Channel Islands, CA - July 2005 Loop Trip

[dclark]

Edited: 10/26/04

I have revised the original post to recap what we have to date (10/26/04). Further below is the original post.

The basic plan is to depart from Santa Barbara on the morning of Sunday, 7/10/05. We will end up in Long Beach the following Saturday, 7/16/05. Planned stops are at the Islands of Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Catalina. Exactly how long we will spend at each has yet to be determined. From Long Beach the plan is to shuttle cars and trailers back from Santa Barbara.

There will be at least a couple boats leaving early and motoring/sailing up from the south (Long Beach and Oceanside). There are also a few people that have planned on splitting from the group early and heading back. So if you can't make tho whole trip, jump in where you can.

As of this writing there are 10 boats that have expressed interest in this trip. Of course, no one is committed until the day we depart but judging by the last two years, I expect a great turn out. So far I have:

Dave C (dclark), Tim Z, Frank C, Roy H, Steve J, Kevin, Bruce (sailsyc), Mark (mgg4), Jim F, Richard L.

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Original Post:

I'm throwing this this out as a place to start and we (whom ever that may turn out to be) can adjust it over ther months to follow.

I'm calling this a loop trip because the general plan is to make a loop of several islands.

The thought is to leave from the South Bay to Catalina west end (either anchor or moor in Two Harbors). From there head to Santa Barbara Island (very small and a ways out there - 20-something miles from Catalina) for no real reason other then to say I've been there. anchor the night and head over to Santa Cruz Island (I think that is 30-something miles). We could swing by Anacapa (worth seeing if you never have, but no real anchorages) since it's close enough. Stay a couple days and check out one or two of the bigger sea caves. From there head back to Marina Del Rey or over to Oxnard (Channel Islands Harbor) for a night and then come back down.

That should be a full weeks worth. I picked Marina Del Rey because it seemed pretty central all things considered. They have a launch ramp and I believe guest slips are readily available (although I should probably make sure of that). Alternatively we could leave from Redondo but they do not have a launch ramp. Instead there is a hoist. Actually kind of nice but a seven day in and out ticket (a launch and retrieve within 7 days) was about $40 (although it's kind of worth it just to see look up and see you boat swinging 50 feet above the water).

I'm going to throw out a date 7/10/05 - 7/16/05. That is a Sunday to a Saturday. We can move or expand it some in the coming months but at some time we'll need to lock it in - say by April-May or when someone needs to lock in their vacation time which ever comes first.

It's still early as I write this so anyone interested let me know. I'll assume the role of "organizer" although it's probably not one of my better skills. But I'm more then happy to help in any way I possibly can so don't hestiate to ask.

[Roy B. Highland]

Dave, count me in but be firm about the dates. Make it July 10th and we can all arrainge our schedules around it. Also make it 2005 instead of 2004.
Enjoyed being with you all on the Catalina trip. Sorry you got pounded on the way home.
Roy " Salty Dog" Highland

[dclark]

Oops, goofed on the 2004, but was able to edit it.

I really enjoyed meeting you and I'm happy to hear you'll be making this trip. I understand what you are saying about the dates. I know if I try to accomodate everyone, it probably won't work.

So the 10th of July, 2005 it is.

[Frank C]

Suggested Equipment & Preparations Edited Oct 26, 2004
California's Channel Islands (CCI) are a wilderness setting, no piers, few improvements. We'll make this cruise 'en masse' to add safety and assistance for each other, but self-sufficiency is a target. Not comprehensive, but here's an initial planning list. Feel free to suggest additions. . . . . "Things" needed for this cruise, some essential, some just handy:

• * Brian Fagan's "Cruising Guide to CA Channel Islands" ~$15 used on Ebay
  * Islands charts .... a chart book is available ~$50
  * (Essential) VHF radio, maybe a backup radio too, plus ample AA batteries
  * (Essential) Handheld GPS - even tho a large group, it's easy to lose track of each other if fog settles.
  * 12v "jump starter battery" for emergency power of above
  * (Essential) Two amply-sized anchors that you are comfortable with setting - you definitely want your boat to stay put overnight!
  * Goodly amounts of anchor rode. Some of these anchorages will place you at 35 feet, deck to bottom, so at least one rode at 200' is a good idea.
  * Rocker stoppers (these anchorages can rock 'n roll all night long)

Suggested Preparations:

• * Sailing rig examined, repaired, and in good shape
  * Steering rig examined, repaired, and in good shape

-------- Originally Posted Here --------------
I suggested similar a while back, though it was a one-way "transit" rather than a loop .... more complicated since it required about 100 miles for highway shuttle. The reason was two-fold ... more time at anchorages, and avoiding the NW bash against wind and Pacific current.

