Sailing to Catalina - Sweet Video!!!

[JoelHoover]

Go Venture 25 Go!

Catalina Part 1
Sailing to the island across 24 miles of open ocean infested with man-eating dolphins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6QdbUpjnU


Catalina Part 2
Exploring the island then sailing home with a harem of mermaids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2JnTi4UBlY

 

[walt]

Nice!!!! Enjoyed the trip..

 

[MrBill_FLL]

"its so clean..... its like Florida" <-- thats funny stuff right there!

 

[Sumner]

Thanks, Ruth and I enjoyed it. Maybe we should haul our Mac to Long Beach with us in April,

Sum and Ruth

 

[MrMikey64]

Very cool video - can't wait to get the boat out there sometime soon!

 

[caguy]

"its so clean..... its like Florida" <-- thats funny stuff right there!

Very entertaining. I like the part about his willingness to drink the water. The last time I was there I found the people on the line periodically jumping in the water only to tread water for a while before climbing back into their boats. The old guy next to me jumped in about every 20 minutes. It was warm out so I decided to try it and the water was freakin' cold. That's when it dawned on me why they were really jumping in. When we used to water ski at the river we always held a finger up while in the water, so others would know to stay away while we relieved ourselves.
Dude don't drink it, it may be clear but sea water isn't the only reason it is salty.
Joel nice job on the Sea Mammals news updates as well. I really appreciate your efforts in trying to protect them.
When you check out the catalina trips you should check out his other vids as well.

 

[CaptTripps]

Wow...Really nice video. It helped sell my wife on our purchases of our '85 M 25. I kept telling her they were worthy vessels! It's ~17^ here in SW MO and Pure Pleasure is sitting out back with a blanket of snow on her. Thanks for the reprieve from the cold weather!>><CaptTripps

 

[beamreach]

Double wow! My wife said, quote unquote "Looks like fun, that guy has really nice teeth!" I think I need to go brush mine! It was 14 degrees in Tallahasee, Fl last night and 42 in Key West. Your video is very well done and most timely for us sitting around waiting for a reprieve in the weather. More power to you! Old Mac's are not like old soldiers, they don't die and they don't just fade away.

 

[JDK]

Another good one.

Monkeys! It's 32 degrees in New Port Richey right now, headed lower. I won't say what my wife said when I suggested going out tomorrow to see if the autopilot is actually fixed this time.

I wish we had an island like Catalina at that distance from our shore. I'm attaching a pic from Puerto Vallarta taken last week. Some guys have all the toys.

JDK

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Thanks for posting this, Joel. I may never get to California, but I enjoyed visiting Catalina with you! -Paul

 

[flynfol]

Nice video. I'm jealous. It reminded me of my last trip out there(took the ferry). teeing off on the ninth hole, (remembering the guy I watched take five strokes to get out of the grand canyon in front of the green), I grabbed my 8 iron and got all of it(10 yards too far), ball bounced in the middle of the road in front of a firetruck, who blew his horn and waved, came down again on the metal roof of the clubhouse, they all waved too, but saved par with an incredible chip shot after a drop. Can't wait to return ans sail there instead.

Fairwinds, J

 

[timebandit]

Ooooh, you are such a fibber.:Liar:

You are sooooo good at photo shop.:dance:

You are such a bad man.

I can tell that you were in a lake in the summer with winter clothes on and the fish were really cat fish.

How do I know it's fake???

First, everyone knows that you cannot take a Mac off shore, you'll drown because only real big, heavy, expensive boats can do that.:naughty:

Just ask any real sailboat owner.:naughty:

If you weren't in the ocean then the fish could not be dolphins.:naughty:

Everybody knows the weather in southern california on the first of the year was real bad.:neutral:

 

[CaptTripps]

U a bad lil monkey timebandit! Tossing around all those unfounded claims...which I am sure are true cause I looked it up and there are no dolphins in our lake either! That Joel sure is a kidder!

 

[timebandit]

This is what boats in socal really looked like on the first of the year--

 

[Gregg9020]

Joel!!! Great videos. We (my wife and I watched them the other night. I think you have inspired us to haul the boat down there and head over to the island someday.

One question, what is the best time of year to go? We are both fair weather sailors, and haven't done anything like that before. I have sailed the SF Bay plenty, but there is land all around, and the Coast Guard and Police are right there if is any trouble. Do you recommend going with a small group of people? We have a freind that has the same boat, and we could do it with them, but ifa karger group is better, then we might try it. Also. How hard is it to get a mooring ball, and can you tie up two boats to one?

