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Cruise to Catalina Island

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/30/2003 : 01:02:45

Many of you know all about the island our boats are named for. Those that do not will enjoy these pictures and descriptions of our vacation 2003 cruise.

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/vacation03.html

Indiscipline III at Two Harbors

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/vacation03/stringline.jpg" border=0>

We left Monday July 14 at dawn. Lucky for us, we had unusual south winds giving us a beam reach all the way to the island. 4.5 knots under sail, I ran the motor just above idle and kept our speed up to > 6 knots all the way. We arrived by noon - 40 nm in 7 hours.

The week spent at the island is well told in the pictures and on the web site.

Our return voyage the following Saturday was eventless, calm, flat and not enough wind to even sail 1 mile. I kept the engine at about 1/3 throttle, and made 5.5 knots, used about 5 gallons.

We returned home for several days, cut the lawn, did laundry, re-provisioned. Then I returned alone for 5 days of solo sailing. I really enjoyed it and was blessed with excellent afternoon winds every day. I sailed Dana Point to Newport (north) one day, then Dana Point to San Mateo point (south) the next. On Friday I took a short evening sail.

Saturday I got up and no matter what the previously 100% reliable Honda BF8A would not start for nothing! The motor had just been run Friday night (I don't know what to do but I'll work on it this weekend). The plugs are sparking and they are dry. Must be the carb.

All I all I sailed over 150 miles in 2 weeks, had a great time, caught and released lots of fish. Karen and the kids had a good time but 5 nights on board were enough for them.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 10:09:37

Lovely photos and a nice narritive... thanks for sharing them with us.

2 Adults + 2 Kids + 2 dogs + 5 days + Catalina 25 = Probably enough...

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 10:24:49

Jim,

Thanks for sharing with us. Sounds like y'awl had a wonderful vacation!

I'm interested in the "string line." Could you explain that to me?

Thanks,

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 12:27:15

String Line.

As you can see, the larger boats have regular moorings. Boats up to 25 feet are allowed to moor to the string line. This is a long heavy rope moored to two 10,000 lb mushroom anchors at each end. A pennant and painter are placed about every 20 feet. You grab the pennant and pull up the painter to tie off the bow, this is attached to a weighted stern line that you pull up and tie off. It is just like a regular mooring but all the boats on the line share the mushroom anchors.

The string line costs the same ($17 per night) as a smaller mooring, but it is just off the beach, and spaces on it are not owned (like the moorings) and can not be reserved so space is almost always available there. It is much more secure and comfortable then anchoring (since all the good spots have moorings and if you anchor you'll be in deep water > 50 feet with marginal protection).

Speaking of the moorings, you can buy one if you can come up with up to $20K to $100K. Then they paint your boat name on it. They lease the mooring out when you are not there and keep the money. If you call 24 hours in advance they will move any temporary boat off it and keep it open for you.

There was a Catalina 250 there that owned one of the smaller moorings and it looke to me like they left the boat moored all summer and take the Catalina Express ($45 one way) over for weekends. That could be a good idea considering dockage runs about $300/month on the mainland and it's a 5 to 7 hour sail.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 13:34:38

Jim:

Great pics!

It looks like you had the stringline all to yourself (except the LA County Sheriff boat on the end). I've heard the stringline referred to as the "trailor park of Two Harbors" given the limited space which it allows between boats when full on busy weekends.

Next time you may want to look into visiting the USC Oceanographic Institute (in the background of your picture of the tallships, I think?) -- students sometimes run tours of the very interesting facility. You can also arrange to snorkle in the small cove next to their dock and swim with large Leopard Sharks. Not to worry...they're all pregnant females (quite docile). A great number of large fish also make the water under the dock their home, knowing that fishing is not allowed there.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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dannyhain
Deckhand

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USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 16:04:25

Jim,
Your pictures and story on your link are great! Just curious, Was it a culture shock for your family switching from powerboat to sailboat? The admiral is pushing me to go the other way! Thanks Danny
Slippery When Wet

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 23:44:19

My wife doesn't really like sailing - she likes cruising and going places. So do the girls. The C25 is so slow (to them). She complains that you always have to be adjusting something on the sailboat. Can't just sit back, relax, and watch the sea. Other than the speed, the experience is pretty much the same sailing or powering - especially once you get there. Also, everyone has noticed that the sailboat is much more stable in waves (with the main up). The C25 rolls like a ball at anchor but we got some of those cone stabilizers and that really made a big difference.

