Channel Islands, CA - July 2005 Loop Trip

[richandlori]

I was down at my boat in Channel Island Harbor Thursday and then again on Saturday. I spoke to the Harbor master and the owners of two other facilities that rent slips and they all gave me the same answer, "first come..first serve, but we should be able to find 6-8 Mac a place for one night"

So take that for what it is worth!

So can we get a boat count? How many are still in at this point?

Rich

[sailpsych]

You could/should be able to breast out and get 2-3 boats on one spot on the transient docks. Kind of like the old destroyers used to do in ports.

Bruce G.

[dclark]

Well, glancing at the calendar it looks like I'm suppose to head out in about 10 days or so. I'm feeling quite confused on who is planning on going and when/where they plan to jump in. I suppose since I brought this whole thing up I kind of assumed reposibility for knowing that. But on the other hand I never intended to do anything other then lay out the general idea, state my course, and welcome anyone interested.

I talked to Tim Zanin a week or so ago on the phone. Our plans are still basically the same as they were a year ago. He's launching in Oceanside and coming up to Alamitos Bay on Thursday (7/7) to meet up with me. We'll leave together (in two boats) Friday morning (7/8) and head north. At this point we don't know (or really care) if we stay Friday night at Oxnard, Ventura, an island, or for that matter go all the way to SB city. Left up to me, I'd just anchor at an island Friday night and go into SB on Saturday. But if there is anyone planning on launching in Oxnard or Ventura and meeting up with us, then I want to know that so we can find each other.

Regardless of how all that the one thing I'm committed to is being in SB city by Saturday afternoon and staying there until late Sunday morning. since I really don't want to leave anyone behind, I'd like to know who plans on leaving with us from SB on Sunday.

I know some had planned to join us sometime after we leave SB. If I know who, when and where, then I can look for you. Other then that all I can say is I'll monitor channel 72. But you all know how limited the range is and that is especially true if I'm tucked into an anchorage somewhere.

So with all that said here is what I think...

If you plan to go, send me a PM (private message) on this site. I will reply with my cell phone number. It should work off and on while I'm on my way to SB and all the time I'm in SB. Once I've left SB, it's hard to say. I'll also answer (or promptly pick up any voice mail) from now until I leave. Or you can just post something here stating when you plan to meet up with us. If I don't here from you in one of those ways, then I won't know to look for you.

If that sounds a little disorganized then you are probably right. I'm, trying to think of it more as informal...if you want to go then show up otherwise don't. And If you plan to show up then I'll look for you if I know where and when to do that and I'll give you a way to contact me (cell/vhf) if you ask.

[richandlori]

I will be leaving Oxnard Saturday morning and meet the group in Santa Barbara.

I will send a PM.

Rich

[Frank C]

If things go well, I'll try to join Dave & Tim Z somewhere in the Southland & sail to Oxnard. If I cannot get there by Thursday afternoon, then (Plan B) I'll join up in Oxnard or SBc. It looks like my father-in-law must drop out due to illness ... therefore, I'll probably be solo for most of the trip, tho my son might like the sail from LB up to SBc. ... scouring archives for info on ramps & parking, and then I'll shoot a PM ...

- (BK wrote in March)... our slips in Alamitos on pier 28. There is a ramp there and extented car/trailer parking is $8 a day from a metered box. Make sure to get the receit to leave on your dash.
- You have to go under a bridge after launching so best to get a overnight guest slip for $16 and rig there so to be ready to leave early in the morning for a calm crossing.
- We are the closest ramp with parking for Catalina. W/M and Boaters World are there plus many restaurants and food marts.
- You have to supply your boat registration to the Harbor Master and reservations in advance are accepted.
- The address for the Alamitos Harbor Master's office is 205 Marina Dr. Long Beach. Ca. 90803.
- The street for the ramp is at 2nd st. one block off PCH towards the ocean. The actual street is just before the bridge. Make a right, it looks like you are going into Albertson's supermarket but it winds around to the ramp.

- (and per Cap't Stv) 2nd ST is a great ramp....you just got to motor a quarter mile or so to the guest slips at Aliminos Bay and then rig.
- the guest slips are end ties so are easy to find. FAX YOUR INFO down and you do NOT have to visit the office across the arm of the harbor.
- The machine at the ramp only takes CASH so bring enought to feed it for the 8 bucks a day to stay there.
- you can fax a copy of your boat's registration to Erick at 562 570 3247 and do the whole reservation thing over the phone.

- (and per TrailerSailors) The next public ramp is in Alamitos Bay behind the Second Street bridge, with a (bridge) clearance of perhaps 30+ feet under good tide conditions. The ramp parking has a time limit of 48 hours.
- We found a private ramp in Wilmington which charges $10 in and $10 out and has very limited trailer parking, but something might be arranged with an adjoining marina.
- The next public ramp is in the Cabrillo Beach Park. This was our best choice. The ramp is steep so the boat slides off easily. The staff is friendly and arrangements can be made to leave the car and trailer for at least the six days that we planned to be on the water. The fee is $8/day but seniors qualify for a $4 weekday rate. I understand the ramp can get busy. Another attraction is a public anchorage area just off the ramp.
- Larson Marina, anchorage stay is limited to 24 hours, but that would be enough time to launch and sort out the boat and weather before leaving.

