Catalina Island Armada (formerly: Summer Sailstist)

[aya16]

Lets see, if Billy doesnt go, Ill be a shoe in for the biggest motor, tell roger Ill tape up one of the "1 stickers on my motor" for the press . Any one from MDR that wants to motor over to long beach the day before with me, let me know, we will leave Friday morning. Ill be in a slip at MDR Thursday night. Those that dont know long beach harbor well, I can assist in that. Gas is available and easy to get in long beach harbor so we can top off if you want. (recommend), unless you want to carry your fuel tanks a 1/4 mile or so, from cat harbor to the gas dock and back. A small collapsible hand dolly works good for that. With all the sailing we shouldnt use much gas though.

Mike is there a prize for the mac that can pull the most skiers out of the water at one time????? Could use a new main sail soon, That would be a great prize.

This should be a blast, those that are new to this kind of trip, the key is self sufficient. Two anchors ( rafting up you wont need two anchors, but if you anchor by yourself harbor master requires you have two out, not that they enforce that rule), plenty of food and water, and any kind of dinghy as they raft up close to shore, even the sevylor type boats with oars from walmart for less than a hundred bucks, work well. Large bumpers to raft up with, Ill use three. Optional would be a very large BBQ to grill a buffalo, we can snatch one at night, (just kidding). Bring your own booze, the bar booze on the island is weak and expensive.



This should be a blast Im going.
Mike

[Hardcrab]

I've got a strong feeling this thing might have died on the vine.

Early in the string of posts, Mike Inmon talked about all of the SoCal yacht clubs joining in and posting flyers and what-not to increase the turnout numbers, but I have yet to see anything posted around, at least in the MDR area, with two months to go.
I've seen nothing noted in the upcoming events calendars for September in the local marine- oriented newspapers or local yacht club websites either.

I hope I'm wrong, because we'll be there in a heartbeat.
Mike hasn't posted here in a while; anybody about talk to him?

Not looking good -----.

Of course, an unofficial trip is always possible.

[aya16]

ohh no well I guess we can do a mini armada, That way we can stay in two harbors isthmus. There would be a slight problem with a thousand boats all descending on two harbors on top of what goes anyway.
Lets do it, up for a trip Bill? Maybe roger could let us use the banners and we will string it up to the boats that go. We can be the macgregor yacht club, all three of us...

we can still have the race and have prizes, first place two bottles of two buck chuck, second place one bottle of two buck chuck, last place a cork screw. Maybe we can get sponsored, have trader Joe's donate the two buck chuck, I have an ole cork screw Ill donate. I have a boom box we can play golden oldies with. Hey Roger pull one of the demo boats out of the shop and come along, that would make 4 boats...
Mike

[Clemo]

And we Australians will be with you in spirit.

Well, Fred Fanzia, the guy responsible for the Two Buck Chuck, is launching his Three Dollar Koala wine.

Yes, an Australian red to compete with our Yellow Tail.

So have a good weekend and enjoy the wine.

Tks
C ya.

[David Mellon]

I bet we can get more than the three of us!! Hey all you SoCal locals, let's get a party together. I have a hankering for Buffalo Milk!

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You must have more boats in SoCal that can make a Rendezvous than that! We had 50 boats signed up for the 2009 BWY Rendezvous in Port Townsend but only 37 made it due 20 - 30 knot winds and rough conditions in Admiralty Inlet. Even with the weather there were boats from Canada and Oregon as well as Washington. The entire marina was rented out for Macs.


Point Hudson Marina 2009


Ignore the 4 large boats which are all BWY employees or former Mac owners who have moved up.

Full story here:
http://home.comcast.net/~duane.dunn/LogBook126.htm

The Rendezvous we attended two years ago had 50+ Macs in attendance.

Port Orchard 2007

Full story here:
http://home.comcast.net/~duane.dunn/logBook97.htm

[aya16]

ok six, do I hear 7, 7,7, 7 going once..... ok, well now we have enough boats to have a nice BBQ on the beach Saturday afternoon. Maybe a ukulele. definitely enough to have a few tall tales and swap some lies.
Maybe not an armada, but a good get together so far. whos up for this so far? Im going for sure, under ten boats we go to the isthmus on friday, over ten we go to cat harbor. Want an agenda or loose, play it by ear weekend? My agenda usually consists of breakfast sat morning on the island, around 11 or so go snorkel at the east and west side of the isthmus for a couple hours, then start a BBQ on the island around 4pm. Sometimes I toss in a fishing expedition for a couple hours before the snorkel thing. Only fish I keep is the halibut, great tasting. For a more relaxing less time pressure thing, leaving Friday morning would be the best, That gives us all day Friday from about noon to get settled, relax and visit a little, all day Saturday to get together, and group up Sunday for the trip back.

so who would be going? what do you want to do? Almost everyone has a gps, so we can hook up in the channel at a given time Those from MDR can start at the same time, those from long beach and other points can meet us in the channel at a given gps spot, we then motor sail over together. Make reservations for the string line in two weeks. We descend (ascend, arrive, what ever) on Catalina all at once. Those that are new to this can hook up with a veteran, we do a buddy thing for those that havent tried this before. Those that dont have a dinghy can go to walmart and get one of those 5 man sevylor's, thats all you need from the string line, unless you want to pay 5 bucks each way per person for the shore boat to take you a 100 feet. But if you want a real dinghy you have time to get one of those Baltic dinghies on ebay, cheap and absolutly great boats. I recommend the 7.5 to the 9.5 air floor a must, for two or more people. I have the 6.5 and a 9.5 Ill be using the smaller boat unless we plan to tour the area in dinghies together.

