Whites Cove (Catalina)

I had a smooth sail across the channel in 15knots of wind and arrived in under 3 hrs. I was close hauled the whole way as I need to make as much windward progress as possible and got to really test the pointing ability of the new jib. I was headed for an area on the central east coast of Catalina called Long Point which was as far north as I could get in one tack. There is a recommended anchorage called Whites Cove in the lee of this point that looked just what I was looking for. Just like any good location on Catalina, all the best places are taken with mooring balls but there are a few spots left to anchor if you take the time to scope out the bay.

Whites Cove looking North, Sea42 on the right.

Most of the mooring balls are in the south of the bay

I set 2 anchors so the bow pointed out to sea and ended up being pretty comfortable being protected by the headlands and Long Point to the north. This is the most comfortable open water anchorage I have found so far. Its quite deep water at over 50ft, but the holding is good and the water visibility is great.

View of Catalina from the cockpit. I spent a lot of time sitting here!

I really like it here. The water is very clear and there is plenty of fish to see around the kelp forests near the rocks. Its quiet and if I need anything I can be in Avalon in 15 minutes assuming the waters flat and I can go full speed in the dinghy (25 knots). If its even slightly rough it takes a lot longer but the view on the way beneath the cliffs is pretty spectacular.

As I had the big outboard on the dinghy, I spent some time exploring the local coast and found a few camping spots on beaches that can only be reached by boat. Its very wild and untouched here. I had a big flying fish zoom by me one day while in the dinghy.

After a few days just sitting back and enjoying the view I decided to hike up the mountains to get a good view of the bay. Its been pretty warm so I set off early around 7am to avoid the heat. I didn't really know where I was going but I saw a few small trails in the distance and figured I cant be the first to try. I packed the radio and some supplies into my backpack in case I got into trouble...

view over the bay a few hundred feet up the mountain

A little higher, getting tired now .....

Top of the mountain, the boats are little dots now, and its getting hot.

This was about as far as I have hiked in a very long time. I looked around for some shade for a rest and tucked in behind some bushes to have lunch and some much needed water. There had not been much of a trail up to this point but I could see what looked like a dirt road in the distance and figured I could use that to get back. A few miles down the dirt road I was on a point over looking the bay near the boat but there the road ended, guarded by a huge bison!

The only other person I met all day. Quite friendly it turned out.

I just have to get down this small hill and I'm home!

I should have just gone back the way I came, but it seemed a very long way back and its wasn't an easy climb. Going up is always easier that going down and now I'm so close there must be some trails near the coast right???

I started down the cliff and soon realized if was just a mass of Cactus and dried out brambles. Anyway to make it short I spent hours retracing my tracks and ended up climbing down a creek bed and going over a steep cliff before I reached the shore. So I'm at the shore just a half mile from the boat, it should be easy from now I'm thinking. I clambered over the rocky beach and made it around a headland with the waves crashing all around me, just one more cove to go and I'm back. The only problem is that the last cove is surrounded by steep cliffs a hundred feet high and I cant get around the rocky point. I tried climbing out holding onto dried out roots and plants but had to give up before I started a rockslide,

I climb down this cliff and end up being stuck in this bay, No way out!

I went back down to the shore line and sat on a big rock on the waters edge (see arrow on picture above). I could leave all my gear here and try and swim for the boat, but then how could I land the dinghy in this rocky surf to pick my gear up? I thought about calling the coast guard when a kayaker came around the point. I called out and explained my strange situation. I ended up jumping off the rock onto the kayak and getting a ride back to the beach. Next time I get a trail map!

I dragged myself back to the boat and drank more that one beer after that.

A few days later I decided to take the dinghy ride 3 miles down the coast to Avalon, It was a little bit choppy so I couldn't go full speed but its a beautiful trip skirting the kelp forests at the bottom of huge cliffs. About 20 mins later I pull into Avalon and tie up the dinghy at the pier. Culture shock! Millions of tourists everywhere. It was overwhelming at first seeing so many people after being alone for a while, but I soon got used to it and sought out a coffee shop.

The beach area at Avalon

Avalon is a pretty town on the southern end of Catalina. Its the only real town on Catalina and has a good mix of shops and restaurants.

View of Avalon Harbor from the coffee shop. Electric golf carts to get around town

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View over Avalon Harbor

The Casino Building is the big landmark of Avalon.

I spent some time exploring the small town. The island has an unusual history as its privately owned by the Wrigley family (of chewing gum fame) who lease parts of the island to various organizations. Read about it here. I ended up going to Avalon a few times to get access to the internet and get supplies.