Southern California is home to Disneyland and Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted castle, so it is appropriate that the sun-soaked state is also home to a thoroughly enchanting new marina community called Seabridge. Seabridge is in Channel Islands Harbor, a two-mile long stretch of protected harbor located thirty miles north of Malibu on California’s scenic coastal Route 1.

Channel Islands Harbor is a newer and more affordable northern alternative to Southern California’s celebrated boating Mecca at Newport Beach. It is an excellent home port from which to access some of the best cruising Southern California has to offer. The harbor has seen its marinas and marine businesses expand steadily over the decades in rhythm with the phenomenal growth of Southern California since the end of WWII. Once a set of sleepy coastal agricultural communities, Port Hueneme, Ventura and Oxnard are now within the expanding sphere of metropolitan Los Angeles. Nearby Port Hueneme (pronounced Wy-nee-mee) is noteworthy as the home of the SeaBees of the US Navy.

Channel Islands Harbor has several established marinas and boatyards nearer to the harbor entrance in the southern end. The islands and canals of Seabridge, in the newer north section of the harbor, were carved out of 135 acres of raw land by DR Horton in 2006 and 2007. Its public marina facilities were completed and opened in July 2008. Market demand has been solid and slips were 50% leased in just a few months.

This part of California has unique boating attractions. The Channel Islands consist of eight islands along the coastline, five of which are marine parks. The northern set of islands nearest the harbor feature popular and exciting ecology parks that can be reached in about a half hour’s cruise from the harbor. To the north is the city of Santa Barbara and its coastal and beach communities arrayed along an unspoiled mountainous stretch of California many consider the most beautiful part of the state. Turning south, one can cruise to Catalina Island, Marina Del Rey, and of course, the vibrant boating scene at Newport Beach.

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MAGAZINE: Marina World
ISSUE: January/February 2009