YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/19 16:42
LATITUDE: 33-27.57N
LONGITUDE: 118-31.06W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 5
WIND_DIR: 319T
COMMENT: Big Geiger Cove, Anchored Bow/Stern; Watching WX……Beautiful here..
Blog
-
POSITION REPORT
-
Blue Whale & Cherry Cove, Catalina Island, California…….
Dear F&F,
We had a week of one night stands at Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands.
Stopping in Potato Harbor, Pelican Bay, Bechers Bay, Coches Prieto, Scorpion
Anchorage, Smugglers Cove and winding up at Sea Lion City, Santa Barbara
Island before we arrived here. A fabulous sail was had from Santa Cruz
Island to Santa Barbara Island (40 miles) and then……..We saw a 60 foot long Blue Whale, the largest animal on earth, about the
size of 4 Bull Elephants.
The unusal thing about our sighting was that it occurred 100 yards off the
coast of Catalina Island just as we arrived from Santa Barbara Island. A
small power boat went right over it and didn\’t even see it!
We will be heading to Avalon next week after a brief visit from friends Mike
and Beth Lonnes at Big Geiger Cove this weekend……WX PERMITTING (Santa
Ana\’s are predicted). After Avalon, we\’ll be headed back to the coast for
some F&F visits and boat projects (the ever present boat projects!).Definition: Cruising the Oceans of the World in a small sailboat is defined
as: \”Doing boat projects in exotic locations……:)\”
KIT (keep in touch). You can write us at our shoreside emails or through
the \”Contact Us\” form on the website till at least the end of November. We
will post \”sea (and land) stories\” and lots of photos on the website by the
end of next week.
Hugs to all,
S&C s/v Beach House – Cherry Cove, Catalina Island, California -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/16 00:14
LATITUDE: 33-27.09N
LONGITUDE: 118-30.14W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 1
WIND_DIR: 111T
COMMENT: Arrived Cherry Cove, Catalina Island….; Saw a BLUE WHALE!….. -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/15 17:18
LATITUDE: 33-29.08N
LONGITUDE: 118-51.48W
COURSE: 090T
SPEED: 7.5
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 4
WIND_DIR: 215T
COMMENT: ENROUTE SB Island to Two Harbors, Catalina Island -
Santa Barbara Island Sail……..
Dear F&F,
We left Smugglers Cove, Santa Cruz Island on 14 October 2007. in
clear, cool, overcast skies. Hopeing for a lovely sail, we got it.
Cindy and I hoisted the main and set the big kevlar reacher, averaging
about 7 knots, we sailed almost the entire distance to little Santa
Barbara Island, 42 miles Southwest of Marina del Rey. Santa Barbara
is the second smallest of the Channel Islands to Anacapa and except
for San Nicholas, (The Island in the Scott Odell book, \”Island of the
Blue Dolphins\”), the most remote. Santa Barbara Island was no
stranger to us as we had been there on three previous occassions. We
show a few photos of our arrival in the gallery \”2007 – Catalina &
Santa Barbara Islands\”. This was to be just an overnight stop enroute
to Catalina. Despite the cool fall weather, a great sail was our
reward for the previous weeks cold and blustery conditions. -
2007-10 Catalina & Santa Barbara Islands
As we left from the Northern Channel Islands to head south
Southern California Wildfires from a NASA photo. I got this photo from the internet. We were at Catalina Harbor when it was taken. The extent of the smoke out to sea can clearly be seen Southern California 
Beach House in beautiful Avalon Harbor. We actually got a call from Mike Lonnes telling us to look on the internet and we could see a similar shot on the Avalon “webcam”……Isn’t this stuff cool……… Catalina Island – Avalon Harbor 
We arrived on Friday afternoon, October 19th…..waiting for Mike & Beth aboard “Scotch Mist”. One of two favorite coves at Catalina Island Catalina Island – Big Geiger Cove 
At Mike & Beth’s suggestion, when the Santa Ana’s stopped, we went to Little Harbor on the backside of Catalina. This is now one of our two favorite places on the Island. We spent a magic day here, snorkeling, hiking and having the place in warm weather……..all to ourselves. Catalina Island – Little Harbor 
We were in Cat Harbor with lots of other boats for the Big Santa Ana Event. The birds were all smart enought to huddle ashore. We cleaned ash off the boat for days from the Southern California Wildfires. Photos from space showed smoke trails well out beyond Catalina Island Catalina Island – Cat Harbor 
As we arrived at the West End of Catalina Island, we suddenly came across the largest species of animal on the planet……..A Blue Whale. These weigh 90 tons and grow to be 90 feet long. 
