Don't miss the Grotto, which is accessed on the east side of BS rock. Picture at left.
If you drop your boat in the water when the sun just peaks over Anacapa, you'll likely find glass-smooth waters and excellent visibility. It can be more revealing than any aquarium as you see in this picture of the bottom, which was not shot from underwater, but sitting in my plastic boat.
Kayakers CautionWhile this is a great spot for exploring in your plastic boat, many of the caves are fairly low. A little bit of tidal rush, a biggish wave, maybe just the wake off a tourist boat can ram you into the ceiling. We always wear helmets when we paddle inside, but you could still be crushed if you've picked a cave with minimum clearance. Additionally, if you leave the shelter of the anchorage, be aware of the afternoon westerlies, particularly in summer, which can make paddling back to your boat extremely difficult. We generally paddle west in the morning and, if we're on a long trip, in good position to ride the westerly home.
ApproachBoth Scorpions are easy to find. Approaching from the north, pick out Cavern point and steer a course that will bring you to the coast about a mile east. If your approach is from the east, the anchorage will not be obvious until you're abeam, when the beach, pier and mooring buoy are suddenly visible. From the west, it's easy to pick out the rocks that define Little Scorpion.
Anchoring
It is possible to lie to a single hook in the eastern part of Little Scorpion, but if there is any congestion, two hooks are a must. The beach gradient is very steep and if you're not the first in the anchorage, may find yourself anchoring in 40-50 feet. In order to find 25 feet, you're impressively close to the cliffs. The bottom is sand and mud. Kelp used to be a problem, but the anchorage has been fairly clear for the last couple of years.
Landing Permits NOT RequiredPermits not required; it's your national park. For information about camping ashore, guided tours and facilities (not much), go to National Park Service" http://www.nps.gov/chis/ For additional information about the joint conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy"
UpdatesIf you have new or amplifying information concerning this anchorage or the surrounding area, please contact Capt. Dan. His e-mail link and phone are below.
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The swell frequently creeps around the corner in the Island Packers anchorage and it is difficult to get close enough to the shore to get out of the westerly wind. On the other hand, this is where you can bring your dinghy or kayak ashore.
