Catalina Sailing Trip 2020⛵️Hobie Cat 16 Sails 26 Miles Across San Pedro Channel To Catalina Island

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Once a year, we pack our bags and our boats (Hobie Cat 16's) and set sail across the San Pedro Channel to Catalina Island. We leave from the Port of Long Beach for a three day boat-in camping trip adventure in Rippers Cove. This year we had a total of four Hobie Cats, nine adults, and two kids.
The journey across took us nearly four and a half hours to sail the 26 miles across the channel. Fortunately the winds were steady at about 10 to 15 knots out of the northwest, however the seas were a bit choppy which led to a slower sail. With good winds and calm seas you might expect the sail over to take roughly three hours with a close hauled point of sail. We all made it across the channel without incident however it was late in the day and we ended up getting separated by the time we landed on the island.
We landed on Catalina Island at 7:30 pm, just as the last glimmer of sunlight had disappeared. Fortunately, we ended up close to a beach that we could spend the night but it wasn’t our intended destination, Rippers Cove. Two of our four boats had made it to Rippers Cover, the other two landed about a half mile south. This can occasionally be concerning because most of the coastline of the island is a cliff face with occasional coves that have sandy beaches. If you arrive after dark, you may be stuck paddling for a while trying to find a place to pull the boat up on the shore. We spent the night there and then in the calm of the next morning we paddled the rest of the way north to Rippers Cove.
We unpacked our gear and made camp, which in this case means finding our food and throwing our sleeping bags on the trampoline of the Hobie Cats. We spent the rest of the day snorkeling in the cove, playing banana grams, cooking up some fresh fish that we had caught, and playing ultimate frisbee.
As it always is with these short adventure trips, the day to return came all too soon. On day three we had a lazy morning since the wind doesn't tend to pick up before 1 pm on an average day. We ate, packed up our gear, and spent a couple more hours snorkeling. This year the snorkeling was incredible. We got to see an abundance of wildlife ranging from leopard sharks, to an octopus and many colorful fish.
In the early afternoon we launched the boats for the sail home. As it would turn out, the winds on the sail home were very light and we paddled for several hours before we were far enough away from the island to get into the wind. Even with the wind it took us about five and a half hours to get back to the Port of Long Beach. The sail back is usually faster since you can set your sails at a beam reach and you are sailing with the swells rather than against them. It wasn't until the final quarter of the sail across the channel that we finally got enough wind to get some good sailing in. Even so, any wind at all is better than having to paddle for 12 hours to get all the way across so we were grateful for that. In the end, we all made it back to port safely around dusk with another great story to tell. Hope you enjoy!
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[@b.williamerickson9230]

Cool video, I’ve done it on my Prindle 16 with my buddy on his 18. I ended up a little north of Two Harbors from weaving through swell upwind. Fast on the way back. I went once before on 18. The 18 beats my 16 by 30 minutes about. Cool to see you guys doing this! It’s one one more fun sailing adventures I’ve ever had. Keep making these!

[@redcanyonoutdoorquest6220]

Dear Lord, please start wearing life jackets. I’ve done that crossing dozens of times on my H21, H16 and Nacra 20. I’ve even done it solo, so I’m not just being a keyboard critic. Enjoy. It’s one of my favorite trips.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

I definitely hear what you’re saying. I’m not sure if you can see it in this video but we all wear life lines for the whole sail over and back. We’re not taking a risk of anyone falling off and getting separated from the boat. Also we’re all wearing 7mm wetsuits so we couldn’t sink if we wanted to. Appreciate the concern though.

[@rafaeldacruz4898]

Looks like a lot of fun.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

It’s a blast!

[@talofainka1861]

Super, keep it up👍😀

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

Glad you liked the video:)

[@funtosail]

Nice I live in N Idaho among the big lakes. We actually have a Navy base on the N Idaho lake of Lake Pend Oreille which is up to 1500 ft deep and 50 miles long. We plan to do a group Hobie fleet sail this summer (2021). Also another camp sail trip on Flathead Lake MT. Your video got my excited about this new year in spite of the crazy plandemic crap. I am amazing officials there let you out of your house. Anywho I run the local Hobie fleet and am a Hobie Cat dealer.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

That’s awesome! Idaho seems like a a great place! You guys could make some awesome trips on a lake that size. I love camping off the Hobie! Haha it’s not so bad out here. For the most part everyone leaves each other alone.

