1st sailing trip to Catalina, some questions

Brian D · Jan 15, 2013

Having not been to Catalina (yet), I can tell you about the radio checks. Stay off Channel 16. That is not for use of radio checks. Check the other channels for an on going conversation. Then after the users clear, call one of them and ask for a radio check. I believe Oceanside Coast Guard Aux monitors Channel 22 and you can call them. Probably most other CGAux monitor different channels.

I am green with envy. One day I will head to Catalina.

caguy · Jan 15, 2013

newsailor72 said:
1. what's the proper way to do a radio check with the CG? I'll be out of Alamitos Bay, long beach. I tried doing "this is xyz, this is xyz, this is xyz. Can I get a radio check" but go no response. I can hear their broadcast though.

2. mooring at Avalon, specifically picking up the mooring ball. Here's what I think I should do, any tips will be great.
a. lower sails when getting close to avalon (if I get to sail it.)
b. call the avalon harbor master on channel 12. Where should I wait for the guy? (should I wait where the Cat. Express dock is?)
c. should I moor with the spreadline on the windward side or leeward side of the boat and why?
d. when doing the mooring, the bow person picks up the wand and put the loop on the bow cleat then takes the spreadline and walks to the stern and puts the 2nd loop on the stern cleat. any advice on this process? I read that it could be entertaining (for the spectators.) How about when leaving the mooring?

If you use channel 27 you won't get scolded by the CG. Channel 16 is for emergency use only. The transmission is in San Pedro but you should certainly be able to access it in Alamitos. When you send your message it doesn't matter what you say. You will get a recorded message of your transmission letting you know what you sound like. I use it in MDR where the response recording is audible but weak. The last time I it did not work. I wasn't sure if the system was down so I used channel 9 and got a response from somewhere that I was loud and clear. I also have a backup portable the I occasionally use.
This time of year moorings are easy to get. When you get into the harbor you will see the swells subside unless the weather is stinko. I usually drop my sails there after warming up the OB. Look for a little red boat most of the time you can wave him over. If he is in another cove you can call him on Channel 9 and wait for him. Have your check book handy. During the summer when it is busy you will hear a lot of chatter on the radio channel 9 regarding moorings that are available. I found the many cruisers call the harbor while they are still a half hour to an hour out. Depending on who you get they will sometimes give you a mooring number then and charge you after hookup. I've done it the last couple of times out in both Two Harbors and Avalon. It is comforting to get a space on a busy weekend ahead of time especially when you see motor boats and faster sailboat headed for the same harbor all competing for the same limited mooring balls. At Two Harbors you can reserve ahead of time on Friday morning 12:00 am.
Because I usually sail solo picking up a mooring ball alway makes me nervous. Let the Harbor Patrol know this is your first time mooring and they will assist you, especially if it is windy. On bad days they have rafted with me and drove me in. You will want to hook up on the lee side otherwise the wind will blow you across the spreader line and get hung up on the keel. When hooking up the forward Hawser I will use the spreader line eye rather than the heavy hawser line, which can be a struggle to get around your cleat if your cleat is too small. You can always come back and change it after your aft is secured. After hooking up quickly move to the back hand-over-hand following the spreader line. Don't stop until you get to the back. The intuitive urge is to try to pull the boat over from mid-boat (not going to happen), the goal is to get to the back of the boat as quickly as possible then pull the boat over and hookup the aft hawser.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the entertainment while watching others struggle.

Rick D · Jan 15, 2013

Avalon Harbor Master is Ch 12

... channel 09 is for the rest of the island coves. 12 is also for the shore boat. Watch your weather closely. You don't want to get caught in a Santa Ana although we are a bit past the season, they can still happen.

The harbor master will be in a red boat at the harbor fairway entrance. You'll see him. If you get there and don't find him or her, just orbit and call on 12.

You have a good idea and good advise re: picking up the mooring. I always check to see which side the majority of boats have their mooring lines on and follow suit. Be careful not to run over mooring lines or you can foul a prop.

Channel 27 is a playback channel hosted by Sea Tow dedicated for radio checks. It is in Huntington Harbor. You can also see if other boaters will respond on channel 09.

Have a great time!

Jeff Jellick · Jan 15, 2013

newsailor72 said:
with the weather forecast looking good for this weekend, I'm hoping to make my first crossing. leaving Sat morning, overnight at Avalon then head back Sun around noon. I made a short trial run couple weeks ago (motored about 7 miles out, sea was dead calm), everything seemed fine, radio/gps/boat/motor had no problem. cell phone was kind of sketchy.

have some questions.

1. what's the proper way to do a radio check with the CG? I'll be out of Alamitos Bay, long beach. I tried doing "this is xyz, this is xyz, this is xyz. Can I get a radio check" but go no response. I can hear their broadcast though.

2. mooring at Avalon, specifically picking up the mooring ball. Here's what I think I should do, any tips will be great.
a. lower sails when getting close to avalon (if I get to sail it.)
b. call the avalon harbormaster on channel 12. Where should I wait for the guy? (should I wait where the Cat. Express dock is?)
c. should I moor with the spreadline on the windward side or leeward side of the boat and why?
d. when doing the mooring, the bow person picks up the wand and put the loop on the bow cleat then takes the spreadline and walks to the stern and puts the 2nd loop on the stern cleat. any advice on this process? I read that it could be entertaining (for the spectators.) How about when leaving the mooring?

Does your boat have a holding tank?

