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Memorial Day Cruise - Catalina Island

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/23/2003 : 14:05:03

Indiscipline and crew will be taking off for Catalina Island from Dana Point at first light on Sunday. We will return on Tuesday.

We will be heading for White's Landing and perhaps some of the other coves along the island - depending on crowds and where we can find a place to anchor or moor. It's 36 to 40 miles one way - due west!

Sunday weather forecast is west winds 10 knots in the morning and 15 in the afternoon (could go higher). West swell 3 to 5 feet. If it's too rough we will turn back but we should be in the lee of the island on the way over. I expect to leave before 6 and be to White's by noon (fog permitting). Tuesday's is variable west wind 10 knots or less, 2 - 4 foot SW swell. We'll probably leave a little later Tuesday to give the afternoon wind time to build.

It's foggy in the morning and I expect sun and air temps in the high 80s in the afternoon. We are carrying 15 gallons of fuel so I expect I could motor the 80 mile round trip if the wind is too light on Tuesday.

This is our first long trip : family of 4, 2 dogs, kayak, dinghy/motor, fishing gear, beach toys, etc. I've completed many projects in the last few weeks, and practiced sailing. Indiscipline is indeed now a pocket cruiser (and looks it). I am very excited and ready to go (and monitoring the weather constantly).

I'll be taking many pictures and post a personal web site update when we return.

<b>Indiscipline monitors VHF 16 at all times. If any of you are over there please give us a call!</b>

Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2003 : 14:22:17

Have a great trip!!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Allow more time then you expect for the passage. Keep everybody in the cockpit for the first hour or so to help fight seasickness (this could ruin the day). Relax and don't over do it in such a short trip.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2003 : 16:20:52

Sounds like a great time! I'll look forward to seeing the pics.

I'd like to be out cruising, but the little sailor's come down with a cold, so we'll be home tending him.

Oh well, an opportunity to fire up the BBQ and cook some ribs.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2003 : 12:00:35

Hope you had a great trip (and missed the thick marine layer)!

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2003 : 13:21:12

Hi, we are back from our trip and had an interesting experience to share.

We were up at 5 AM Sunday for an early departure. We motored all morning in a thick haze, heavy overcast, 2-4 seas on the nose and a slight headwind. Heading into the weather (light as it was) I had the Honda 8 HP at about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle and making 5.6 knots. I had the main up all day and got the genoa up for about an hour. We arrived at Whites Landing after a 6 hour, 34 mile passage around noon. The place was packed, and we found an anchorage in over 50 feet of water. We got the anchor down and holding, however, and just as we were backing down ran out of gas. I was a little surprised to have used 6 gallons.

My wife took the little dogs to the beach in the kayak, got swamped and returned wet, covered with sand and rather unhappy. But the dogs did their business. A rather large swell was running into the anchorage (2+ feet). The Catalina 25 loves to rock and roll in those conditions!

During the day the wind clocked around and finally started to blow from the west. I was a little concerned about the anchor (I had about 200 feet of line and chain out and I knew the depth was greater than 50') but everything held fine. Because of many boats around I could not put more scope out. All night long we rolled, pitched, bumped and banged. Karen had to take the dogs to the beach at midnight and at 3 AM. She said it was easy to find our boat - we were the anchor light that was rolling the most (we were the smallest boat by far in the area).

Monday dawned bright and sunny. It was hot and bright all day. Our solar panels had the batteries fully re-charged by noon. We went hiking up the canyon (even though it is a Girl Scout camp, private property with many no trespassing signs) and encountered numerous birds and 3 buffalo. We spent the afternoon playing on the beach. Our dinghy, 3.5 HP outboard, and kayak all worked great. It was challenging landing them in the large waves hitting the beach. All the wet and sand eventually ended up in our cockpit. The place was now deserted so we moved to a mooring right off the beach. We enjoyed fishing in the evening when the whole bay was jumping with sardines. On the mooring we didn't roll as much but the boat yawed severly all night long. At least the dogs did not have to go at 3 AM this time.

Tuesday morning we were up at 7 AM and ready to depart by 8. We had the boom tent down and stowed, pop-top down, cover put away, dinghy deflated, dissambled and stowed, kayak stowed, main sail up, breakfast, coffee and ready to go in an hour. It was foggy, lightly misting, and the seas were as flat as a highway. There was not even a whisper of wind. The Honda 8 HP at 1/4 throttle moved us at 6.2 knots with not even a ripple on the water. I had the main up all day for stability. The sea, sky were all the same shade of grey and we existed inside a bubble about 1/2 mile radius. It looked like a very boring 6 hour passage. The wife and kids played games all day on the queen-sized bed in the salon and I found every place possible to sit in the cockpit and keep watch. The tiller pilot and the Honda did all the work.

On the way back 20 miles from all land, we ran into an area of sea that was teaming with life. We encountered several schools of dolphins, flocks of "working" birds, and many groups of sunfish (mola mola) on the surface. Then I saw a large fin. I called all hands on deck. I thought it was a killer whale (unusual in our waters). Then, I saw a large shark-like tail. At that point I thought it was a floating log. We sailed up to it, cut the motor, and took a close look.