.... By the sounds of it San Miguel can get nasty with heavy winds (up to 50kts) and sea conditions. Santa Barbara Island is all of a small target to hit at all of a couple square miles and it's out there...about a 40 mile open water passage from Santa Cruz Island ..... thoughts and ideas?

.... here's an idea for a full week cruise, but it demands some driving. Launch from Santa Barbara (city, not island), giving a fairly easy reach to Santa Rosa. .... head downwind along Cruz (the north side for the cave). After a day or two, downwind sail toward (Sta.Barbara Is) and Catalina for some civilized R&R, after ~50 miles of open water! It would be nice to have a radar with us to keep a bead on shipping in case of fog. (Need to shuttle skippers from Long Beach back to Sta. Barbara to gather the tow rigs.)

Assuming the choice is a full circuit, making a counter-clockwise circuit would create downwind runs from Cruz to S.B. to Catalina. Dave, you're the only one I know who's bashed to the NW. Would you expect that to be a rougher trip out in the channel than along the coast? And is one week enough time for that full circuit?

[Timmy Z]

Im in !!!! I can go north to south or the other way, it doesnt matter to me. Im good on the dates also. If we go south to north Ill just meet everyone in Two Harbors like last weekend. Frank has a good thought though. We sure would get more sailing in if we start in the Channel Islands Harbor and sail south and I like to sail more then motoring.

Tim

[dclark]

I think franks way would be easier and smoother. It would be a much more downwind trip. I'm leaving from Long Beach regardless and as long as I get to Santa Barbara Island, then I don't care. I hear it's a really vacation destination hot spot. I'd be happy to just leave two days earlier and meet everyone in Santa Barbara and then take the easy afternoon sail home from Catalina at the end.

Is that what everyone wants to do?

[Frank C]

Well I'm planning to have lots more time available by next summer, so I'll hope to have enough time for either a downwind cruise, or a full loop. How about some details ...

The southerly cruise might allow Sunday-to-Friday island hopping. Then it requires at least one day (maybe two), plus a friendly van driver or Greyhound from Long Beach back to SB City to pick up tow rigs.

Dave, since you're thinking full loop, I assume you'd prefer north along the coast and a southerly hop through Islands? How long did you spend on that northerly coast run to Channel Is. Marina, and how tough was it motorsailing into that current?

how long for the southerly run from SB City back to your home port? If you cruised that coastal section pretty quickly, maybe the overhead of shuttling rigs is just a toss-up?

[dclark]

Dave, since you're thinking full loop, I assume you'd prefer north along the coast and a southerly hop through Islands? How long did you spend on that northerly coast run to Channel Is. Marina, and how tough was it motorsailing into that current?

how long for the southerly run from SB City back to your home port? If you cruised that coastal section pretty quickly, maybe the overhead of shuttling rigs is just a toss-up?

Frank, Yes please try to make it, it would be really nice to see you again. To try and answer your questions...I think that a lot depends on the particular day, but based on last year...I

It was a bit of an upwind battle getting from Long Beach to Channel Islands Harbor. I motored a few hours in the morning around Palos verdes Pennisula, staying close to the coastline. From there I sailed until almost dark and then motored in the last ~10 miles. Current while motoring or sailing really wasn't an issue. The difficult part was getting around Point Dume. Next time I would alter the two hour motor to take me further off shore instead of so close to the coast. That would have made an easier and more enjoyable sail. And I probably would not have had to motor the last miles in order to be in by dark.

I went as far as Santa Barbara, but I got there by sailing across from Santa Cruz Island, so I can't say from experience what sailing up the coast would have been like. I would expect I'd still be sailing up wind but I don't think it would have been as difficult. Sailing back from Santa Barbara to Channel Islands Harbor was an easy downwind sail, but the wind was never totally behind me. tim and I came back down to Long Beach and sailed ~50 of the ~70 miles. There was morning wind so we had sails up as soon as we out of the harbor and we sailed until dark when it died off completely. That was a full day of downwind sailing, and probably the funnest I have had. We made pretty good time and sailed wing-on-wing for several hours at a time. Inspired me to buy a whisker pole as soon as I returned.

The more I've thought about it, the more I think I like Frank's idea. For me it's a loop and if anyone wants to start in Long Beach 2 days prior, then that would be great. Well go to Channel Islands Harbor on day 1 and to Santa Barbara on day 2 (or it might be nice to leave 3 days early and get to SB a day early and leave time to goof off - I think I like that even more).

