My SMB was at the Cabrillo Beach Anchorage on Catalina

My pick for the best anchorage on the north side of Catalina, is Cabrillo Beach.  This anchorage is best in a moderate westerly when you can tuck in bow and stern, like we are here, right up under Little Gibraltar with your stern anchor right in front of the rock islet.  Then, you can watch the whitecaps roll past the point while you lay snug in flat water.  Time for a swim!  Ask me about the Anchoring At Catalina Cruise.

Drop the hook in front of the little islet, or tie off to the re-bar cemented in to it.  

I've completed sonar logs and overlayed the data on aerial views of Catalina coves.  We use this on the Anchoring at Catalina cruise, and are incorporating this in the new book.

My SMB was getting set up for a corporate event in Newport Beach

Newport Beach Sailing Charters puts on corporate team building events, among other services, and I skipper when I'm available.  Here, I'm just getting the boat ready, and will head over to the public dock at the Bluewater Grill to line up with the other boats, and take on our guests.

My SMB was out for Thursday Night Racing

In the summer, we get OCC's J/105 Becky out for a spin with the BYC racing program.  Crew arrive and then we start rigging.

Crew begin to arrive.

Rigo climbs aboard

And we bend on the headsail.

My SMB was on the Victoria Marie

Motoring down the coast toward Laguna Beach on a lightwind day, the Beneteau 41 Victoria Marie is ready for the wind the came up later in the day.  I needed my screwdriver to tighten something down, and left it in my SMB in the cockpit.  Life is good.

Heading down toward Emerald Bay

My SMB was on the Northern Channel Islands Bareboat Certification Cruise

Good food takes on a whole new level of importance during a cruise, and provides something special that's hard to give a name to.  Everyone knows and remembers the experience of eating well while accomplishing something important in a beautiful setting - the Northern Channel Islands.  Here we are getting set up for breakfast burritos with posole and eggs, and I haven't yet moved my SMB out of the way. 

My SMB was on the Anchoring At Catalina Cruise

Since 2007, I've been leading this cruise up to 4 times a year thru the OCC School of Sailing and Seamanship.  It's all about how to enjoy Catalina without depending on the moorings - how to anchor out and enjoy the freedom that confident cruisers all over the world enjoy.  My SMB is essential on these trips.  My guidebook, my flashlight, my GPS, lunch and my handheld VHF are all inside when I need them.

My SMB was on a calm and cool Catalina Cruise in June

On our Catalina 34, La Terza Vita, Chrissie motors through the glassy water on the north side of Catalina.

My SMB was at anchor at Big Corona

Sunset while anchored at Big Corona, just outside the Newport Beach Harbor.  This was during an evening charter in May with Newport Beach Sailing Charters.

My SMB was at the Marina Park in Newport Beach

What a great community center this is, and the Lighthouse Cafe is pretty good too.  I couldn't resist this shot, after stopping for a docking under sail session on the Harbor 20 during and ASA 101 class with the Newport Beach Sailing School.

My SMB was on the docks in Newport

First day on an ASA 101 lesson.  All my personal gear and lunch are in the bag!