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Meeting up with three other sailboats at Catalina Harbor (November 2025)
December 2, 2025 · 17 min · 976 views · Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, California
Sailboat glides toward Catalina Island under clear blue sky
What this video covers
A Valiant Yachts 40-2 departs San Pedro the day after Thanksgiving for a 14-nautical-mile motor-sail to Catalina Harbor (Cat Harbor), navigating lobster pots at Angels Gate and along the channel.0:05 Three other boats make the same run: Lorena, Vanishing Point (a Beneteau 57 featured in a prior episode), and Blueaway.5:46 Light and contrary wind makes sailing impractical; most boats motor with a main up for minimal effect.1:33 A close whale sighting near the west end of Catalina Island puts the fleet on watch before final approach.3:52 The group anchors in 65–70 feet of water and rigs anchor bridles and snubbers.6:02 A dinghy outboard that hadn't run in two years requires bypassing its fuel filter to restart — prompting a discussion of trolling motors as a cost-effective dinghy propulsion alternative to Torqeedo or e-Propulsion for short island hops.8:50 Saturday morning the anchorage pivots 180 degrees overnight with no real wind.6:48 A generator is run to burn stale fuel and heat the water heater.11:05 On the Sunday departure, a Coast Guard helicopter hails Keel Dragger on Channel 22 for a routine vessel check near Angels Gate.14:19 Lobster pots clog the channel entrance on both legs of the trip.0:55
Boats in this video
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