[@funtosail]

@@ExtremeSportsWannaBes Just curious what drone you are using? I am wanting to purchase a drone to but how it can do ok while flying mostly over water.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

I use the DJI Mavic Pro. It’s great for filming the Hobies. It’s really user friendly, it’s easy to fly, and it gets great quality video. There are newer drones out now that I’m sure are even better. I’d definitely recommend getting one.

[@elliotaron]

I have watched all of your sailing to Catalina Island videos and love them so much! I have always wanted to sail a Hobie 16 to Catalina Island and I had a few questions: First, is it dangerous because of the boat's size? Second, how long have you been sailing Hobie cats? Third, is it best to go at certain times of the year?

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

I don’t know that I’d say it’s dangerous. There’s risk involved certainly and you should be prepared but as long as you take precautions you’ll most likely be fine. I’d suggest you bring a good quality marine radio so that you can call the coast guard if something actually goes wrong. Sail with a group and use a buddy system so that you’re not out there alone and tether yourself and all your crew to the boat in case someone falls off. I’ve been sailing Hobie Cats for about 8 years. Haha one of my first sailing trips was doing this trip. I was hooked and have been doing it ever since. I tend to go in October. The winds start to come in from the north West which makes it a strait shot, close haul sail access. Depending on the beach you go to you just have to make sure you go at the low tide of the month because some of the beaches like Rippers Cove won’t be there if you don’t.

[@elliotaron]

@@ExtremeSportsWannaBes Thank you for the reply!! I hope I will sail there someday...

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

Definitely! It’s so much fun!

[@CARLOSGONZALEZ-kq1od]

@@ExtremeSportsWannaBes how was Mid channel? And what Conditions you go out? (Wave size and sec ) Thanks

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

We've seen a variety of conditions from boring to dangerous. Mostly it's a fun sail with decent wind. Swells can sometimes be big enough to be scary, but again, mostly just lots of fun. I will say that you have to respect the ocean. It's for real, even when it's relatively calm.

[@briankleist7154]

I will go next trip my son and i sail have a 16. Plus we are backpacker and road bikers. We need this adventure. We are both scuba cert too. Please tell us about this. We have been afraid to sail to Catalina solo.....

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

It’s a great trip! Definitely wouldn’t recommend doing it solo without a good marine radio. The buddy system is the way to go.

[@Realfranco.musica]

I just bought a hobie I’d like to cruz with y’all next time you go

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

We'll race you 🌬️💨⛵

[@JamesJohnson-mn9bb]

Any idea where between Long Beach and Santa Monica I can rent a Hobie ... or where I can find a sailing buddy with own Hobie?

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

I don't unfortunately. You can buy them cheap on Facebook marketplace sometimes.

[@JamesJohnson-mn9bb]

@@ExtremeSportsWannaBes But that doesn't help if I come as a tourist for a week ;-))) ... Thanks for your reply.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

That makes sense. I'm sorry we don't know more.

[@gospeedracer40]

Hey are you guy's a club? I have a 16 Prindle, can my wife and I join your group next time you go, I'm in Temecula

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

Hey, thanks for reaching out. We're not a club, but during the summer we hit lake Perris quite often. We used to sail with fleet 30 there, but they closed for COVID. The Catalina trip is really informal, just a few friends. It can get tricky and we wouldn't want to get anyone hurt out there.

[@gospeedracer40]

@@ExtremeSportsWannaBes I get it, maybe this spring I can teach out to you and find out a bit more. I used to belong to a racing team down in S.D. we had a Hunter 54. Sailed many time to Catalina from Dana Point.

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

Sounds great! You can email us on our website and I can get you more contact info that way. Wannabes.life

[@gospeedracer40]

Hey just wanted to touch bases with you and let you know my friend and I are going to lake Paris Feb 14 if anyone wants to join us

[@ExtremeSportsWannaBes]

Cool! We don't do a lot of sailing outside summer months. So much going on.