"Just Right" Does
the Catalina Isthmus Justin Pipkorn
This is a short article about our recent trip to the Isthmus Cove at Catalina Island. The article will be short on the travelogue but long on the details of what you might expect on a trip to Catalina Island.
In anticipation of the trip, we spent several weeks searching for launch ramps suitable for trailer sailors in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor. What we found was somewhat disappointing. Starting from the South, the Huntington Harbor ramp is limited by low bridge clearance of around 22 feet. The next public ramp is in Alamitos Bay behind the Second Street bridge, with a 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. The anchorage stay is limited to 24 hours, but that would be enough time to launch and sort out the boat and weather before leaving. We also checked out the ramp at Marina del Rey. The ramp looks good but parking was limited to 48 hours.
We launched Just Right late Tuesday afternoon and because the wind was blowing its usual 10-15 K, rather than anchor, we decided to motor over to Fish Harbor about a mile to the East, where our friend Larry was waiting for us in his Francis 26. We found the Al Larson Marina a pleasant spot to spend the evening. The new manager Jerry charged us $10 for the night.
We slept well, surrounded by the various container docks and ship repair facilities. In the morning we walked to a small restaurant at the end of Fish Harbor. We had a huge breakfast amid the non-PC wall posters of buxom lasses advertising the kind of beer dock workers might enjoy. The LA/LB harbor is one of the busiest in the world, and lots of new construction is intended to make it even bigger. At least for the time being, some of the delightful institutions like the restaurant manage to survive.
We left the LA light at about 1100 on a course to Ship Rock of 205 with 19.7 NM to go. We motor sailed along the breakwater almost to the Pt. Fermin buoy, and then found enough wind to sail for a short time before deciding to start up the engine again. The current seemed to be running down the coast so heading a few degrees Northwest of the rhumb line might be in order. The GPS really helps to figure out the actual current. The course crosses the main ship channel just a few miles out. VHF 14 is the traffic control channel and monitoring it will often give some indication of the ship traffic in the area. Several miles from the island, the wind finally filled in. I am sure that the afternoon westerly was blowing through the Isthmus canyon. The usual afternoon wind at the West End approaches 18-20K and can be a bit of a chore in a small boat. We sailed over to inspect a training schooner under sail, while we waited for Larry to catch up with us.
The only real hazard at the Isthmus is the reef near Bird Rock. Just keep to the North and watch the buoys. Call the Isthmus harbormaster on VHF 9 to request a mooring assignment. The best moorings are on the West end, near the island. The moorings are all leased to individual owners who have the first chance to reserve them. For the rest of us, it’s first come, first serve. Mooring fee is $15/night for boats under 30 feet. For $13 you can tie up to a mooring line to the East of the pier. The harbormaster boat will stop by to guide you to your assigned mooring and collect cash for the mooring. If you want to use your credit card, arrange to pay at the pier office.
Inflate your dinghy or take the shore boat, $3.00 to get to shore. The showers are free. There is a snack bar open from breakfast time until 6 PM. Around that time, the staff dresses up and waits the tables in the main dining room. Food there was a bit on the pricey side. Of course, there is both an outside and inside bar with much longer hours. The general store is pretty well stocked. Besides ice and booze, they carry a pretty complete selection of groceries. Other facilities at this location include a dive shop, engine shop, and transportation to other parts of the Island.
Well, besides eating, drinking, and showering, one can enjoy the beach, watch the other boaters and just hang out. Cat Harbor is a short half-mile walk across to the other side of the island. On Saturday night, a DJ provided music that many danced to. We enjoyed a walk up the road along the shoreline. We walked perhaps 4 miles up the road past Fourth of July Cove and Cherry Cove. The road is easy walking and has great views of the ocean and cliffs. With Howlands Landing and Emerald Cove in view, we discovered the idyllic Little Gieger’s Anchorage, with one buoy and room for three boats.
We ate several meals on shore with our single-handing friend Larry, and otherwise just enjoyed the several days on the mooring. Some of our best meals were served on Just Right.
Sunday rolled around and it was time to leave. We dropped the mooring and headed out with the wind from behind us coming through the canyon. That wind lasted about two miles, and then shifted over to the usual westerly. Our course of 025 meant a beam to close reach in ever increasing velocity and larger seas. By the time we reached the shipping lane and detoured around a tug and barge, it was time to reef. A few large boats were carrying full sail… but soon shortened as well. Our friend Larry in the 26-foot, 7000 pound Fancis managed to carry full sail without any problem. By the time we reached the LA harbor entrance, the “Hurricane Gulch” wind was blowing over 20 knots, so we ducked behind the new rock mole and put in the second reef. We made the 20 NM trip in about four hours. Not making much progress sailing, we motored back into Fish Harbor and repeated the “bed and breakfast” like the previous Tuesday.
On Monday morning, we decided to try deploying the Life-sling in the inner Fish Harbor. Neither of us volunteered to be a “victim” but after several launches, we had a better idea of how it might work IF we needed it. We pulled Just Right out at the launch ramp, and spent several hours de-rigging the boat and worrying about the corrosion in my car plug. Turned out we had to brave the early afternoon freeway… with no trailer brakes or lights. Yes, I’m working on the problem.
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