MARTHA and crew are enjoying Santa Catalina Island and the wonderful weather.
We sailed from Santa Barbara on Sunday evening and had a wonderful sail with NW winds 15 to 20 kts and a snug anchor down at “Smugglers Cove”, SE end of Santa Cruz Isl.
The next morning we proceeded to “Albert’s” anchorage on the South side, just east of ” Coches Prietos”, where the snorkeling was exceptional. The weather forecast, with diminishing winds, led us to make an overnight sail to Catalina, entering Cat harbor early in the morning.
After a late morning siesta we went ashore for a vigorous hike up to the ridge line overlooking the Pacific to the south, what a vista.
Wednesday was a short hop to a little anchorage called “Little Harbor,” where once again the swimming and snorkeling were impressive and the view just about perfect.
After a night at “Buttonshell Beach” near Long Point, we sailed to Avalon for Halloween. We hear they have fun family style activities with of course Trick or Treating.
We met a fellow sailor who knew of MARTHA from the 1950s when she was sailing out of Newport Beach! Now, moored here in front of the Casino, we can surely imagine James Cagney sitting here enjoying the island.
Stay tuned for more.