These Whales are as large as FOUR African Bull Elephants. We spotted this one only 100 yards offshore. 
Catalina Island Fox being attended to by several Naturalists Catalina Island – Big Geiger Cove 
Catalina Island Fox with Veterinarin above Big Geiger Cove Catalina Island – Big Geiger Cove 
These are the volunteers who capture the foxes in safe traps. When they put the hoods over their heads, they relax and allow the Veterinarian to clean his ears and take tissue samples 
Avalon Sunrise. This is the glass bottom tour boat “Nautilus” the morning we left from Avalon to Long Beach, California. You can see again, the beauty of the sunrise caused by the heavy ash from the wildfires 40 miles to the East……… Catalina Island – Avalon Harbor 
Day hike from Cherry Cove to Big Geiger Cove at the Isthmus of Catalina Catalina Island – Cherry Cove 
Cindy taking the Dinghy ashore at Isthmus Cove. We got the outboard tuned up and boy does it run better than ever! Catalina Island – Isthmus Cove 
Our first morning at Catalina Island, Cherry Cove……….before the big Santa Ana and Fire Events Catalina Island – Cherry Cove 
We came upon a group from US Dept. of Fish & Game, The Wildlife Institute and the Catalina Conservancy. They were doing studies on the endangered Catalina Island Fox. Apparently, there are now 1500 of these little guys left, up from 500 a few years ago. They are having an epidemic of a type of cancer in their ears. 
Cindy & Beth went on a “Buffalo Hunt”……..and they weren’t afraid!………. Catalina Island 
The Wildfires of Southern California blew smoke over 50 miles out to sea. Here you can see the outer portion of Little Harbor with the effects; beautiful but very saddening at the same time……….. Catalina Island – Little Harbor 
The Buffalo were brought to Catalina Island by famous Director Cecil B. Demil to make Western Movies. The heard originally around 40 animals grew to 400. All but about 40 have been returned to the Dakota’s were their ancestors were from. Here you see Catalina or “Cat” Harbor as it is known in the background. We saw Buffalo here with new friends Eric & Emmy, and again at Little Harbor Catalina Island – Cat Harbor 
We again saw Buffalo in Little Harbor. Notice that Cindy TAKES these photos. She isn’t comfortable with a 1000 lbs of hoof standing over 6 feet tall at the shoulder. What was I thinking…….:) Catalina Island – Little Harbor 
Beach House approaching Santa Barabara Island after a fabulous sail Santa Barbara Island, California 
Looking toward the mainlaind that famous “Twenty Six Miles Across the Sea”…….. Sunrise at Cherry Cove looking toward Ship Rock Catalina Island – Cherry Cove 
s/v “Astor” This beautiful schooner has a fabulous lore and history. I put this photo in here because of my cousin David Blocks’ experience aboard her as a teenager. He had the distinction of falling overboard enroute to Catalina and lives to tell the story. She’s still an immaculately maintained and stunning classic. Linda Isle – Newport Bay – California 
USCG Cutter Blackfin on the backside of Catalina Island. They were checking lots of boats and generally making their presence known. Catalina Island – East of Little Harbor -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/14 23:25
LATITUDE: 33-29.00N
LONGITUDE: 119-01.62W
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 13
WIND_DIR: 300T
COMMENT: Santa Barbara Island…….Catalina Tomorrow – Great Sail here -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/14 19:07
LATITUDE: 33-46.62N
LONGITUDE: 119-18.48W
COURSE: 140T
SPEED: 6.3
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 9
WIND_DIR: 260T
COMMENT: ENROUTE to Santa Barbara Island……; Sailing – Beam Reach 10-15k wind -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/13 18:13
LATITUDE: 34-01.03N
LONGITUDE: 119-32.46W
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 6
WIND_DIR: 117T
COMMENT: Santa Cruz Island – Smugglers Cove…Calm Going for a Hike -
POSITION REPORT
YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2007/10/13 01:03
LATITUDE: 34-02.96N
LONGITUDE: 119-33.24W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 1
WIND_DIR: 058T
COMMENT: Scorpion Anchorage – Santa Cruz Island; WX calm