We have over a month to plan this, lots of time, special needs can be worked out here, I can lend someone a dinghy, but you pick it up mdr, blow it up and pack it up later drop it off to me, Its a 8.5 Achilles, older but holds air and will work fine, I lent it to Bill once and he can tell others about it. Those that trailer and have never been to the island, long beach is a 23 mile jaunt, but if you want to go over with me and a few others come to MdR leave with us, good ramp, lots of room, wash racks, but 35 miles to the island, but its part of the adventure, I can help set you up, and you can borrow the dinghy if you need it, then.

The sailboat armada might still happen, but if it doesnt, then we have this, life boat armada.....Hey Mac if the armada isnt going to happen how about hooking us up with some free mac stuff we can raffle off on the beach Saturday, to the loyal customers? Ill set that up if mac wants to participate, mikelinmon you know my number call me if this is possible. Ill call mac if I dont hear from Mike and see what I can do. If mac wants to participate we will fly the mac banner on the beach at the BBQ. O f course mac needs to lend us the banner they want us to fly. If mac wants to do this Ill pick the stuff up at the factory and get it organized.
Mike

[Hardcrab]

Due to our work schedule, we would be somewhat partial to these dates.
Fri AUG 21, Fri SEPT 4, Fri SEPT 18.

Any other date choosen is not out of the question however.

[aya16]

The first date Aug 21st is good for me as well as the third date Sept 18th, the middle date is dove season and Ill be in Yuma, after Yuma Im open till oct 19th, That is quail season for a week.
but really other than the last weekend in aug, and the first week of sept Im good to go. So we should (whoever is going , or wants to go) get a date set so we can make reservations on the string line.
So lets do a cut off aug 5th, all those that want to input a date we can vote on, by aug 5th jump in and we post those dates, aug 5th we vote as to when we go. Sound good? Il call mac as soon as we get a good idea how many boats go, but I want to do that at least 3 weeks before the departure date, so I can kiss their butt for some free raffle stuff. The more people that want to go, the less kissing I have to do....
Mike

[irayone]

SEPT 18TH WORKS FOR ME....

[David Mellon]

I checked in with my office and it turns out I reserved September 18th months ago for this trip. Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties will just have to do without me on call for this trip. I'll be going alone if necessary but I'm drinking Buffalo Milk that weekend!! See you there, I'll be getting a spot on the string line if the Armada is a no show.

[irayone]

The "Iraytion " will be there................ long beach to where ever.............................

[aya16]

David I think most will go for the 18th as the real armada was planned for that date long ago. As far as getting ten boats well I would be surprised if that many went, But you never know. I prefer the isthmus side too, Now with reservations we could reserve the whole string line and everyone going could fit.

sitting at the bar in Catalina The way they made the buffalo milk really disappointed me, in the old days 3 buffalo milks you felt absolutly no pain, 5 buffalo milks in two hours last trip and I didnt even have a buzz, Heres why. Bartender took an order down the bar for 3 buffalo milks, I watched him make it...in a blender he added the following ingredients below except no cream or banana
Thennnnnnn added a big splash of skin milk instead of cream, that blender served the three people.

so Catalina is now serving buffalo milk light, I guess.

Buffalo Milk This is a very rich drink, the cream and the banana give it a full body smooth drink with a kick. Catalina started making these drinks many years ago and were famous all over the world. Some yoko thought to slim it down and absolutly ruined the drink, but alls not lost, heres the OG recipe Put that drink below up against what they serve now and its night and day if you appreciate a well made drink, ohhh use absolute Vodka in this. I will have the makings on my boat if any one wants to try this very smooth great tasting drink when we go.

1/4 shot Creme de Cacao, dark
1/4 shot Creme de Cacao, white
1/2 shot Kahlua
1 shot Vodka
1/2 shot Cream
1/2 piece Banana
1 sprinkle Nutmeg
Fill with Ice
1 splash Whipped cream
Fill a tall glass with ice. Blend ice with cream, banana and alcohol until smooth. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle with nutmeg, serve and enjoy.


Mike

[aya16]

lets get an acurate count by the 5th and see what we got...
Mike

[Hardcrab]

I'll start a new thread outside of this for better exposure.