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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

First Catalina Island trip of the year

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/29/2004 : 12:16:31

We left LA Harbor Friday afternoon sailing cautiously because Small Craft Advisory conditions were present, although it made for a rather brisk sail over to Avalon, crossing in a little under 4 hours. A second reef point in the main would have been preferred.

I usually try to get to Avalon in the Spring because it's less crowded and moorings can be tough to get there later on. The island was really beautiful -- everything was green from winter rains, with wildflowers in bloom.

Met a real nice couple moored near us on a Hunter 32. Not really my cup of tea, but it was BIG inside.

Got started early Saturday morning to make our tee-time at Catalina Island Golf Club. It's only 9 holes and isn't long, but it's very nice and challenging thanks to Mr Wrigley. I heard different stories -- the oldest course West of the Mississippi, West Coast, etc. Who knows, but it was fun and it was new experience cruising through the harbor with clubs in the dinghy...unloading at the dinghy dock was a bit wobbly, but we made it ashore without getting wet (both ourselves and the clubs).

Snorkeling later at Casino Point was fun, as the water seemed clearer than usual, but the water was still pretty cold.

We motored out of Avalon about 11 am yesterday in zero wind, but after about an hour it slowly picked up to where we could sail between 3 and and 4 knots. The wind increased slowly as we progressed across San Pedro Channel to where it was cranking really good as we approached LA Lighthouse. The return trip took about 4 1/2 hours, much warmer than the trip over.

RichardG 81 FK/SR #2657
Terminal Island, CA

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 12:56:52

sounds like a great trip! We had big swells, strong winds, and plenty of sunshine down here in San Diego. It was a great weekend for sailing around the harbor. Saturday was 7 foot waves breaking on the bar in the Mission Bay channel. I went out anyways, but only briefly! Sunday was smaller but there were still 6 footers out there now and then. Returned early and spent 2 or 3 hours sailing around Mission Bay in 12 to 15 knots.

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jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 18:33:40

I was there a couple years ago and heard that the front row of moorings closest to the beach is reserved for boats 25 feet and under. As a result, there are usually mooring balls available all during the summer. Is this true? If so, would it be a good place to moor a Catalina 25?

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Todd Frye
Navigator

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USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 23:21:39

RichardG,
You've taken my dream cruise. Ever since we found our 86 swinger, I've wanted to take her to Catalina Island. Although you have a fin keel, any feelings you might have on taking a swing keel on the same trip & conditions would be appreciated. What were the conditions? Swells. Wind speed. Tides. Precep. Visability. Any special precautions taken for small craft adisory conditions on this trip? Thank you. Todd Frye

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 00:21:31

The front row or moorings just off the beach, the string line, in Two Harbors is reserved for 25 feet and under. It's usually possible to get in there any time of year (major holiday weekends excepted).

Avalon does not have moorings set aside for 25 and under.

Even if the string line is full, Two Harbors has decent anchorage, as do most of the little coves between there and Avalon.

The Catalina 25 is very much at home on the string line

I think a swing keel, wing keel, water ballast, fin, you name it, would be fine in a summer crossing as long as you pay attention to your weather.

Join us on our Fleet 7 Catalina circumnavigation and daysail to Santa Barbara Island this summer Aug. 2 - 20.

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 01:18:13

I have done the trip 3 times in the last 5 years with my swing, no problems at all. Last year we left Two Harbors after the end of the Catalina Rendevous and sailed all the way around the island with a stop over at Little Harbor on the Pacific side. As Richard has pointed out, the wind can really come up strong in the afternoon and make the trip very rough. Leave early in the morning and it will be flat and no wind. If you leave too early from San Pedro it can also be very foggy. The main shipping channel is about 5 miles off shore, so keep your eyes peeled. Those big guys move deceavingly fast. Hey Richard, next time we make the trip I challenge you to a round of miniture golf at the Avalon Putt-Putt.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 01:28:50

As Jim said, the string line at Two Harbors is usually open for Cat25's. The only time I've been turned away there was last Fall at the Buccaneers Day celebration (where A LOT of usually normal people dress up as pirates and act less than their age for a weekend). The string line is also a little less expensive than the full moorings. Specifically requesting a spot on "outside stringline" from the Harbor Master helps get you there.

I understand all the moorings at Avalon, as well as Whites, are privately owned, thus are sized to the owners boat. Moorings at Whites are getting more expensive because mooring owners often are getting bigger boats. Last summer there were only two 30' moorings left there (all others 35'+). Mooring rental prices are based on mooring size, not your boat size. The front row in Avalon seems to still have lots of smaller moorings, which may be due to boat-size restrictions related to the relative depth and their close proximity to the seawall which could make handling bigger boats tougher for the Harbor Patrol folks during Santa Ana's. Regardless, getting one of those is tough during the summer, expecially on weekends. Plus, heavy crowds in town from tourists, cruise shippers, et al can make the town pretty busy, one of the main reasons I leave the mainland to go to Catalina in the first place. But Spring/Fall there is be very pleasant and uncrowded.

Conditions this past weekend were rougher than usual, especially compared to summer conditions. Being a "fairweather" sailor is pretty easy around here -- if it's too windy/wavy/rainy (not too often), you just wait a day or so, and waiting is pretty rare during the summer (although occasional fog can be a little intimidating, but usually lifts later in the day). I usually don't go out when the red flag is flying (both Friday and Saturday on the inner waters), but a quick moving front came through Thursday night/Friday morning with better conditions promised after it passed encouraged me to give it a try. Plus, my wife and kids stayed at home on this trip, so I didn't have to worry about their uncomfort in such conditions. Relatively high winds, with bigger than usual wind waves stacked on top of some pretty big swells, made things interesting on the way over. But with the help of a friend I trust, I was greatful that the C25 handled the conditions pretty well.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 01:37:55

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I challenge you to a round of miniture golf at the Avalon Putt-Putt<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You're on!

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