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Avalon, Catalina Island: Fog, Sea Sickness, and Island Fun (Dec 2025)
22 December 2025 · 13 min · 1K views · Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island
Sailboat cuts through foggy sea with sun behind haze
What this video covers
Mark sails the Valiant Yachts 40-2 Kieldragger from LA Harbour to Avalon, Catalina Island on 18 December, departing with first-time sailor Subu aboard.▶ 0:10 The 17.5-nautical-mile crossing turns rough: no wind, 3-to-5-foot waves, and fog closing to an eighth of a mile visibility force a switch from the original Two Harbors destination to Avalon.▶ 1:21 Subu develops seasickness in the confused, windless chop.▶ 1:27 Mark runs AIS and radar throughout the fog approach and contacts Avalon Harbour on VHF channel 12 for a mooring assignment; a patrol boat escorts the pickup.▶ 3:34 Fog blankets Avalon the entire first day, but the harbour is nearly empty.▶ 4:09 Friends on SV Vanishing Point (a 57-footer requiring a harbour escort) and SV Shearwater arrive later in the same pea-soup conditions.▶ 6:25 The group hikes to the Botanical Garden and eats lobster.▶ 4:32 Subu departs by Cat Express; David from SV Riff Raff joins for the return on 21 December.▶ 8:41 The return leg covers roughly 17 miles with 7–16 knots of wind and patchy fog near Angel's Gate; visibility stays just above 2 nautical miles.▶ 10:12 A close-quarters incident with a powerboat occurs just outside the gate.▶ 11:33 A forecast of 30–35 knots and possible gale warning Wednesday–Thursday drives the early departure.▶ 9:22
Boats in this video
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