THanks again.

Gregg

 

[timebandit]

This site will answer some of your questions and be sure to tell them your boat is only 25 feet long if longer.

http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/Boating.php

Joel!!! Great videos. We (my wife and I watched them the other night. I think you have inspired us to haul the boat down there and head over to the island someday.

One question, what is the best time of year to go? We are both fair weather sailors, and haven't done anything like that before. I have sailed the SF Bay plenty, but there is land all around, and the Coast Guard and Police are right there if is any trouble. Do you recommend going with a small group of people? We have a freind that has the same boat, and we could do it with them, but ifa karger group is better, then we might try it. Also. How hard is it to get a mooring ball, and can you tie up two boats to one?

THanks again.

Gregg

 

[JoelHoover]

Thanks for all of the replies guys!

I am ecstatic that you all liked my video... and my corny jokes!

We filmed the Winter Edition of OceanMammalsNEWS over the weekend.
I don't want to post it because it's about dolphins and whales, and not sailboats,
but it is dang funny. Jed is the true star.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGluUvXef9U


Gregg,

That was my first time ever going to Catalina. I would guess that summer would he the best time to do anything in Southern California. Frank (CaGuy on this forum) has sailed there many times, and his knowledge was quite helpful. I emailed him a week before I left. I'll post what he wrote about it on this thread.

-Joel

 

[caguy]

Joel!!! Great videos. We (my wife and I watched them the other night. I think you have inspired us to haul the boat down there and head over to the island someday.

One question, what is the best time of year to go? We are both fair weather sailors, and haven't done anything like that before. I have sailed the SF Bay plenty, but there is land all around, and the Coast Guard and Police are right there if is any trouble. Do you recommend going with a small group of people? We have a freind that has the same boat, and we could do it with them, but ifa karger group is better, then we might try it. Also. How hard is it to get a mooring ball, and can you tie up two boats to one?

If it helps, Gregg, just think you are never more than 13 miles from shore.

 

[JoelHoover]

Here is what Frank wrote when I asked him for advice on sailing to Catalina:

"Take something to get to shore with, dink, kayak, inner tube. The shore boat fees will kill you.*
If this is your first time mooring let the Harbor Patrol know this when you check in to pay for your spot. They will stand by and give you pointers, directions and a pat on the back.
Before you head back take a ride up to Emerald bay. Its about a 20 min trip but well worth it. I'd love to moor up there some time.*
Usually the wind is blowing head on and mooring is not a problem. If the wind is blowing cross wise, pick up the stick on the windward side, so you don't get blown over the spreader line. Once you get the Bow Hawser attached to your front cleat follow the spreader line hand over hand quickly to the back of the boat and pull the boat in line and tie off.
Keep someone who knows how to control the boat at the motor in neutral just in case. Always helpful when you have four hands. Try not to come in too hot but keep enough speed for steerability.
Check your tide tables if you are on the string line. Nothing worse than being awaken at 3 in the morning when the keel hits bottom. If no severe tide don't worry about it.
Let us know when you get there. There is Wifi on the patio behind the inner bar.
As you approach the Island going to 2 Harbors the wind has never failed to pick up a at times get a little snotty. It happens about 5 mile out. I've never had to reef though I could have. I just toughed it out until I got in lee of the island.
If you forget anything food and supplies at the market are fairly reasonable. I always end up taking way more food than I need.
Watch for the pods of porpoises they are always amazing.*
When leaving I like to leave early 8-9 am. The water is usually really still and all of the sea creatures are easy to spot. IE. sharks, dolphins etc.*
That's about all I can think of for now. Have a great time and stay safe.*
Frank"

 

[walt]

Many moons ago and BS (before sailing), I used to do a lot of diving in the S. Cal area. Your video reminded me of one dive we did where we took all our gear except tanks (rented when we got there) over on the shuttle boat and then dove the beach you showed in the video. Its a fairly steep drop off and turns out that was the deepest dive I ever did. Got down to 140 feet. Didn't spend long at that depth. I think you would have a hard time dropping an anchor where the dive spot is.

Note.. before someone points out the danger of diving to 140 feet.. yup I know. Sneaking in and diving the Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor and being completely under the hull at 3 AM in the morning probably wasn't safe either..