A couple of questions about mooring/anchoring at Catalina Island: We made our first trip across the channel from Long Beach to Catalina this past Friday -- great sailing (once the wind freshened), but we found to our disappointment when we arrived that there were NO moorings available anywhere on the island. Seems the "first come, first served" doesn't take into account that private owners of moorings (which includes all moorings at Avalon) can reserve their moorings in advance. Live and learn -- I guess if I owned one I'd want to be able to reserve it too. Given that we'd never anchored the boat before and the exposed location of anchorages around Avalon we opted to sail back to the mainland. So, here's 2 questions for all you Southern California sailors: (1) What are the best days to get a mooring at Avalon or the Isthmus? Any "tricks," exchanges of owners willing to rent their vacant moorings, etc.? (2) What are the recommended anchoring techniques and scope for anchoring outside Avalon? What's the bottom composition -- we know it's depths of 100' or more just outside the harbor. We're planning on upgrading our ground tackle (currently have a 20-pound or so Danforth with a combination chain/nylon rode) and want to get something that will be appropriate to this location, which is probably the only place we'll plan on anchoring (our other sailing is daysailing or to marinas where we overnight in transient slips). Thanks! Mike Turner S/V Amity (Catalina 30) Long Beach
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Catalina moorings
Mike; Welcome to the Pacific! Generally, to get a mooring during August at either Avalon or the Isthmus, you must arrive on Thursday. People who own/lease moorings all ready have lots of friends and if you don't all ready know someone, good luck, they tend to be very picky. Forget about anchoring at Avalon; it's too deep, it's too rolly, it's not worth the sleepless night. For a very nice practice anchoring experience, lunch/dinner or overnight, go out to Island White. The depth is about 35 feet or so and protection is good. I do it regularly. If you like, contact me at svmoondance@hotmail.com for more info. Larry W.
Mike; Welcome to the Pacific! Generally, to get a mooring during August at either Avalon or the Isthmus, you must arrive on Thursday. People who own/lease moorings all ready have lots of friends and if you don't all ready know someone, good luck, they tend to be very picky. Forget about anchoring at Avalon; it's too deep, it's too rolly, it's not worth the sleepless night. For a very nice practice anchoring experience, lunch/dinner or overnight, go out to Island White. The depth is about 35 feet or so and protection is good. I do it regularly. If you like, contact me at svmoondance@hotmail.com for more info. Larry W.
Ahhh, the joys of Catalina...
Yes, it does get pretty crazy there. Not a place to really get away from it all... Getting a mooring on a Friday or Saturday will be very difficult. We've had good luck on Thursdays and we will be going up this coming Sunday (fingers crossed...) hopefully there will be something. Anchoring outside Avalon is tough but there is actually a pretty good anchorage at Cat. Harbor which is on the other side of the Isthmus. It's a ways from Avalon but tends to be a little more laid back and cruiser friendly. It also gets pretty crowded but there's usually room for more boats to anchor there. Have fun!
Yes, it does get pretty crazy there. Not a place to really get away from it all... Getting a mooring on a Friday or Saturday will be very difficult. We've had good luck on Thursdays and we will be going up this coming Sunday (fingers crossed...) hopefully there will be something. Anchoring outside Avalon is tough but there is actually a pretty good anchorage at Cat. Harbor which is on the other side of the Isthmus. It's a ways from Avalon but tends to be a little more laid back and cruiser friendly. It also gets pretty crowded but there's usually room for more boats to anchor there. Have fun!
Mike: similar advice..
