the north point where the SPOT track stops is a very steep sheer cliff and the NW swell is captured there by the little peninsula formation pointing north. Autopilot set, moonset was 2354 hours, crew dozing or maybe socializing and not keeping a great lookout, lots of dew/condensation on the dodger, makes it hard to see. Boat hits and is slammed over and over against the rocks with each swell. Unlike the Low Speed Chase Farallons disaster where the boat was pushed up onto the island, that was not possible here with the sheer cliffs.

I find it hard to believe. I actually sailed between the Coronado Islands on my first Ensenada race in 1975. We had a compass, paper chart, standard power squadron plotter & dividers and a dodgy RDF for navigation tools. I recall there being enough ambient light to see that we weren't concerned about going thru them. On a clear night as it was reported these days there should be even more ambient light from the sky glows of San Diego and Tijuana.