Catalina Storm 10-26-20

Shoyrtt

Shoyrtt

Alamitos to Avalon
SILVER Sponsor
Jul 16, 2020
1,889
Alamitos Bay, CA
Boat Info
1999 450 Express Bridge, 9’ Achilles dinghy w/15hp Suzuki EFI
Engines
Caterpillar 3126TA
We were in Catalina again this past weekend and received the notice from the Coast Guard of a small craft advisory beginning late Sunday into Monday with gale force winds predicted. The warning was very specific that both Avalon Harbor and Two Harbors were not safe. We heeded the advice and high tailed it back to our marina Sunday morning. We had met some friends who are members of the Catalina Island Yacht Club who sent this picture of the harbor on Monday as the Santa Ana winds and waves battered the coast.
AvalonStorm.jpg

There wasn't much media coverage on Catalina due to the two fires that flared up in Southern California with 70,000 people evacuating their homes. I did however find this article from the Long Beach Post with a Twitter post from The LA County Fire Department's Life Guards, discussing the rescues and several boats that washed ashore during the event.
https://lbpost.com/news/gusty-winds-batter-catalina-island-drive-wildfire-in-orange-county

AvalonStorm2.png


I'm hopeful that both the yacht club and the Tuna club (the old building in the first picture posted with the green/grey roof) did not suffer any damage. Growing up in Southern California, I never realized that Catalina gets hit when we have our Fall Santa Ana wind events.
 
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Yikes. I'm surprised more boats didn't break loose from the mooring balls. Imagine being stuck riding it out on your moored boat.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Looking to the right in the second picture, that doesnt look like a very protected harbor to anchor in.
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For this type of a wind event, the off shore Santa Ana, there is no protection at all. Normally the predominate storm track brings wind and weather out of the Pacific Northwest and down the California coast before heading East. So on a typical day there is a south swell and an on shore wind. For the typical day both Two Harbors and Avalon are protected as they have a mountain to the West and a land feature to the North. Avalon is really nice if you can get a mooring near the Casino. We got lucky and were on #198, really close to the Casino on Friday. Here is the view we had on Saturday.
Casino.jpg
 
Been there in 2004 when that happened and the scariest day of my boating life. 6-8 ft inside on row 2, boats breaking loose and crazy for 6 hours. I rode it out and was so impressed at the harbor patrol on how they dealt with boats breaking loose and people in panic. They were incredible. You know it is bad when the local kids come out with surf boards and jump off the pier.... Looked like a mine field after it was over, mooring cans everywhere. I survived with all my buddies from Back Bay Marina that were there on a regatta...but it was scary.
 
Scary. Once we are on a mooring buoy and got a very big blow. Did not sleep that night. In the morning the 1/2" nylon rope used to tie to the buoy was worn half way through. Buoy anchor did not move. We now always tie two ropes to the buoy.
 
CatalinaIslandMap.jpg
midexp said:
Out of curiosity, what does it cost to dock at Catalina Island? Looks nice. What’s there to do there?
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The moorings around the island are all leased to individuals but owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company. The lease holders have first priority over their moorings. If they don't notify the harbor patrol that they intend to use the mooring, the mooring is available to the public at the nightly rental rate which varies based on the location. Avalon Harbor sets rental rates based on the length of the boat from what is in their records using the USCG doc number. Our LOA is 51'7" and we pay $51 per night in Avalon. In Cherry Cove it is $64 per night and I don't know why it is higher. No fee to drop anchor outside the harbor or various coves.

As far as what to do, it just depends on which location you are at. Avalon is a tourist destination with the Catalina Express boats bringing people back and forth every hour. Two Harbors is much smaller, but the Express boats also provide passenger service there a few times a day. The other mooring sites are really quite and nice. The island was once owned by the Wrigley family and the Cubs even had their spring training home there for a time. When we stay in Avalon, we do the tourist type stuff, restaurants, shops etc. In the other spots, we might go ashore and take a hike, but we mainly stay on the boat. It is a fun get away from the hustle of Southern California.
 
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Here's a video shot on 10/27/20 of the catamaran ferry docking in high winds at Avalon. Under the conditions I think the skipper did an excellent job.


 
Thanks for the feedback. I can't believe in expensive California the overnight dockage there is so cheap. That's way more than we pay on great lakes and I know in Florida. But you don't have power.
 
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