The music of Silence

the most beautiful sound on earth... absolute silence and yet, you hear music
Powered By Blogger

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Catalina Island July 2024

Catalina Trip July 2024

Bill on the helm crossing back from Catalina

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.
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
Nice and peaceful and calm oceans in the crossing

Taking the watch at 6am while Bill took his sleep

Tracking Oasis path on the google map


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. 

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. 
A bottle of cava for celebration

The waters are amazingly clear at the bay and did some snorkeling and paddle boarding. 
Water clear to the bottom

Amazing Emerald Bay


More clear water at Emerald Bay that we can see on our hike

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
September Bliss moored next to us at Howland's mooring


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. 
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
The moon the first night


The moonrise at Howland's the 2nd night


Camp view for Howlands landing with LA Yacht Club on the side


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 
Simon helping us to clean the first fish while Bill watch
 
Roasting the 2nd sheephead for the group's happy hour snack



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 =) 
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. 

2 harbours town

Entrance of the town

A more run-down version of Avalon? =) 
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. 
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
Dramatic view of Cat Harbour

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. 
Good old Buffalo beach

Bill and I decide to hike up to the secret swing 

White's landing from the top


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
Cerviche time

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 ! 

Oasis sailing with spinnaker and main sails 

Bill relaxing and reading with the Buck moon


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

No comments:

Post a Comment