No more Avalon!

[paul culver]

I've had it with mooring in Avalon. It seems to me that over the past 10 years I have been turned down 50% of the time because the inner and outer harbors are "full". What has your experience been? Now that Isthmus Cove has summer shore-boat service I think all of my future trips will be direct to Twin Harbors. Besides, I found their harbor personnel to be a LOT more friendly than what I typically get in Avalon.

Paul
E29 "Bear"
Oceanside

 

[HGSail]

For me, Catalina was cut from my sailing diet 20yrs ago because of the rudeness of the harbor personel.

Pat
E29
'73
#224
Holy Guacamole

 

[Martin King]

We avoid Avalon like the plague in summer choosing to visit only in the
winter and even then, it's still a tourist trap. It's bad enough at Isthmus
during the summer. We just spent 4 days there and if you hadn't arrived
by Thursday afternoon, you were in the anchorage as every cove
was sold out. I've been going over there for 30 years and never experienced
any rudeness from the harbormasters in the west end coves.

Martin

 

[Glyn Judson]

Rudeness or lack thereof at the Island.

All, I have to agree with Marty. Marilyn and I have been going there since the early '80's and have never been treated poorly but only as nicely as can be. Try them again, a lot can change in 20 years and in the mneantime you're only hurting yourself by boycotting the place. Catalina is the best kept secret on the SoCal coast, an island paradise. Glyn Judson, Marina del Rey

 

[HGSail]

Sorry Glyn,

I don't mean to disagree, But I Cruise to get away from the crowds. I found that paradise is truly in the upper Channel Islands. This last August 7th We were in Prisoners on Santa Cruz and there was only one other boat in the cove besides us all week until the weekend and then no more than six showed up.

Pat
E29
'73
#224
Holy Guacamole

 

[HGSail]

Here are somemore pics.

Pat
Holy Guacamole

 

[Jeff Asbury]

I haven't given up on Avalon!

Well, I haven't given up on Avalon completely just yet. I sailed over last Sunday for the Blue Oyster Cult rock concert at the Casino Ballroom. I didn't have the greatest expectations of securing a mooring inside the harbor, so I had back up plans that included possibly having to moor outside at Descanso Beach or Hamilton Cove, or even as far west as White's Cove. When I met the Harbor Patrol at 4:00 pm I told him that we were there for the concert. He said that was great, but he had no moorings. I suspected he might be joking or have to put us up at Hamilton Cove. He got on his radio and then asked the length of my boat. He got back on the radio for about 30 seconds and then told us to go to mooring 15, right in front of Big Olaf's Ice Cream Parlor. I booked two nights and was at one of the best locations in the harbor! I have to admit it was crowded but there were at least two or three open moorings on the front row Sunday night.

I usually don't even try to go to Avalon during the heat of the Summer because of the lack of space. I now believe it is at least worth a try if you have a special reason like a good old fashioned rock concert. The concert was strangely on Monday night, but that couldn't have worked out better.

I had a great time sailing over there last Easter Weekend. Lots of room in early spring. Also in late October is good. Still warm but the kids are back in school. There is not other city I know of on the west coast as magical as Avalon. There is so much History and regardless of the crowds it still has charm. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy roughing it in the Channel Islands or gunk holing the more remote coves on the west end.

About rude harbor personnel, my worst experience was at Two Harbors when a Shore Boat hit and mangled my boarding ladder and did not want to take responsibility for it. I went to the Harbor Master and he had it replaced with a brand new one with in a week.

There are good and bad people every where. That's life and I am learning not to generalize.

Just always plan on being flexible.

That's my 2 1/2 cents.

Yup, that's my boat up front and center in the circle last Sunday night.

 

[HGSail]

Jeff,

You have a great attitude about it all and I commend you for it. The last time I was there I was approched by the patrol boat and without a hello or good afternoon I was asked in a very rude tone if I had a holding tank or a portapotttie. That turned me off very quick. I seem to find every rude person with a power trip that works for the government. If I'm offending anybody out there I apologize, But these are my personal experinces. Don't get me wrong, We have just as many nazi's up here too ie: Fish & Game, Coastguard, National Parks etc..... These people treat cruisers as if they were Al Qaida or something.

Pat
E29
'73
#224
Holy Guacamole

 

[Jeff Asbury]

I did have one experience with a Harbor Patrol last Easter that I thought was kind of rude. When I got to the Harbor entrance at Avalon there was no Harbor Patrol to be found, so I got on channel 12 as it is stated in all the literature that I have ever seen about securing a mooring at Avalon. I hailed them on channel 12 and the voice came back and said is this your first time to Avalon? I said no I had been there many times. The voice replied, "So why are you calling on the radio, your not supposed to do that anymore, just meet the Harbor Patrol Boat?" It was kind of embarrassing for me in front of my crew. I double checked the last week on the Catalina Web site and it still states to hail them on channel 12.

For the most part I have found all personnel to be very courteous. They always get a kick out of the name of my boat. "The Pride Of Cucamonga". That lightens things up a bit. I think you also have to take into consideration that any one can buy a boat and there are a lot of idiot boaters and drunk boaters they have to deal with. Lets face it. California waters are getting pretty crowded with a lot of goofs. I read recently that Catalina is still a hole in our boarders where smuggling and illegals are slipping in. That would explain some of the paranoia with the Government Personnel.