[Frank C]

Sounds pretty good to me. Just to test an itinerary, let's add a calendar.

• * Optional 2-day sail up the coast to SB
  * Sunday night at SB slip
  * Monday morning, sail to Sta.Rosa Is. (a new twist)
  * Anchor Monday afternoon & night at Rosa
  * Sail to Cruz caves (North side)
  * Anchor Tues afternoon & night near caves
  * Anchor Wed night at easterly or SE end of Cruz
  ==> (Wed is flex-day; anchor at Cruz or sail south, adding a day at Catalina).
  * Sail past Anacappa, heading for SB Is. (a long day sailing)
  * Anchor Thursday evening & night at SB Is.
  * Sail to Catalina
  * Anchor Friday afternoon & night
  * Anchor Saturday also at Catalina, maybe different harbor (?)
  * Sail to LB on Sunday morning

If you sailed up the coast for a full loop, your sailing time is Friday morning through Sunday afternoon, or 10 days. If you just do the southeast cruise, your cruise time is still about 10 days, since Sunday afternoon you need to slip the boat, catch a ride back to SB, drive back down to Long Beach, and retrieve the boat Monday at noon, best case. When I look at it this way .... seems the full loop would be lots more fun!

Note the "flexibility" EDIT mid-way above

[dclark]

That sounds like a plan to me! And I like the Sta.Rosa Is twist. I do want to leave enough time to hit at least one of the bigger sea caves so I hope we are not pushing it too much with time. But on the other hand I think I little time with one or two of them is about all that is needed. I have a book on the boat the covers just the caves. I'll see which are most recommended.

[sailpsych]

Can I come along as well? I'll be heading out from Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. So I'd probably just catch up with you all on your way up. Last time I anchored for the night at Santa Cruz Island it was at Scorpion, very rough all night. Park ranger recommend south east side.

I'll stay in touch with this discussion board to track the project.

bruce

[mgg4]

This sounds like fun. If there are a group of us going, I might even convince my wife that the "Safety in numbers" theory might override her fear of being on the open ocean. All of our sailing has been in SF Bay and the Delta.

Tentatively put "Offline" down as a Yes.

--Mark

[Frank C]

Bruce - the more, the merrier!

Last year we anchored at (wait right there - I need to chase down Fagan's book) ... Bummer, can't find the Cruising Guide right now, but the chart is good enough. Last year we had a very rough anchorage at Prisoner's Harbor, on the north side, near the pier. Looking at Prisoner's on the chart, I'd have guessed it was better protected from the swell than most of the north side, but my boat rocked 'n rolled all night long!

The preceding night was only a little better (ESE) at Smuggler's Cove. One problem of choosing an anchorage is that you'd need 3 thours of fast motoring to switch sides of the island, double or more if you wanted to sail. I'm sure that I'm not competent to really define existing conditions well enough to make that call, and then, you're not really sure about any given anchorage anyway. I think we'll be pleased enough to just find an anchorage large enough to anchor our contingent of vessels in shallow to moderate depths. If it's rough, I'll just hang my orange rocker-stoppers, and chalk it up as "adventure" points!

Anyway, Brian Fagan's guide explains in great detail about choosing your anchorage (north or south) depending on the prevailing winds. Look him up on Amazon, Cruising Guide to Channel Islands. Find a used copy and buy it - considering you live so close, you'll really benefit from it.

[Captain Steve]

Fagans book is the best. June and July are the foggiest months in the Channel Islands.

I too plan on going on a portion of this trip, and may be able to help in the shuttling from long beach back to SB. Will stand by and see it gel.

[dclark]

Bruce and Mark, would love to have you along. Bruce, I'm coming up from Long Beach, so I'll stay a night in Oxnard. If you'd like to meet there that would be great. At the end of the trip, I'll be going back to LB from Catalina. I suppose you could either head back to Oxnard or come into LB and shuttle trailers with the others.

Frank, wasn't the first night in Scorpion? I thought that was the really rough night. I know we were in Prisioners on the last night. Calmer and smaller but still a fair amount of room. Rocker Stoppers are a big help. I'm making a note to rig something up to extend them out from the boat a foot or two. I think they would be much more effective.

Steve, glad to see you'll be coming along also. If you'd like you can head out of Oxnard with me (or us). I hear you on the fog, it can be hit or miss down hear too. I've been fortunate on the last couple trips. At least down here, June is by far more chancy. By July it's usually just overcast mornings, burning off by afternoon. So we'll hope for the best.