Our departure from Newport was shrouded in a dense fog, and we said our goodbyes after a leisurely morning stroll. With 12 knots directly against us, sailing was off the table, so we motored towards Santa Catalina Island. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the island’s magnificent silhouette gradually came into view. We arrived at the northwest side of the island and sought refuge in Emerald Bay around 1930 on October 2nd, its rugged shores barely visible in the twilight. Anchoring was a bit tricky, necessitating a few adjustments before midnight to avoid a collision with the only other sailboat in the small bay. Navigating through the dense fog, we adeptly maneuvered around rocks and relied on our charts until we secured a safe spot for the night. After a restless evening at anchor, we awoke to the stunning emerald waters of the bay, crystal clear enough to catch a glimpse of the ocean floor. Although the waves made swimming impractical, we savored our morning coffee, weighed anchor at 0900, and set out for Cat Harbour, where the southwest side of the island promised better shelter and a suitable landing for our shore excursion.

Our time in Cat Harbor combined relaxation with adventure as we sailed from Emerald Bay at a steady pace of 4 knots, driven by a brisk 10-knot wind. After a couple of hours, the wind faded, and we motored the final leg of our journey, arriving shortly after noon on October 3rd. Upon reaching our destination, we contacted the harbormaster and successfully secured a mooring, putting my ball-tying skills to the test. Typically, we prefer anchoring, which feels less stressful to me, unless of course it’s dark and rocky 😉. Once settled, we ventured ashore to explore the island. We hiked up steep hills, enjoyed a game of disc golf on the Isthmus course in the warm ocean breeze, and strolled through Two Harbors, taking in the views. Two Harbors was hosting their annual Buccaneer Days and the sight of people dressed as Pirates surrounded us.

The following day, we left the mooring and anchored just half a mile away, repeating our previous day’s adventures in pursuit of the bison that remained on the island after a film production.

The introduction of bison to Santa Catalina Island in the 1920s was intended for a film project, however, due to difficulties in capturing them afterwards, they became a permanent part of the island’s ecosystem, adapting and thriving in this distinctive environment.