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Hey Zuma, looking at the "Street View" photos of the Queensway Bridge I can't quite tell the clearance. Do we get to raise our masts on the trailer? The facility looks very nice from space, 4 lanes on the ramp and very protected. You're right, it only adds maybe a mile or so to the trip and adds a cruise by the Queen Mary. Also, there is a long drive to Cabrillo Park from the freeway and the Queensway is right at the end of the 710. I am sure I'll be in that area working long before my next jaunt to Catalina so I can get to know the roads. I don't like surprises when towing. Is that a public ramp, what are the fees? Is it guarded at night? While it isn't close to the city there, Long Beach does have a high crime rate.

I now plan to make this trip! I have secured the time off and look forward to seeing you all.

question are we responsible for procuring our own anchorage at Catalina? Or are we going to book as a group? Or first come first serve?
And who's gonna help this newbie set his anchor. If I can get the time off

Irafatsar,

We did this trip last August. There's no anchorage involved. Shallow draft boats, like the Mac, can tie up fore and aft to a string line, depending upon space availability. Its pretty easy. I'd suggest leaving from the Long Beach/ Marina Del Rey area. I'm sure that Mike will have the details as the date comes closer.

Right, if we go to Two Harbors we can get reservations on the "String Line" and pay in advance over the phone. The phone number I have is for Catalina Mooring Service at 1-310-510-4245. It is a little tricky to tie up solo on the stringline in a wind but if others arrive first I am sure we can help. I know I will. If we expect Santa Ana Winds we back in, if not, bow first. Two Harbors has many services including a very large dingy dock that fills up 3 deep on party nights, a fuel dock, free head pumpout, restaurant with snack bar and bar, coin bathrooms with showers and a market. The restaurant has very good food. The Buffalo Milk at the bar is excellent and contains no buffalo, I asked. For a very high price you can get internet access in many places on the island, why you would go all the way there and then sit at your computer is beyond me, but there you are.

If we choose to go to another area there are almost certainly moorings, they are first come, first served and you pay the harbormaster guy in cash. The charges for moorings are based on the length that they can accommodate , not the length of your boat. There are no services outside of Avalon, no fuel in between the ports. There is controlled access to the inner island with a fee required to hike in some areas. Some areas are on 99 year leases to yacht clubs, not all docks or areas are public.

There is a lot of information at http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com

I look forward to seeing you all there, last years trip was great, weather and company were excellent. We met for dinner at the restaurant Saturday night and visited each others boats during the day. That reminds me, I better start cleaning now if The Yam is to be bristol by June!

A reminder to please submit upcoming events to the calendar.

Heath

Roger MacGregor has some kool ides about this event. If this goes ahead his way, the destination will mean that Cat Harbor will be required due to the crowd! How about that, more later when events mature.
MIke Inmon

Roger LIVES

Rick

PS Wish I could go

What a great time it would be if the Anthem came along! I've never been to Cat Harbor, I have heard it is the best spot at the island for anchoring. It is the only natural safe harbor between San Diego and San Francisco and was used by the earliest Spanish ships exploring the area. Are enough moorings available or will we be anchoring, perhaps rafting? If anchoring I will need to refit with more than my emergency hook, if rafting we will need more fenders than I usually carry. The only problem with Catalina Harbor is the longer walk to the showers in the morning and even longer stumble back from drinking Buffalo Milk at night

David,

I just looked at the Queensway Bridge. It looks like it has a verticle clearance of 45 feet, which should be more than adequate. Don't know anything about leaving a truck/trailer unattended.

http://demo.geogarage.com/noaa/

Dennis

I live in Long Beach and sail from there all the time. There is plenty of room under the bridge with your mast up @ Queensway; however, you do need to pay close attention to the sandbars. I have run aground with my Mac 25 with the keel up at moderately low tide! If you are new to the area, stay to the right until you come up to the Queen Mary as you leave and opposite returning. The cost is $10.00 per day and while the lot is not totally secured, it is patrolled by police and rangers on a regular basis. I have never had any problems with theft (only stinkpot owners).

By the way - Catalina in June sounds great! I'd love to sign up. Let me check with the admiral to see if we can make the trip.

Stay Tuned, big news after the meeting Thursday. 3rd meeting and I have never seen so many of the "names" in sailboat production in one room before. Some produced sailboats over 30 years ago, more than one were 2nd generation builders. I am hoping that this will be the biggest sail event ever.

Thanks John and Dennis, I did drive by the ramp, the bridge looks fine. Finding the way to the driveway was a bit tricky but I have it programmed into my GPS now. The paybox only takes cash at this point, the credit card reader is broken. It is a much better ramp than Cabrillo and it will include a cruise past the Russian submarine and the Queen Mary.
Sounds great Mike! I only worry about too large a crowd at the bar, they can only milk those buffalos just so fast! Perhaps we should be planning a second, more Mac oriented trip for later in the summer since this trip may be contaminated by other, lesser boats.

Now called the Catalina Island Armada it was decided by group vote the date must be moved to give enough organizational time. Sept 19 and 20, Time needed mostly to line up sponsers, band or bands, raft-up and dock locations for pre-armada event, motor boats for escort, officials and supplies,prizes, Sea-Tow or Vessel Assist, Coast Guard,Sailing schools, Square Rigger charter boats, other charte fleets, Yacht clubs, web-sight, insurance,launch ramp. These folk have spent 3 meetings on this event, we meet every two weeks about it. PLease, if you can think of any other matters needing work, feel free to help, even if just an idea (I'll take credit for it if you want). The brief outline is three pages so far, will be on web soon, I'll post here first.
MIke Inmon

What about a Bar Barge! Bloody Mary deliveries in the morning!
A shore boat service is always nice if it runs late enough.
As I am in the healthcare industry my mind always wanders to a nurse (she could be there for health emergencies too.)
Assigning mooring or anchorages before the event can prevent chaos.

How about the original weekend? I say we try for the stringline at Two Harbors and have a Mac Party.