We saw dolphins on our way back and wanted to run with them. I could not catch them in the sailboat and it would have been a piece of cake in any power boat. Same experience attempting to chase working birds.

We all like fishing and the C25 with the split backstay rig really does not make a very good fishing platform. You have to stand on the cockpit seats to fish and that puts you pretty high above the lifelines/pulpit. Even so I am able to troll 3 lines and we've been doing OK fishing. One good thing is the boat is silent and I think that makes it better for going after certain skittish ocean species. One day whales surfaced 20 feet from us and they never would have come that close to a power boat.

Docking the C25 is really easy, especially in a cross wind (compared to a 10 ton 40 foot power boat - which was much easier than our 25 foot stern drive). Backing the C25 is harder than any of the others. I have yet to dock in a strong cross current.

My girls take to the water like fish and they are fine down below on a 7 hour (or even longer) passage. They don't really want to sail the boat for more than 30 minutes or so. Of course, that was the same on the power boat. They love to play gameboys and pop up whenever anything is happening. They never get seasick and don't complain. They do their duty without question when docking or maneuvering. They like to play on the beach.

I spend most weekends solo sailing and I love the C25 for that. It's small enough for me to handle alone, fun to sail, forgiving of errors, and is very roomy for 1, and yet (just) big enough for all 4 of us on occasion.

At first I think Karen was afraid of the boat - heeling, capsizing, or getting caught out in bad weather due to not being able to outrun it. After several long voyages I think everyone knows the boat can handle what Southern CA summer ocean can dish out (we still watch the weather religiously).

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 23:54:32

I'd like to add one other thing. I went on an 80 mile round trip cruise Dana Point to Catalina for 8 gallons of gas. The power boat would have taken 80 gallons. I stayed on the string line for $17/night. The power boat would have been more like $30. If I have to replace the engine I am looking at $2000 instead of $12000. Monthly bottom cleaning is $25 instead of $40. Slip fees are $285 instead of $450. Insurance is $100 instead of $2000.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2003 : 01:36:02

Jim, if you look at my photos of Classical Cat you will notice that we both tied up at almost the exact same location....a great spot. We tied up on the string line during the rendevous about 3 years ago. Looking to maybe go again next summer.
Where is your boat slipped currently? Didn't you say you were going to move down to San Diego somewhere? Where?
Gary

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

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2003 : 21:01:22

Thank you for the pictures and great website. I thoroughly enjoyed them!

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2003 : 19:45:18

We are in Dana Point (east) C-29. Very close to the West Marine. I want to move to Mission Bay but there are 20 boats or 3 month waiting lists at all the marinas. I expect to get down there maybe in September.

When I do get to Mission Bay the boat will be 10 minutes from my office. Sailing after work every day!

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2003 : 00:18:01

Which marina in Mission Bay? We've looked at Dana Marina and like the location but haven't checked availability recently.
That would entail a 2.25 hour drive each way to sail. For now, I will be launching my C25 at Perris Lake for the winter so that will only take 35 minutes to get to the boat from home; less from work. Negative point to Perris Lake is their docks move alot in the boat chop and are falling apart (really old) and there is not much security there other than a locking gate on the docks.<img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>

Gary & Susie Norgan
1989 C25 tall/wing
Classical Cat #5944
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc35b3127cce94ddf43b35f60000001010" border=0>

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2003 : 13:17:40

I like the Dana Inn Marina but I've already been on their waiting list 6 months. Seaworld Marina is one of the cheapest, there are 20 boats ahead of me on their list. Dana Landing's smallest slip is 30' so I ruled them out. I'm on a 3 to 4 month waiting list at Seaforth and Marina Village. Campland on the Bay has a 2 1/2 year waiting list and won't even put me on it. Driscoll's doesn't have a list and the harbormaster told me to call near the end of each month and they could probably get me in sometime.

As soon as fishing season is over I'll probably end up at Driscolls. It's the closest to the ocean and has a boatyard. I think it's like $8.50/ft per month. They have 25 foot slips and won't charge for my overage (with outboard, the marinas around here charge the C25 at 26 and 1/2 feet). In Dana Point, you have to pay for the size of the slip and I am paying for a 28 foot spot at $9.25/foot. Bottom cleaning costs an extra $30/month.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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