Catalina Labor Day weekend

[Nick_Hill]

Catalina Labor Day weekend - Advice?

Friday AM we have a couple of boats heading out to Two Harbors for the weekend. I am fully aware that we won't find mooring so we are planning to anchor. Does anyone have a good suggestions where would be best to anchor if Two Harbors is too packed? Looking for somewhere pretty calm.

 

[Rick D]

Well, over by the camp grounds on the east side is most desirable in TH. Anything else is rolly and takes huge scope. Otherwise, you'll most likely get a mooring at Howlands or Emerald, both of which have shoreboat service to TH a couple of times a day. You can also anchor in Emerald, by the rock. Otherwise, you can almost be guaranteed moorings or good anchorage in Cat Harbor if you are willing to spend the hour and a half more to go around the west end. IMHO, it's worth it. For Cat Harbor, look to the east side as you come in. The anchorages most protected are by the fish farms. there is also very shoal anchorages in the north part of Cat, but you better be under 4' real draft. the Harbor Patrol provides shoreboat service in Cat, in season on weekends. Have fun!

 

[Nick_Hill]

Well, over by the camp grounds on the east side is most desirable in TH. Anything else is rolly and takes huge scope. Otherwise, you'll most likely get a mooring at Howlands or Emerald, both of which have shoreboat service to TH a couple of times a day. You can also anchor in Emerald, by the rock. Otherwise, you can almost be guaranteed moorings or good anchorage in Cat Harbor if you are willing to spend the hour and a half more to go around the west end. IMHO, it's worth it. For Cat Harbor, look to the east side as you come in. The anchorages most protected are by the fish farms. there is also very shoal anchorages in the north part of Cat, but you better be under 4' real draft. the Harbor Patrol provides shoreboat service in Cat, in season on weekends. Have fun!

Thanks Rick! Our draft is 5.5. Emerald sounds pretty good. Will the water taxis come out that far? We have a dinghy that runs on people power.

Any other tips, or tricks would be appreciated.

 

[Rick D]

Shoreboat Service

Yea, they have shoreboat service to Two Harbors from Emerald, but only a few times to and back a day, so you have to find out the schedule. Call on Channel 9 when you get in range.

Otherwise, I would head in the general direction of Cherry Cove and begin to monitor Channel 9 as you get near the shipping lanes. You can then begin to get a handle on availability. If you hear Isthmus is on a wait list, head to Emerald. You can call Emerald Harbor Master when you are five or so miles off to see if anything is available. Then make up your mind whether you want to go around to Cat or anchor in Emerald. If you decide to go around, you haven't lost any time to speak of.

If you decide to go around to Cat, I suggest anchoring on the east side of the entrance on the beach side of the two fish farms. Good holding. The only downside is human powered dinghy. Suggest you call the Cat Harbor Harbormaster on 9 to schedule a ride to shore. If you have a handheld, you'll want to take it with you to hail him when you get back to the dock.

BTW, I have given a lot of rides and towed many a dink in my day, so I'm sure you would be able to grab a tow on your dink going back. Going back in the afternoon is often against the 15ish knot wind that starts blowing around the dinghy docks and moorings 1500 daily. Not so much in the anchorage.

Anyhow, that's my take. Others may have more or better suggestions. Have fun!

PS: give the entrance to Cat a reasonably wide berth; don't cut it close to port going in. There is a rock area there.

 

[windward54]

The shoreboat will go out to Emerald, but you have to schedule the pick up with the Harbor Patrol.

 

[Nick_Hill]

Thanks again guys!

Any details on Little Geiger Cove?

 

[Kings Gambit]

Labor Day Weekend at Two Harbors will be a total zoo if the weather is good. A few years ago we went there on the Friday before with a friend on separate boats. There were no moorings available on either side (Isthmus or Cat Harbor). My friend ended up rafting the night with another friend who was there. We anchored at Cat Harbor on very short scope (about 55' in 30' of water; all chain, however) because there was no room to let out scope, the place was sooooo crowded. The next day (and this was a beautiful weekend), we took off for Santa Barbara Island, about 25 n. mi. west of Cat Harbor. Anchoring at Landing Cove, there were--count 'em--- a total of nine yachts. Forty-five miles from 9 million people on one of the most popular 3-day weekends of the year, in beautiful weather, and only nine other boats. It was heaven!!!