Nature treated us to about a 30 minute encounter with a Whale Shark. He was about 50 feet long. He circled the boat and followed us (we were sailing at about 1 knot). I wish words could experience the sense of awe we all felt. He was beautiful and majestic. Time and time again he swam right up to the transom, so close that I was afraid he would bump the rudder or something, then circled the boat. The water also held many strange small jellyfish. We all realized that we probably would never see another one in our lives and that this moment was a precious as they can get. It was truly a miracle that his path through life and ours intersected at that time and place.

We arrived by 2 PM, used 5/8 tank of gas, never sailed, never saw even a little wind until we were in the harbor. Next time I will get a stabilizer for anchoring/mooring and figure out a way to increase storage on board. The boat is small and tight for 4 people and 2 tiny dogs, and everyone had to move each time we needed to get something out of one of the storage bins, but it worked out OK. Ice lasted 2 days but we would be out of refridgeration on the 3rd.

We didn't really like White's Landing and next time will go to the Isthmus where there is a dinghy dock, everything is not private property or yacht club only, and there are shops and things to do.

I'll try to post a picture or two tomorrow.

Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2003 : 00:11:03

Pictures!

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/memorial/pictures/wshark1.jpg" border=0>

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/memorial/pictures/wshark2.jpg" border=0>

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/memorial/pictures/catalina1.jpg" border=0>

Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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jeffj
1st Mate

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USA
63 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2003 : 01:21:13

Jim,
Thanks very much for the posts. Very inspiring! The Whale Sharks pics are absolutley incredible, and a little spooky<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> Totally cool.

Jeff J.
'85 Cat 25'

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n/a
deleted

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2003 : 09:27:26

Jim, you called it right. You all had an experience you'll remember & talk about for the rest of your lives. Your kids will never for get it. What a magical moment to share. That's what draws me to sailing, the chance moments that imprint themselves on your brain for life. I hope you & your family have many more.

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2003 : 01:20:54

What a terrific trip you all had!! We sailed our C22 out of Alamitos Bay several times with our son and daughter when they were the (approx.) age of your two. Then sold the C22 and bought our C25. We sailed 11.5 hours (with the iron genny) starting at midnight from Oceanside with no moon using the GPS several years ago and no kids heading for the Cat Rendevous at Two Harbors/Isthmus. Made it just fine but very tired. Sure would like to do that again but launch in Long Beach somewhere instead.
BTW, the shark you saw was actually a Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) not a Whale Shark. Look at the pointy snout and absense of spots. Still a species you very rarely see in the ocean...at least we've never experienced one before. You are very lucky in spotting it. All we ever see are dolphin <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
The high school year is almost over and now I've got to get the boat in the ocean, or in a lake, or in a puddle. Got to go sailing....
Gary
in Hemet, CA

Gary & Susan Norgan
C25 tall/wing
Classical Cat #5944
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc35b3127cce94ddf43b35f60000001010" border=0>

Edited by - gnorgan on 05/31/2003 01:26:43

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2003 : 12:04:29

Jim:

Very cool fish!!!

You may have been somewhat fortunate to find adequate space at Whites during the middle of a holiday weekend. I'm sure Two Harbors moorings were full, the inshore anchoring area was chaotically tight (crossed anchor lines, bumping boats, etc.) and deep water anchoring (ie. rolly) was required to get any real spacing. Unless I can get a mooring early (Friday), I usually avoid that area on busy weekends.

We use Rocker-Stoppers (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001& langId=-1& catalogId=10001& productId=4804& catalogId=10001& classNum=534& subdeptNum=11206& storeNum=5) for dampening movement in a rolly anchorage, three on a rope hung off the end of the boom pulled out to one side (held there with a preventer and the mainsheet) and three hung off the rail on the other side (each with a 5 lb. rock cod weight at the end). While I always felt they were effective, I was never clear as to what extent until last summer when anchored at Little Harbor next to my friend's '78 C25 FK -- big difference. I've heard others rig similar devices for cheaper using 5 gal. buckets and rocks.

Many on this forum have beefed up the insulation on their ice boxes by taping/glueing pieces of styrofoam to the outside (except to the inside of the lid) and using insulating spray foam to fill remaining voids. The previous owner did ours and we get about 4-5 days of "cold". Covering everything inside with a folded space blanket also seems to help.

Storage for 4 on a small boat is tough. We've slowly learned to do with less, always trying to remember KISS (tough with a 1 and 3 year old!). We also use a couple laundry baskets to (sort of) organize food, clothes, etc., which can be pushed back into the quarter berth, keeping the main cabin clear during the day.

Hope to see you out there some time! We're planning to go out for Father's Day weekend -- probably Two Harbors.

Edited by - RichardG on 05/31/2003 12:15:53

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2003 : 12:28:16

Thanks for sharing your cool cruise... great pics!!!!

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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