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| Bill on the helm crossing back from Catalina |
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| Me practicing steering with a rocky ocean |
2 years after getting Oasis and retrofitting it, we are ready to try a Catalina trip with the boat.
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| Ready? let's go |
Bill wants to do an overnight crossing as we will avoid the wind/waves in the afternoon. And boat traffic will be lighter. So at 8pm we push off
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| Tracking Oasis path on the google map |
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| The Vulcan 700 tracking our path to Catalina! we made it! |
The crossing is smooth and it's overcast after 2am. Saw a big bright barge in the middle of the night being towed. It's slightly spooky at night being the only boat and trying to see if any lights are coming at us in the dark.
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| Finally.. daylight and we can see Catalina in the mist |
We got out to Emerald bay without issues. And opened a bottle of cava to celebrate our first major voyage with Oasis.
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| A bottle of cava for celebration |
The waters are amazingly clear at the bay and did some snorkeling and paddle boarding.
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| Water clear to the bottom |
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| Amazing Emerald Bay |
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| Pretty emerald bay |
Our friend Jeff and Simon showed up that night at 530pm with Jeff boat Green Envelop. I never got a good picture of Jeff's boat.
Bill sister Jaime and husband Peter showed up the next day with their friends on their charter boat September Bliss
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| September Bliss moored next to us at Howland's mooring |
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| Group shot |
It got so rocky on the first night in Emerald Bay with the boat rocking badly that all 3 of boats move to Howland's landing. The water isn't as clear but it's a lot less rocky at night.
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| A view of Howland's landing from our hike |
We chanced upon the buck moon during our trip and it was amazing watching it for a few days when it rise shortly after the sun set.
https://www.space.com/july-full-buck-moon-2024-photos
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| The moon the first night |
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| The moonrise at Howland's the 2nd night |
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| Camp view for Howlands landing with LA Yacht Club on the side |
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| Hiking from Howlands mooring to the scout camp |
Fishing was fun and got a couple of big sheep heads. One for cerviche and one for roasting
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| Simon helping us to clean the first fish while Bill watch |
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| Roasting the 2nd sheephead for the group's happy hour snack |
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| My favorite fishing spot, shaded, convenient to call Bill for reeling fish in, with a drink in my hand |
On Monday, as we are leaving 2 harbour, found a small fish that decide to kamikaze in our dinghy =)
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| Find the fish! towards the end of the boat! |
After the weekend, we split out with the group and went to 2 harbour and spent a night at Isthmus. But it was so rocky there and crowded with partiers that we decide to go to White's landing earlier instead.
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| 2 harbours town |
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| Entrance of the town |
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| A more run-down version of Avalon? =) |
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| Sunset at Isthmus |
We had buffalo milk at the pub but it was truly not memorable. I guess we have to be a tourist and do it once.
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| Eating at the pub town |
What's really pretty is the walk to see Cat Harbour on the other side of Isthmus. It's very dramatic coming up to the mooring with a long dusty road
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| Dramatic view of Cat Harbour |
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| Cat Harbour |
White's landing is San Diego YC Catalina outpost. We are familiar with it since we did a few work parties and a few trips by ferry. It's interesting to be there with our own boat as we are not dependent on the tents and facilities. But it's fun to see and interact with other club members.
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| Good old Buffalo beach |
Bill and I decide to hike up to the secret swing
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| White's landing from the top |
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| Secret swing.. found it! |
We met up with Jamie and her group again at White's for a night and had happy hour on shore that day. We caught a lot of fish the previous day at 5pm using polish hot dogs and lures. It's what i remembered about White being a hot spot for fishing. Caught another fish for cerviche for our happy hour
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| Cerviche time |
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| Happy hour with the group |
We came back on Thurs AM when Bill realized the wind is better for sailing and we pack up after breakfast and land back in SDYC on Thursday midnight. We made it !
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| Oasis sailing with spinnaker and main sails |
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| Bill relaxing and reading with the Buck moon |
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| Random pictures of food and provisioning menu for the boat. First time learning how to provision for a week for both of us and learned a lot from the trip |
