Catalina trip with a side of Lore
- rcvesselstyn
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:54 am
Off to the IslandReaching the buoy we saw ships in strange placesodd to see 1000 foot ships out of the shipping lanes just floating in 1900 feet of waterWe found out there was a queue of 156 ships for LA harbor and they have run out of places for them to anchor. So they are assigning them areas to float around in.Coming into the Isthmusnice to see other people with their little boats and dinghies.snagged a mooring near our old homeThe beach and town are always so crowded this time of yearthe red dirt buffaloOld navy anchors used to hold the submarine nets across Catalina harbor during the war. We had a nice dinner at the Harbor Reef of fresh caught Swordfish. Then took a evening walk as the moon rose.Next morning eggs and baconTomorrows dinner swimming in the crystal waters beneath usalways something special at the IslandWe headed out for a short walk to Cat Harbor The burned out hull of the Llewellyn J. Morse. She was a 1877 Downeaster Clipper, 198 feet long and 71 tons. She had become a move star in the 1925 movie The Black Pirate with Douglas Fairbanks. She became the Constitution for the movie Old Ironsides in 1926.She was used in many movies all filmed in and around Catalina. Her last was as background in Mutiny on the Bounty in 1935She was burned with some other movie ships in 1938 but the fire spread to a real Icon, the oldest ship afloat.The NingPo was built in 1753 and was then named Kin Tai Fong or Golden Typhoon.158 feet long and a 37 foot beam with a crew of 60 men, she was a merchant ship for forty years before she turned to smuggling rebellion and piracy. She was a terror of the China sea for 100 years. In one day 158 prisoners were decapitated on her deck. She smuggled opium, women, and silk and was captured by the British four times each time sold to nefarious buyers. She fought in rebellions against the Emperor, captured by Chinese Gordon in the Taiping rebellion, after which she was renamed NingPo, Peaceful Waves. She continued as a pirate and a smuggler and took part in the Battle of Nanking. Her last escapade was the battle for Hankow in 1911. She was captured by the rebels and sold to a man in Pasadena, California. He had her sailed across the Pacific to become a exhibition at the San Diego Exposition. Eventually she ended up a Sandy Hook Catalina Harbor where her bones lie today.The timber sticking out of the mud are the remains of her ironwood hull.The Mate was ashore getting a hot shower when we started getting thunder and lightning.A 25 knot front came through, but no rain.After the front it calmed down. Barbequed steak and a glass of wine for dinner. The trip home was relatively uneventful. It was a little distracting with the huge ships all around. We were well out of the shipping lane when the Mate noticed a bow wave on one of the large ships nearby. We had to tack to avoid a collision. A good sail back to the mainland. I sure like my "new" main!
1977 Cal 2 29 Emerald Flash #964 , Isthmus, Catalina Island , California
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SailingChris
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:15 am
I enjoyed the photos--especially the harbor pic showing the Cal with her distinctive sheer stripe--and the history lesson. Here on the middle coast I know little about the Pacific, but from the photos, the ocean's name is appropriate.
Chris Campbell
Cal 20 # 1220, Martha C
Chris Campbell
Cal 20 # 1220, Martha C
- rcvesselstyn
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:54 am
Yes. But you can't trust it.
1977 Cal 2 29 Emerald Flash #964 , Isthmus, Catalina Island , California
- rcvesselstyn
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:54 am
Unlike the gale the other day, this evening was more Pacific.Same location as last photo.
1977 Cal 2 29 Emerald Flash #964 , Isthmus, Catalina Island , California
- rcvesselstyn
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:54 am
Hi Ken. We use CNG. If we change over I would use one of the new composite tanks and mount it outboard of one of the stern pulpit uprights. Years ago Dad would only put the tanks aboard during over night races and trips. For most sailing and racing he left them ashore. He had room on the cabin top to strap them in.
1977 Cal 2 29 Emerald Flash #964 , Isthmus, Catalina Island , California
- rcvesselstyn
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:54 am
After the Governors Cup Race 1948 ( the next year the name changed to the Newport to Ensenada Race). Isla Todos Santos.
1977 Cal 2 29 Emerald Flash #964 , Isthmus, Catalina Island , California