08/20 - 08-26 - Catalina Adventure in Paradise 2006

S

Sealife

New member
Time to start planning for our annual So. Cal. trek to Catalina Island. This year the dates are from Sunday 8/20 to Saturday 8/26. As in the past some of us will meet on Sunday at Marina del Rey, stay overnight at Chase Park, and make the crossing to Catalina's Two Harbors on Monday morning. Since last year we got a rude surprise in the form of a daily parking fee of $7 per day instead of the previous $7 launching fee, those of us coming from Channel Islands will probably cruise down to MDR, eliminating the parking fees.

So, plan your vacations, reserve your days off. Stay the whole time or just part, but don't miss this great annual event. Beach barbecues, fishing, diving, cruising, hiking; Catalina has it all!

On Edit by Da Nag
Signup sheet link here, added to calendar.
 
Count us in!! We missed last year, but we still had fun up in the San Juans. We don't plan on missing again this year.
This is the premier event for Southern California, you don't want to miss out.
 
We're in...Sun. thru Wed....would like to stay the whole week if we can swing it. Just got back from the Isthmus yesterday. They are building a new pier (just like the old pier) which should be finished by April, so they say. The dinghy docks may be reconfigured and they plan to have a dock by the campgrounds, for those who might choose to camp.

The Harbor dept. is working on a reservation system for the string line and they may allow for long term leases as well.
 
Mike Sealife:

Are the new Catalina dates the 20th through the 26th of August correct? Were the old dates 13th through 19th August?

I was just looking in my calendar and was getting confused. Are these new dates now firm and for sure?

I am just trying to figure out my schedule. I had a King Salmon fishing trip planned for August 26th and 27th in Oregon, and may now have to cancel that for Catalina.
 
Sorry, Jim, if the date are messing with your salmon trip, but we just picked the dates of the 20-26 so we can celebrate my birthday on the 24th. :cake 69 :cry Also, since it's the week just before Labor Day, it should be less busy over there.
 
Sealife Mike:

Thanks for the update. I will now go ahead and cancel my other scheduled trip. Would not want to miss the Catalina Adventure. Looking forward to celebrating your significant birthday. Am looking at some new tender options for Catalina. Really like the new Genesis line of Walkerbay tenders that are just coming out.
 
Bob Cat, Katy and Mika The Dog are on board. We'll be over there with sailing friends about the same time so we'll be in and out and around. Lookin' forward to it!

Bob Cat
 
Well I just noticed I hadn't 'officially' threw my hat in, consider it thrown! Great time every time. And Miles and I will finally be actively involved with the diving rather than surface-watchers :smiled

And Roger, so glad you'll be at this one, I had to 'substitute' for your fine fish fry you did so well in 2004, it was way too heavy [for me] to fill your shoes last year ...thank you, thank you, thank you!

Steve
 
We'll have to make another run out to Santa Barbara Island this year for fish. I'll keep an eye on the conditions at San Clemente- if the Navy allows us to be at the west end- we'll try for San Clemente instead.

edit-- At this time the schedule shows the west end to be closed from the ocean floor to ocean surface and 1K altitude on Wed. August 23. It is 4 months away and the schedule changes, so I'll keep an eye on it.
 
Catalina Crew,

Dive Cat has really come together over the last couple of weeks. We'll be happy to provide air for divers (with properly inspected/dated tanks) and should have some good sites checked out by August, some at Santa Barbara Island or San Clemente, too.

What is the usual agenda for anchorages and activities?

Bob Cat
 
Bob Cat,

In the past, we have moored starting on Monday at the Isthmus (Two Harbors), most of us on the string line. If we are able to go to San Clemente, then a night on anchor at Cat Harbor is logical, but due to the Navy's schedule, that's very iffy. We have in the past gone to Santa Barbara Island for the day, returning to Two Harbors. First night (Monday) is a beach barbecue, and usually Friday night is a dinner in the resturant at Two Harbors. The rest of the time is "Island Time"....diving, hiking, exploring, fishing,etc..
 
Depending on the timing when we pick up our new CD-25, we could possibly make this gathering (and always wanted to go "26 miles out across the sea..."!! :D I mentioned it to the Blonde... she is up for ANY trip right now; 63 days to go before we are gainfully unemployed, and we are really putting in the hours. Frequent trips to this site are keeping us pumped. April may be the first month in years that we haven't been out on the water.

So, what's the procedure if you think you might make the gathering? TIA.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan B.
 
Jim & Joan,
Just follow this discussion, and if you are able---- come on down!! We don't do reservations, so any one is welcome, even if you are not sure until the last minute.
As Mike stated-- it is "Island Time"

Most of us will be meeting in Marina del Rey on Sunday, Aug. 20 and making the crossing on Monday, departing the Island on Saturday.
 
Summer Time and Catalina Beckons!! Just a month and a half away. This year, because of Marina del Rey's very unfriendly parking charge ($7 per day), the Channel Island Group has elected to cruise down to MDR instead of trailer. Done it before....takes about 3 hours.

Also, MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT

THE FIRST EVER, ANNUAL, NO HOLDS BARRED, NO RULES, CATALINA DINGY RACE.

Well, actually a couple of rules:

*Rowing or paddling only, no motors.
*LeMans start....from the beach in front of the resturant, left around the dingy dock and out towards sea, around the end of the pier, back towards shore, then under the pier, back to the start point.

Trophy for winner

You don't want to miss this event......be there!!

Talk about raising the bar, Pounder?
 
Sealife":35a5y86o said:
*LeMans start....from the beach in front of the resturant
Click to expand...

Mike, have you considered a start from the beach in front of a bar....could lead to some added entertainment.... :disgust .......'course make sure all have life jackets.. :roll:
 
Mike Sealife-

Great tender race idea, but unfortunately for this year I upgraded my tender to a larger (nine foot), new Walker Bay Odyssey Air Floor (270) with a 6 HP motor. I wanted to be like Sam and Kerry and Islander, having a more substantial tender that I could use to explore around the island during the day and perhaps take my dive gear with me. This year I am bringing my own regulator and wet suit so I can be more in tune with the marine life.

You might want to have two divisions of the race, one with motors, and one without, then handicap the tenders for the size of their engines!
Mike, it is great that you are kicking your event up a bit in tune with Pounder's extravaganza. 8)

Regarding leaving from the Channel Islands area, if one was to launch from there, is there a ramp there? Where would one park there for a week? Would the vehicle be safe there? What is the parking cost there? On what day and at what time would you be leaving the Channel Islands for MDR?

We have not decided yet where we are going to leave from to head over to Two Harbors. Mike, please give us some more details about this alternative launching place.

Because our tender is now so relatively large (as compared to our vessel), we have to decide if we want to tow it over to Catalina, or take it over there in Pounder and then have the taxi boat take us to shore where we would have to set up the tender. Sam and Kerry, do you have any thoughts on what is the best option here for getting the tender over there?

Sincerely,

Jim
 
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