HI EVERYONE,
MY BOYFRIEND JUST BOUGHT HIS MACGREGOR AND ASKED ME TO POST THIS MESSAGE SINCE HE DOESN'T LIKE COMPUTERS MUCH ON JANUARY 8TH WE PLAN ON PICKING UP THE BOAT IN MARINA DEL REY AND SAILING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO CATALINA FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS. BOTH OF US HAVE SAILED BEFORE BUT THIS IS ALL NEW TO US. THEN WE TAKE IT BACK TO MONTANA WHERE HE LIVES. ANYONE SAILING AROUND THAT AREA DURING THAT TIME?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS,
BRUCE AND FAITH
Welcome aboard and congrats to both of you on the Mac! You'll love it. Just a slight word of caution about your proposed maiden voyage. It's about 40 miles each way to Catalina from MDR. The boat sails a bit differently from a conventional sailboat, so make sure you're comfortable with it prior to departure. Practice docking (fins down.) Ocean sailing is quite different from lake sailing. Make sure you look at the local charts and prepare appropriately. Hopefully your dealer will take you out on the water and explain everything about the boat when you take delivery. Most reputable dealers will.
It seems like an easy day trip. And every sailer in LA wants to go to Catalina. (By the way, I haven't done it yet.) I would urge a bit of caution.
Its not quite as serious, but, in my opinion, what you have in mind is similar to a pilot hopping into an unfamiliar airplane and just taking off on a jaunt. At least ask your dealer for his advice.
Check the weather.
Do you have all of the provisions, emergency gear, etc.??
I've talked to several people who sailed away to Catalina in high hopes, only to find themselves in trouble twenty miles out.
I don't want to scare you. Almost everyone has a great time going to Catalina. And I'll be there in the spring. But, its not my idea of a first sailing destination.
My advice to you MDR to Catalina is: Go and come back EARLY. Like leave for Catalina no later than 7AM and start the return journey same time. That, in correlation with checking the weather, is most likely to get you the glassy sea that you want for this journey - - - and be watchful while anywhere near the shipping lanes - - - those container ships cannot stop.
I assume you are motoring over. At mostly full throtle that is 2 1/2 hours or so. Sailing at 3/4 MPH is God knows how long - - - at LEAST 10 hours+.
I have done this trip many, many times on all kinds of craft. Feel free to PM me if you have other more specific questions.
wow thank you guys for all of your advice! i will read all of this to bruce. i'm being a bit of a wise guy...typing in all lower cases cause i don't want you to think i'm yelling.
faith
I'm posting a bit of insight, not based on expertise but more on how one trip went that was done all wrong.
We got salt water on my 26m for the first time at MDR with the goal of seeing Catalina. The crew was me, the owner and "experienced" lake sailor on the treacherous Folsom Lake; my brother whose sailing experience was one afternoon with me before; and, my 23 year old nephew who had never been on a boat (now in the navy - my fault?)
We trailored in about 8 am. Rigged the boat and launched. Probably around 10 am. Great deal of trust put into my hand held gps.
We didn't consider sailing across because we knew we got a late start.
As to full throttle motoring, we didn't go more than 4 knots. I didn't like the way the bow got buried in the waves at any higher speed. Keeping it at 4 knots minimized the amount of splash we were hit with in the cockpit.
We made Avalon with no problem. Came up to the harbor and the boat met us to assign a mooring outside the harbor near the beach. Grabbing the mooring flag at the front was easy but a boat hook seems a must to help pick up the aft mooring connection.
We took the boat taxi in and had a marvelous dinner. Everyone in a state of near ecstacy after the fun of the crossing and just glad we made the trip. Of course we didn't think about the trip back.
We got the taxi back to the boat and took off for Marina Del Rey. This is where it got scary. The waves were as bad as comming over, but then it started to get dark. None of us had ever really gone boating after dark.
Gotta love GPS. We just followed the indicators on the little handheld lighted screen and thankfully the batteries never gave out.
We hit the channel spot on and there were plenty of lights. We had our slip arranged for the night so just tied up and slept the sleep of the truly blessed.
As I said, nothing here to learn about doing it right, but it's years later and the family still talks about that wonderful trip.
The above post closes my case and advice. This trip should be made both ways at 7AM and NEVER made in the afternoon when the waves can be totally trecherous. I would never even THINK about going into this channel at night - - nuff said. Catalina is done by:
1) leaving early
2) stay at least overnight
3) return early
We might be up for a trip over. Will need to check the calander and with the Admiral. Maybe this can get some traction with the MDR guys? I'd like to try some lobster hooping there.
We have gone over 4 or five times now on our M. We do prefer Two Harbors over Avalon. 30 NM from MDR. We can only take but so much of the 500 "made in China cheap tourist trap rip off junk" stores. To each their own. Besides, it's 10 NM further.
Pokerrick is right on with his post. I'd only add that an even earlier start might be considered. Leave 20 mins before very first light. There will be plenty of light by the time you will really need to see. The winds are normally down, and the seas are normally calmer. Normally. Thats why most Mac guys motor both ways. The winds don't usually start until mid-morning. It could be dark before you get there under sail, conditions notwithstanding. Save the sailing for around the Island.
Handheld GPS is fine for navigation. We use about 11 gallons gas for the 30NM each way. We unballast each way to increase speed and fuel mileage. (your call only) No real need to carry a bunch of food, ice and stuff. A good store and resturant/bar are there. Gas too. We also carry a dinghy, but that's not critical due to the water taxi service. If you have never used a bow/stern mooring buoy, get way ahead of the game and study the method found on the Catalina/Avalon/Two Harbors web site.
Anyone else from MDR up for a Winter Trip?
Well said, Bill, (Hardcrab). But, Hmmmmm, I use 11 gallons each way on my 60 E-Tec and that gets me all the way to Avalon. That much gas mileage difference with your 90?? - - - and I keep the ballast in and I have more extra junk in my boat.
Correct again - - - save the sailing for around Catalina - - - watch the backside - - - MUCH more windy there. See you around, Bill
The above post closes my case and advice. This trip should be made both ways at 7AM and NEVER made in the afternoon when the waves can be totally trecherous. I would never even THINK about going into this channel at night - - nuff said. Catalina is done by:
1) leaving early
2) stay at least overnight
3) return early
Rick, where was all this great advice last year when I attempted to sail to Catalina (unsuccessfully.) Trailered to MDR from San Francisco. Picked a couple extra crew (my wife's co-worker) who lives in Santa Monica and her now X-boyfirend. Had to wait for them and got a late start. Made it 20 miles off shore where the seas were huge, wind blowing around 25 knots. I personally love this stuff, but my crew was violently ill. Had to turn around and take them back to shore. Some other day.
ON JANUARY 8TH WE PLAN ON PICKING UP THE BOAT IN MARINA DEL REY AND SAILING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO CATALINA FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS. BOTH OF US HAVE SAILED BEFORE BUT THIS IS ALL NEW TO US. THEN WE TAKE IT BACK TO MONTANA WHERE HE LIVES. ANYONE SAILING AROUND THAT AREA DURING THAT TIME? 
Trailered to MDR from San Francisco. Picked a couple extra crew (my wife's co-worker) who lives in Santa Monica and her now X-boyfirend. Had to wait for them and got a late start. Made it 20 miles off shore where the seas were huge, wind blowing around 25 knots. I personally love this stuff, but my crew was violently ill. Had to turn around and take them back to shore. Some other day.
Early IS the key 
