question about two harbor, Catalina

[newsailor72]

hope to do the trip this weekend. We went to Avalon this Jan. and the crossing was pretty smooth. I assume going to two harbor is pretty much the same, right? My plan is to start early Sat. morning, stay at two harbor for 1 or 2 nights, then head down to Avalon around noon time on Monday, then spend 1 or 2 nights there. should have no problem getting a mooring at Avalon, right? since it's a weekday.

some questions:

is it possible to beach my mac 22 in two harbor?
does two harbor have restrooms and showers?
how far is the hike to the top of the hill where you can see the other side (Cat harbor)?
do I need to make mooring reservation? what's the URL?

any other tips/suggestions? thanks.

PS, I'll have a rowing dinghy. will be going with wife and 2 kids.

 

[foamy]

Two Harbors

Can only beach dingies away from the pier area; no boats.

Two Harbors has rest rooms, showers, general store, restaurant, snack shop, bar (got to have a Buffalo Milk).

Short walk to the Cat Harbor side, very flat.

I have heard that the reservation system may have been suspended; contact the Two Harbors web site.

Getting a mooring inside the Avalon harbor even mid week in the summer may be difficult, but maybe with a small boat not so much. Otherwise you will be assigned a mooring outside, which can be very bumpy.

As for weather, I have made probably a hundred crossings, some glassy calm, other times anywhere from 15 to 30 knots and up to 10 foot seas. Check NOAA weather reports and go to the Sailflow web site for wind model forecasts.

Have fun, plan ahead, and be safe. Don't forget the float plan.

 

[Lee Coller]

Here's the URL for mooring information: http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/twoHarbors/mooring-reservations.php

At 22' you can fit on the stringline, which they may still be taking reservations for, call or email them for more info.

 

[caguy]

I've never had a problem getting a mooring at Avalon on a weekday. Reservation system has been suspended at the west end. Take time to walk to the opening of Cat Harbor c
the east side of the harbor

 

[Rick]

Hey Newsailor

Be sure and look up the Whiskey Chaser. We are on a ten day sail starting Friday. Two hops up to Dana Point and then a crossing with my landlubbing sis and her BF. Gonna try to get to Avalon in the late morning time frame Sunday. Hope we can get a can bigtime cuz have friends coming over on ferry who are gonna be in the hotel in Avalon. Could be a long dingy ride from Descanzo or Hamilton but.. eh... no worries. Depart for Two Harbors on wednesday. Then a two day sail back on friday. We will be around and will have a cold one for ya.

If it is really rolly, one can always opt for Whites Landing/Cove. Always calm there but no services so you are boat locked and Avalon does not own them. VHF 9 and 12 for the Harbor Master, also know as the red boat and the gray boat.

Cheers

Oh and just checked the ten day forecast. Beeeutifullllll! Hope I can sleep. Getting pretty excited. Was 115 yesterday here in Phoenix. Arghhhhh

 

[RDS2012]

Hey Newsailor

Be sure and look up the Whiskey Chaser. We are on a ten day sail starting Friday. Two hops up to Dana Point and then a crossing with my landlubbing sis and her BF. Gonna try to get to Avalon in the late morning time frame Sunday. Hope we can get a can bigtime cuz have friends coming over on ferry who are gonna be in the hotel in Avalon. Could be a long dingy ride from Descanzo or Hamilton but.. eh... no worries. Depart for Two Harbors on wednesday. Then a two day sail back on friday. We will be around and will have a cold one for ya.

If it is really rolly, one can always opt for Whites Landing/Cove. Always calm there but no services so you are boat locked and Avalon does not own them. VHF 9 and 12 for the Harbor Master, also know as the red boat and the gray boat.

Cheers

Oh and just checked the ten day forecast. Beeeutifullllll! Hope I can sleep. Getting pretty excited. Was 115 yesterday here in Phoenix. Arghhhhh

Whiskey Chaser has a cool video on Youtube on going to Catalina. Will make you want to leave ASAP!

 

[newsailor72]

Hey Newsailor

Be sure and look up the Whiskey Chaser. We are on a ten day sail starting Friday. Two hops up to Dana Point and then a crossing with my landlubbing sis and her BF. Gonna try to get to Avalon in the late morning time frame Sunday. Hope we can get a can bigtime cuz have friends coming over on ferry who are gonna be in the hotel in Avalon. Could be a long dingy ride from Descanzo or Hamilton but.. eh... no worries. Depart for Two Harbors on wednesday. Then a two day sail back on friday. We will be around and will have a cold one for ya.

If it is really rolly, one can always opt for Whites Landing/Cove. Always calm there but no services so you are boat locked and Avalon does not own them. VHF 9 and 12 for the Harbor Master, also know as the red boat and the gray boat.

Cheers

Oh and just checked the ten day forecast. Beeeutifullllll! Hope I can sleep. Getting pretty excited. Was 115 yesterday here in Phoenix. Arghhhhh

thanks Rick. Hope to catch you there.

 

[newsailor72]

couple more questions.

do I need to lock my dinghy?
Can I beach the boat at whites cove?(in case I can't get a mooring at Avalon and I haven't done the anchoring thing yet)

 

[Lee Coller]

couple more questions.

do I need to lock my dinghy?

