Calling Californian snowbird sailors- a welcome mat at Catalina

by Sail-World Cruising Round-up on 4 Oct 2013 Calling all Californian cruising sailors or those to the north planning to cruise south for Mexico, Central America or even further afield to the South Pacific (even if you don't have a boat): Adventure Voyaging, a multi-yacht sailing vacation organiser, is rolling out the welcome mat at a suggested pit stop: Catalina Island.

It could be a great time to meet others who are sailing south, catch up on some last minute advice and enjoy some sunset cockpit drinks with compatible cruising sailors - as well as joining the festivities planned.

The Log reports that from From Oct. 18-20, Two Harbors will be filled with exhibitor booths, cruising seminars, barbecues and live 'island' music performed by Brent George and the Fat Masts, during the annual Catalina Cruiser’s Weekend.

Event organizer Adventure Voyaging has added a new option this year for cruising to Catalina during Cruiser’s Weekend. Rather than take your own boat, you can board a tall ship -- the Brigantine Irving Johnson -- chartered for the weekend.

Boaters can learn more about tall ship sailing from the vessel’s crew, and they can eat and sleep aboard the historic ship -- at $495 per person. It’s no luxury cruise, but cruising on this tall ship offers interested parties the opportunity to experience the flavor of an earlier time in nautical history.

Irvine Johnson rolls out at 11 a.m. Friday, from the Los Angeles Maritime Institute dock, at the southern end of Ports o’ Call in San Pedro. The vessel will return to Los Angeles around 2 p.m. Sunday.

Events for this year’s Catalina Cruiser’s Weekend include a Happy Hour and live music at the Harbor Reef bar on Friday, followed by a full day of cruiser-oriented activities on Saturday.

Participants will find many exhibitor booths showing cruising essentials, a wide variety of cruising seminars and a free concert by Brent George and the Fat Masts. There will also be a free barbecue with tri-tip cooked by Port Royal Yacht Club and drinks poured by Adventure Voyaging.

Below is a hint at the programming, but for more information, visit adventurevoyaging.com

Friday - Arrive in time for Happy Hour and live music at the Harbor Reef bar
Saturday - Exhibitor Booths, Cruising Seminars, BBQ & Live Island Music by Brent George and the Fat Masts – Free
Tri-tip by Port Royal YC, drinks by Adventure Voyaging, sides & desert by you
Raffle and Giveaways to benefit Heal the Bay and Catalina Evironmental Leadership Program
Live History - Travel to and from Cruiser’s Weekend and stay aboard a Tall Ship
Cruise the Whole Week if you like. Join Holly Scott & Charlies Charts with your boat on The Round the Rocks’ cruise
The following weekend … sail south to the Long Beach Boatshow & Cruising Outpost party