[BK]

WE are heading up to Ventura in the RV to see the boat show on Thursday the 7th and meeting you guys at SBc on Saturday. What day will you be at 2 Harbors, Catalina? We will bring the boat over to Catalina.

[dclark]

What day will you be at 2 Harbors, Catalina? We will bring the boat over to Catalina.

If all goes well, we should be arriving at Catalina on Thursday, July 14th. Although I don't think it was decided to go to two harbors, I would imagine by then a mooring, resturant, and hot shower will sound good so it's probably a safe bet.

I plan on reviewing my charts this weekend but I think the rough plan is:

Leave SB City and head to Santa Rosa Island On Sunday, July 10th...
Move to Santa Cruz Island On Monday and stay a couple nights...
Leave Santa Cruz Island for Santa Barbara Island Wednesday...
Head to Catalina on Thursday.
If we get there late it may be easier to ancor for the night and pick up a mooring in Two Harbors on Friday. I plan on returning to Long Beach on Saturday.

[Newell]

The VYC of SD will be arriving at Cat Harbor sometime in the middle of Friday the 15th for a raft up. Perhaps we could see you in 2 Harbors for drinks in the pm?

Newell
Fast Sunday 96X

[dclark]

The VYC of SD will be arriving at Cat Harbor sometime in the middle of Friday the 15th for a raft up. Perhaps we could see you in 2 Harbors for drinks in the pm?

Newell
Fast Sunday 96X

Sounds good to me. Might be hard to find in the crowd. We can try you on the radio. Fast Sunday or VYC Group.

[dclark]

Well, a couple days away and it's so quiet...

I'll be leaving Friday morning so tomarrow is the last day I'll be able to check the board. As of now I'm really not sure who or how many boats are still planning to make it. But then all I've told anyone that has asked was to be in SB on Sunday if you want to go. Tim, Richard, and I will be getting into SB sometime Saturday afternoon. I do know Frank c and Bob K won't be ale to make it. But Bob will be in SB on Saturday and then meeting us the following Friday at Catalina.

[richandlori]

I am hoping that the FOG monster won't darken our trip! But hull, the time off has been taken, the food bought, and plans made, so were still in! See everyone in SB(city) on Saturday sometime or as the group passes Oxnard!

Do we have some anchorage thoughts for Rosa and Cruz? or will we all read our Fagen guide book and pick our spots as conditions dictate?


Rich

[BK]

I talked with Captain Steve and he is also coming up to SBc on Saturday. Lets do a cook out at the boat slips? I will bring my small propane Bar-B- que. I will call on the cell to Dave to see what time he is arriving in SBc.
We are leaving this morning for the Ventura Boat show. Noon to 7pm and is free today.

[dclark]

Hadn't though too much about achorages at the islands. I think we stayed at Scorpion and Prisioners (Santa Cruz) two years ago. I think there was some talk about seeing one or two of the bigger caves on Santa Cruz this trip. I think Painted Cave is the biggest and/or most popular. But I think it's on the other end from the anchorages I mentioned. Not sure about the other islands. I'll need to go to my book for those.

[Frank C]

Still waiting for the machine shop to finish with my gear case, so I definitly will miss out on the cruise with you guys.

FWIW, Santa Rosa has only two decent anchorages and Bechers Bay (northwest) is most accessible from Santa Barbara. You'll find 10' close-in or 25 to 30 a little farther out. If you anchor close-in you have shorter swing, but there's also a downside ... anchor too close to a cliff and you'll rock 'n roll in the backwash of the swell. That's where that long rode can be your friend.

Regarding the Painted Cave, it's too deep to anchor there for even a lunch stop, something like minimum 66 feet (MHHW) on the chart, but it's "on the way" if you're heading along north side of Santa Cruz. After reading Fagan's description, I'd sure hope to get a look inside, assuming conditions are reasonable. You might get a peek at the Cave as you go past the point.

As one option, I might cruise past the Cave, about 3 miles east, to anchor in 20' at Cueva Valdaze. If a half-dozen boats could anchor there, then two shuttle boats might ferry passengers back (west) to the Caves for some dinghy tours. Shuttle captains could stand off from the cliffs while dinghies went into the cave.

Wishin' I was there, and you haven't even left yet! I'll be watching for your cruise notes ... fair winds out there!

[richandlori]

Frank,

Sure sorry you can't make it, but my digital camera and wireless laptop will try to keep our trip results and events updated.

I am so damn excited about the trip, I almost have pre-trip paralysis!!!!!
CAn't think of anything else, I do have some work to finish up here at my home office before we head to Oxnard tomarrow afternoon, but it is getting harder to concentrate on raw field data and sorbent utilizations for pollutant removal on the eve of our first BIG trip.

Rich