BIRTHDAY CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF SCI

For quite some time now we have been celebrating the capt's b-day in Catalina and this year was no different. First stop Cat Harbor. We left Dana at 6AM in a light drizzle that lasted several hours. We enjoyed an uneventful east-end 7 hour crossing (#141). Little Harbor was full of kelp so we moved to Cat Harbor which was wide open and settled in on the east side under Ballast Point bow-stern. A water line leak under the sink delayed our afternoon but soon all was good. It is said that the definition of cruising is "fixing your boat in exotic places". How true.

Our five nights in Cat were the best. One afternoon the winds were gusting in the low 30's so we spent 5 hours on board making sure we didn't drag. We stayed put. The Admiral did everything imaginable to make this birthday trip extra special. She didn't miss a thing. Thank you and I love you for it. It was time to move west to the front side of the island.

Rounding the west end from Cat can be exciting. This time was no exception. A large west swell greeted us as we made our way and it continued until we reached the island shadow around Arrow Point. The front side was as smooth as a lake. Yea!

Big Geiger was taken so we picked up a mooring in Fourth of July Cove for two nights. It was a good choice because of the proximity to the Isthmus plus we would be meeting friends, Carol and Leo, for dinner on shore. Carol and Leo are proud members of the recently resurrected San Clemente Boat Club. After a wonderful dinner, we said our goodbyes, and readied our boat for an early departure the next morning. Six hours and fifteen minutes after leaving the island we were in our slip at Dana. I've said it many times before but this trip was THE BEST. Bravo Zulu Admiral.