..the very best way to get a weekend mooring is to arrive about 9:30 or 10:00 AM Thursday. The mooring owners (me) have to call in in advance to reserve, so the harbor folks know on Thursday AM who will be there and who not. Of course, it is not always possible to arrive then. For Avalon, there is Descanso Bay for anchoring. It is just to the West of the Hamilton Cove condos. It has good holding and you can get in a bit closer so it isn't so deep. However, Descanso means 'peaceful'. It isn't. It can get a tad rolly. Per the prior suggestion, try Whites. It is a great anchorage and a shore boat runs twice a day to Avalon, or if you have a good dinghy/motor combo, it is a 40 minute motor. You can anchor at the Isthmus Cove in about 60-80' of water. Lots of people do that. Cat Harbor is the best for anchoring, but it is on the back side, so add about an hour or two. Actually, there are quite a few other smaller anchorages on the front side, many of which do not have moorings. I suggest you get a Catalina chart guide and take a look. There are descriptions, charts and photos. It is a great resource and entertaining when motoring around, which you should also do some time. As to ground tackle, the most important thing is to have a LOT of it. As you noticed, it is deep. The biggest problem is kelp, but that fouls most anchors, so don't toss the Danforth yet. It is mostly about getting a good set. And, close-in, most use two anchors, so have a lightweight with just a little chain and a lot of rode for a stern anchor. (Easy way is to dinghy it out after you're set.) Enjoy, Rick D.
..the very best way to get a weekend mooring is to arrive about 9:30 or 10:00 AM Thursday. The mooring owners (me) have to call in in advance to reserve, so the harbor folks know on Thursday AM who will be there and who not. Of course, it is not always possible to arrive then. For Avalon, there is Descanso Bay for anchoring. It is just to the West of the Hamilton Cove condos. It has good holding and you can get in a bit closer so it isn't so deep. However, Descanso means 'peaceful'. It isn't. It can get a tad rolly. Per the prior suggestion, try Whites. It is a great anchorage and a shore boat runs twice a day to Avalon, or if you have a good dinghy/motor combo, it is a 40 minute motor. You can anchor at the Isthmus Cove in about 60-80' of water. Lots of people do that. Cat Harbor is the best for anchoring, but it is on the back side, so add about an hour or two. Actually, there are quite a few other smaller anchorages on the front side, many of which do not have moorings. I suggest you get a Catalina chart guide and take a look. There are descriptions, charts and photos. It is a great resource and entertaining when motoring around, which you should also do some time. As to ground tackle, the most important thing is to have a LOT of it. As you noticed, it is deep. The biggest problem is kelp, but that fouls most anchors, so don't toss the Danforth yet. It is mostly about getting a good set. And, close-in, most use two anchors, so have a lightweight with just a little chain and a lot of rode for a stern anchor. (Easy way is to dinghy it out after you're set.) Enjoy, Rick D.
Other moorings.
I had the very same experience the first time I went to the Island.If I want to go to the Isthmas or the other coves nearby, I go before the 4th of July and after school starts in mid September. The chances of getting a mooring during July and August are pretty slim. Any other time during the summer, I will go to Emerald Bay on a Thursday or Friday morning. Not much to do there except swim, snorlel and watch the other boats try to pick up a mooring. I know they watch me!
I had the very same experience the first time I went to the Island.If I want to go to the Isthmas or the other coves nearby, I go before the 4th of July and after school starts in mid September. The chances of getting a mooring during July and August are pretty slim. Any other time during the summer, I will go to Emerald Bay on a Thursday or Friday morning. Not much to do there except swim, snorlel and watch the other boats try to pick up a mooring. I know they watch me!
Try early in the week
I echo what the others have said, but in early July, I've never had a problem getting a good mooring inside in Avalon early in the week. I usually go over on Monday or Tuesday and have never in 10 years had a problem, but it was a bit busier this year. Once you are there you build seniority the longer you are there so when the weekend comes around, if you were there early in the week, chances are you will not get moved outside. The past 3 years we have been on one mooring our entire trip as we usually stay any where from 7 to 10 days. Good luck, Lady Di in Alamitos Bay
I echo what the others have said, but in early July, I've never had a problem getting a good mooring inside in Avalon early in the week. I usually go over on Monday or Tuesday and have never in 10 years had a problem, but it was a bit busier this year. Once you are there you build seniority the longer you are there so when the weekend comes around, if you were there early in the week, chances are you will not get moved outside. The past 3 years we have been on one mooring our entire trip as we usually stay any where from 7 to 10 days. Good luck, Lady Di in Alamitos Bay
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