Flight Level Zerovideo

We Had to Divert—Here's Why Cat Harbor

12 April 2026 · 18 min · 7K views · L.A. Harbor, California

Sailboat enters Cat Harbor, rugged hills ahead at golden hour

What this video covers

A pre-departure walk-around on the Beneteau 57 turns up a missing bolt; Chris sources a replacement at True Value hardware before the boat can leave.1:20 The original plan — an overnight passage from Long Beach to Santa Cruz Island — collapses when a gale warning forces two other boats to turn back after conditions deteriorate rapidly.3:00 Chris and Karmen wait out the night, then depart at 5 a.m. Friday for Cat Harbor on Catalina Island instead.3:10 Leaving L.A. Harbor at dawn means threading through two inbound cruise ships, two outbound container ships including an Evergreen vessel, and multiple pilot boats — dense commercial traffic that demands careful timing.3:39 Once clear, they motor north along the shipping lanes, rendezvous with a boat called Keel Dragger near the Point Vicente marker, then cross to Cat Harbor.7:05 The anchorage at Catalina Harbor is described as their favorite on the island: steep hills, calm water, and no city noise.15:21 Future plans include a Catalina circumnavigation with stops at Whites Landing or Avalon.14:01 The episode closes with a tribute to Quincy, the crew's dog, who died of degenerative heart disease after the trip.15:45 The pre-departure bolt discovery reinforces the practical value of a thorough walk-around before any offshore passage.2:32

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Boats in this video

Beneteau 57Their boat

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