No

Can I beach the boat at whites cove?(in case I can't get a mooring at Avalon and I haven't done the anchoring thing yet)

You can beach your dinghy, but not your boat. The issue is more with sleeping on shore (only in designated campgrounds with a permit) than your boat being on shore. Given potential surge and tide changes you don't really want to beach your boat anyway for long periods of time.

 

[Rick]

Newsailor

It really doesnt matter cause there just arent any bad spots. There, however are just no places to beach your boat and IMHO, that would be asking for disaster. As far as White's, it will appear that there are services there but it is just a youth camp. You can sneak on at Buttonshell Beach but if you cant get Avalon, Descanzo, or Hamilton its probably your best option unless you just set a course for Two Harbors. For the veterans here, most will probably give THs a better score. Its just beautiful up there and no cruise ships or touristas. But Avalon, is kinda like Hawaii. Gotta hit Wai Kiki and get the square filled.

Anchoring? Hmmmm you will need half a boat load of rode just to find the bottom but there are places where you can do it.

Here is link to video we made last year if you want a glimpse

Cheers
http://youtu.be/4IJ21vC4BbA

edit: One nice thing about Two Harbors. If you are pondering sleeping arrangements, you can get on the string line in front of the campsite and literally be within 100 yards of a tent. Campsite is right there.

 

[caguy]

Nice video Rick.

This is my favorite time of day at Two Harbors and Avalon.

Two Harbors

 

[Alan Gomes]

Getting a mooring inside the Avalon harbor even mid week in the summer may be difficult, but maybe with a small boat not so much. Otherwise you will be assigned a mooring outside, which can be very bumpy.
<snip>

You can check out how crowded the harbor is in real time by going to their web cams, such as here: http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/webcam3.php

You can find views of Avalon, Isthmus, and Cat Harbor.

 

[newsailor72]

Alan, thanks for the livecam link.

Rick, really cool vid.

another question. I have 2 routes in mind for going to TH from Long Beach. One is a straight shoot from the Alamitos Bay jetty or two go up to Angels Gate first then shoot for TH. Is one any better than the other? pls see attached pic.

 

[Alan Gomes]

Alan, thanks for the livecam link.

Rick, really cool vid.

another question. I have 2 routes in mind for going to TH from Long Beach. One is a straight shoot from the Alamitos Bay jetty or two go up to Angels Gate first then shoot for TH. Is one any better than the other? pls see attached pic.

You know, it really depends on the wind direction on that particular day, as well as your boat's pointing ability. If the wind is more SW than W or NW then you will probably not lay the Isthmus in one tack from ABM jetty. If it has a more northerly component then you may.

When I had a boat at ABM I would sometimes leave early before the wind filled in anyway and just power up to Angel's Gate to get a better shot at Two Harbors. I often find that when the wind fills in that it clocks around a bit to the north, so that even though at the beginning of the trip I can't lay the Isthmus (even leaving from Angel's Gate), by the end of the trip I'm hitting it no problem. Really, you'll just have to see what hand you're dealt at the time, wind-wise.

You may want to leave from ABM and just sail as hard on the wind as is practical and hit whatever point on the Island you are able to hit. Once you get within a few miles of it you will be in the Island's wind shadow and at that point could do whatever powering you need to do to make it to the Isthmus, in hopefully relatively flat sea conditions. And of course, if you're not in a hurry and are enjoying the sail, you could short-tack up the Island until you make Two Harbors. But if your goal is to just get there, then running the motor for a short time to make up the needed distance to the west would not be too bad.

 

[newsailor72]

You know, it really depends on the wind direction on that particular day, as well as your boat's pointing ability. If the wind is more SW than W or NW then you will probably not lay the Isthmus in one tack from ABM jetty. If it has a more northerly component then you may.

When I had a boat at ABM I would sometimes leave early before the wind filled in anyway and just power up to Angel's Gate to get a better shot at Two Harbors. I often find that when the wind fills in that it clocks around a bit to the north, so that even though at the beginning of the trip I can't lay the Isthmus (even leaving from Angel's Gate), by the end of the trip I'm hitting it no problem. Really, you'll just have to see what hand you're dealt at the time, wind-wise.

You may want to leave from ABM and just sail as hard on the wind as is practical and hit whatever point on the Island you are able to hit. Once you get within a few miles of it you will be in the Island's wind shadow and at that point could do whatever powering you need to do to make it to the Isthmus, in hopefully relatively flat sea conditions. And of course, if you're not in a hurry and are enjoying the sail, you could short-tack up the Island until you make Two Harbors. But if your goal is to just get there, then running the motor for a short time to make up the needed distance to the west would not be too bad.

forgot to say I'll be motoring all the way.

 

[Alan Gomes]

forgot to say I'll be motoring all the way.

I guess I'm not understanding something. If you are motoring all the way then what would be the point of heading up to San Pedro (Angel's Gate) first? All that would do is add a little over a nautical mile to your trip for no reason.

 

[rfrye1]

Motoring All Way??

Am I missing something? From LB I would assume most days here in S Cal would be a really nice sail to Catalina assuming prevailing summer winds. Correct? But honestly I've had some days crossing over to Catalina that is absolutely mirror flat calm.

I'm in San Diego and usually motorsail up to Catalina in the wee hours in the dark. Unless we have a weather system move thru and get a southerly wind. Most trips I just hoof it up to Avalon and coast hop my way back to SD.

Good luck. Have fun. If you have time head a little north and check out Emerald Cove.

Bob.