On April 15th, my son and I will be pulling my H26 from Southern Arizona to the West coast and sailing out to Catalina Island. We plan to spend one month just exploring Santa Catalina and the waters around it. I've never made this trip before. My questions are: 1. Where in California is the best place to sail from? 2. Where can I leave my van and trailer for a month and expect them to still be there when I get back? Any suggestions at all will be appreciated. Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
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FROM PRARIE to THE GOLDEN COAST
Well it's not clear what area on the west coast you're heading for, from Huntington in the south, to long beach, to King harbour slightly north of Catalina, each place has at least one boat ramp and'or sling set up to splash you down in the drink, as I recall, though it's been 25 years, in the spring there is a constant breeze from the north, this means, if your're leaving from huntington you'll be doing a lot of tacking, if from king harbour, getting there is easy, and coming back, is almost due west by northwest to the palisverdi cliffs, and if it's from longbeach, it's just west and east, sailing the catalinia's is fun, but, on the westerly side of a couple of the islands, the calm pasific can get quite nasty, about your van, each area within a mile of your drop off point there should be a boat/ trailer storage facility to store your van behing high fences. good luck
Well it's not clear what area on the west coast you're heading for, from Huntington in the south, to long beach, to King harbour slightly north of Catalina, each place has at least one boat ramp and'or sling set up to splash you down in the drink, as I recall, though it's been 25 years, in the spring there is a constant breeze from the north, this means, if your're leaving from huntington you'll be doing a lot of tacking, if from king harbour, getting there is easy, and coming back, is almost due west by northwest to the palisverdi cliffs, and if it's from longbeach, it's just west and east, sailing the catalinia's is fun, but, on the westerly side of a couple of the islands, the calm pasific can get quite nasty, about your van, each area within a mile of your drop off point there should be a boat/ trailer storage facility to store your van behing high fences. good luck
AZ to Catalina
I would recommend a base of operations from Los Alamitos in Long Beach. Good point of sail to the island. Besides Avalon, you will want to try Whites Landing, Isthmus, Cherry Cove, Emerald Bay, Cat Harbor and Shark Harbor. That will pretty much get you around the island counter-clockwise. Boater's facilities are available in Avalon and Isthmus. PS: there is a web site for Catalina Island. Worth a look. Have a good trip. PS: Arizona Yacht Club goes to Isthmus the second week of July. Might want to give them a call. Rick D.
I would recommend a base of operations from Los Alamitos in Long Beach. Good point of sail to the island. Besides Avalon, you will want to try Whites Landing, Isthmus, Cherry Cove, Emerald Bay, Cat Harbor and Shark Harbor. That will pretty much get you around the island counter-clockwise. Boater's facilities are available in Avalon and Isthmus. PS: there is a web site for Catalina Island. Worth a look. Have a good trip. PS: Arizona Yacht Club goes to Isthmus the second week of July. Might want to give them a call. Rick D.
Tom M. & Rick Dinon
Tom and Rick, Thanks for your tips and advice. Since I've never been out there, I was shooting in the dark but now at least I have a point of reference! Rick, when you say "Los Alamitos" does that mean the "Alamitos Bay" and the "Long Beach Marina?" That looks like it must be a good spot to sail from because some of the ferrys leave for Catalina from right near there. My nephew will be flying in from Euegene, OR to meet us so we could probably meet at the Long Beach Marina. You wouldn't have a phone nr. for the marina, would you? Thanks for all your help! Jim Schaff
Tom and Rick, Thanks for your tips and advice. Since I've never been out there, I was shooting in the dark but now at least I have a point of reference! Rick, when you say "Los Alamitos" does that mean the "Alamitos Bay" and the "Long Beach Marina?" That looks like it must be a good spot to sail from because some of the ferrys leave for Catalina from right near there. My nephew will be flying in from Euegene, OR to meet us so we could probably meet at the Long Beach Marina. You wouldn't have a phone nr. for the marina, would you? Thanks for all your help! Jim Schaff
Some Numbers, Jeff
Yes, it is Alamitos Bay. It has a fine launch area. There is another, I believe, in what is generally referred to as the 'Downtown Marina' which is about 4 miles north. Some ##'s www.visitcatalina.org Downtown harbormaster 562/570-1815 Alamitos harbormaster 562/570-3215 Alamitos YC 562/434-9955 Shoreline YC 562/435-4093 (Shoreline is downtown) Hope this helps. RD
Yes, it is Alamitos Bay. It has a fine launch area. There is another, I believe, in what is generally referred to as the 'Downtown Marina' which is about 4 miles north. Some ##'s www.visitcatalina.org Downtown harbormaster 562/570-1815 Alamitos harbormaster 562/570-3215 Alamitos YC 562/434-9955 Shoreline YC 562/435-4093 (Shoreline is downtown) Hope this helps. RD
Channel Islands?
Jim, If you have a whole month you might want to visit the Channel Islands as well. Catalina is technically one of the Channel Islands, but it is removed from 4 others (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel). There are two websites for the Channel Islands. Anyway, you could sail from Catalina, or return to the LA area and haul the boat up to Channel Islands Harbor, or Santa Barbara and visit the rest of the islands. We spent a little over 3 weeks on a trip last fall and visited every island except Anacapa and the military run islands (San Nicholas, and San Clemente). A month will give you lots of time to see several islands. Have fun.
Jim, If you have a whole month you might want to visit the Channel Islands as well. Catalina is technically one of the Channel Islands, but it is removed from 4 others (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel). There are two websites for the Channel Islands. Anyway, you could sail from Catalina, or return to the LA area and haul the boat up to Channel Islands Harbor, or Santa Barbara and visit the rest of the islands. We spent a little over 3 weeks on a trip last fall and visited every island except Anacapa and the military run islands (San Nicholas, and San Clemente). A month will give you lots of time to see several islands. Have fun.
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