Jeff

Captian George · Jan 15, 2013

Hi Newsailor,

It just so happens I saw a YouTube video the other day about that trip. You may have to go to sailingtv on the Internet to find. This video shows how far Catalina is from perspective ports as well as how to more and how the marinas operate. If I can find the exact link I'll post it here. Happy sailing my friend and let me know how it goes. We can't get back on the water again here till April and I can hardly wait!

Rick · Jan 15, 2013

All good advice from above..
A couple of tips also.

Once you pull up the wand and get the forward hawser, throw the wand back in the water in case you have to waive off! Also bring it(the hawser) under your bow pulpit and NOT over any rigging.

Play your stern to weather because you are gonna drift while you bring the slime line aft.

As Rick D mentioned maybe a dry pass to check for kelp on the wand, in your mooring, and to see which side your mates are tied off on.

Have fun

Rick D · Jan 15, 2013

Answers...

newsailor72 said:
I've a porta potty, does that count? also, do I need anchor light on at night? haven't hooked up my anchor light yet(never had to use it), will a stern light be sufficient? worst case, I'll hoist the portable stern light up the mast.

...Porta Potty is fine. There will be a harbor boat which will come by and put a dye tablet in it to be sure there is no overboard discharge (punishable by fine, expulsion, and barred from the harbor for I think a year). You do not need an anchor light in Avalon harbor.

Joe · Jan 15, 2013

This video will answer all your questions about cruising Catalina Island. There is a detailed section on checking in and mooring protocol. The Harbor patrol in Avalon is very helpful to first time visitors but they will ask you about your MSD and check to make sure it doesn't leak anything into the water. It's not good to fail this test........... otherwise, have a blast, you'll love it.

http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/cast_off/

You can hang a 360 degree visible light from the end of the boom if your masthead light doesn't work. (Although I don't think an anchor light is required in the mooring field... ask the harbor master when you arrive).
I have an inexpensive coleman led camp lantern just for that purpose.... it also lights up the cockpit.

caguy · Jan 15, 2013

No lights required, however a headlight comes in handy. The porta-potty is also fine. I have a pee-bottle that I use. You can take several leaks in it before dumping it into the porta-potty. It's not the pee that fills up the potty but the flushes.
If you can take an extra day otherwise you will spnend most of your weekend sailing. It's nice to relax for at least a day or two before starting back. A trlip up to two harbors is also nice.
You may want to take a way to get ashore, such as a small raft, kayak or inner tube. The shore boat can get expensive especially if you have company. The shoreboat fees coming form some of the other anchorages such as Descanso or Hamiton Cove seems pretty reasonable especially late at night, but when you are moored 50 feet from the Tuna Club dock $20 round trip for two seems like a lot.

Rick · Jan 15, 2013

The other option if you dont have a dingy is to make friends! Due to the length of your boat you are going to be up very close to shore. Most boaters are more than happy to drop you on the way to or from.

This time of year, the dock by the Avalon yacht club may not be open. Just ask the Harbor Master which dingy docks are open when you are assigned a can.

No worries

rfrye1 · Jan 15, 2013

1. Get a good pair of leather gloves to haul the mooring line. They are nasty.
2. Get a solar light for your cockpit so you can find your boat after a few cocktails onshore. Its amazing how easy it is to lose your boat....
3. I always put the mooring line on the same side as my neighbors. Between swell and tide its not uncommon to bump your neighbor during the night.
4. be very careful at the Avalon fuel dock. Swell & surge can be nasty.
Have fun! Bob

rfrye1 · Jan 15, 2013

One more thing. Two Harbors is offering 7 nights mooring for the price of two thru March 24th. Just an FYI.
Bob.

StinkBug · Jan 15, 2013

This is probably a question limited to those of us who keep our boats on a trailer. I live down in San Diego but plan to tow up to MDR or Long Beach when I go. Anyone know a good, safe place to stash the truck and trailer for the weekend?

caguy · Jan 15, 2013

StinkBug said:
This is probably a question limited to those of us who keep our boats on a trailer. I live down in San Diego but plan to tow up to MDR or Long Beach when I go. Anyone know a good, safe place to stash the truck and trailer for the weekend?

Marina del Rey is safe as well as Queens Way Bridge. Both are $10/24 hr day. MDR may have a little more security with the Beaches and Harbors office just down the road and the Sheriffs'
dock adjacent to launch. It's a nice upper class neighborhood. I would still not leave anything of value in your vehicle however.
When do you plan on going over?

Rick D · Jan 16, 2013

Here's Some Info

newsailor72 said:
Avalon fuel dock is the one near the Casino?

also, what are some of the good mooring spots in Avalon. I don't really mind which one the harbormaster gives me, but just good to know.

You will likely go on one of the 1-36 moorings or one of the alpha moorings behind them. I don't particularly like the ones by the pier since I find them noisy and late night Karaoke at the El Gallion can sometimes make a squealing pig sound good ;-) Some folks don't care for the clock chimes over by the fuel dock. I prefer the ones near the Catalina Island Yacht Club (no reciprocals) but it's hard to miss; that's being very picky. See this for the mooring layout:

http://www.cityofavalon.com/filestorage/3182/3209/Brochure_July_2011.pdf

caguy · Jan 16, 2013

As as mentioned above the surge can be quite strong the closer you get to the shore.

StinkBug · Jan 16, 2013

caguy said:
When do you plan on going over?

Probably wont have time til March or so. Trying to get a bunch of little stuff done to the boat in the mean time.