Rippers Cove or Little Gibralter?

[Bepi]

It's that time of year again except this time I am turning 55. Join Roxanne, if you can find her, and win a cold drink plus enjoyable, pleasant, light hearted conversation...provided by my brother Kevin. Hoping to hear "Captain Bepi, I presume." The forecast onshore winds have turned west, a three day break from june gloom is slotting in for the weekend. Instead of motoring against a five knot headwind, I will be sailing. Best birthday gift possible. Ericson owners, I urge you to be uncharacteristically irresponsible, let the weeds in the lawn grow, leave the dust on your car, and go sailing!

 

[La Vida E34-200]

Cheers and Happy Bday!! Wether a bday Father’s Day or any other excuse I can find to spend time on the island “ I DO” .. Rippers/whites area is such a serene part of Catalina.. Weather looks great for the weekend.. if not for awaiting the arrival of a new mainsail I’d join you!! Enjoy, stay safe ..

Fair winds

 

[Loren Beach]

Per my mapping app, this is 981 miles from my house.
Love to visit, but it's not gonna work for this weekend!
Happy Birthday anyway !!

 

[Bepi]

1/3 the way across, I can see my shadow! Settled on Rippers cove, didn't scratch the surface of the hiking there on my last visit.

 

[Bepi]

Moved to two harbors this morning. Too rocky for the crew at Rippers.

 

[Bepi]

Heading back to Rippers cove. The goal is to explore The Valley of the Ollas, an ancient Chumash quarry. Will post pics on return.

 

[Bepi]

Reefed main and jib, using tiller clutch, sailing by herself, right on course. I love my Ericson.

 

[gabriel]

Reefed main and jib, using tiller clutch, sailing by herself, right on course. I love my Ericson.

Hi bepi, how’s the wind condition? Sea state? There appears to be some huge cumulus clouds east of me. Have a good sail!

 

[Bepi]

Hi bepi, how’s the wind condition? Sea state? There appears to be some huge cumulus clouds east of me. Have a good sail!

Just got back to the slip. The sail over was great had a few good slams on the choppy sea.
Anchoring at Rippers was beautiful, until the winds changed and a 20kt SW that came down out of the hills. It was everything you could want from the school of sailing. Anchored stern in I was soon stern out. The wind was so sudden and forceful it bent the fluke of my small stern danforth as it was pulled free and I swung 180⁰. It was afternoon so it was easy to adjust. Last night at sunset the wind changed and thick clouds rolled in. When the sun was gone it was pitch black, not a star in the sky. Sooo, in the howling wind I heated water for coffee and considered the watchful and sleepless night ahead until I remembered an anchor alarm app I had down loaded to my phone. I set it and slept like a baby until the alarm went off at 2 am. Up like a flash and on deck, all was well, I think my anchor chain moved a few feet. I watched and then reset the alarm and as the wind had dropped I slept till dawn with no other trouble. Hiking The Valley will have to wait, conditions were too unstable to leave Roxanne. Stimulating yet educational.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

. . . Sooo, in the howling wind I heated water for coffee and considered the watchful and sleepless night ahead until I remembered an anchor alarm app I had down loaded to my phone. . . .

I enjoy reading your travelogues. Entertaining and inspiring. Can you recommend the app you use? I see three in the App Store.
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Bepi]

I enjoy reading your travelogues. Entertaining and inspiring. Can you recommend the app you use? I see three in the App Store.
Thanks,
Jeff

The one I randomly chose was "Anchor Lite". It's free for the bare bones but some features ask for permission to access every file, picture, location and your left progenitor. Luckily the basic ability to tell if you have moved does not require purchase or overt compromise. There seem to be some interesting features in the pro upgrade but the free version did the job.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

The one I randomly chose was "Anchor Lite". It's free for the bare bones but some features ask for permission to access every file, picture, location and your left progenitor. Luckily the basic ability to tell if you have moved does not require purchase or overt compromise. There seem to be some interesting features in the pro upgrade but the free version did the job.

Thanks!

 

[Bepi]

Sunset at Rippers.

 

[Christian Williams]

 

[Bepi]

View attachment 47455

I am considering Long Point for my next trip. It seems well protected, unless weather comes from the south and east. Have you visited that place?

 

[Christian Williams]

Me, I don't anchor anymore. Strictly a $50/night mooring ball sort now.

But I think you have it right: try a place, if there're bugs, or a cross sea, or too crowded, or holding ground worrisome, just move.

Catalina often has an active seaway even in the mooring fields, it's part of the charm if not the calm.