Hints for Sailing Aboard Botany Bay:

Botany Bay is a 35 foot Cruising CAL 35 which has all of the amenities of a home at sea. 110V 60Hz power is available most of the time for charging cell phones, laptop computers, batteries for electronic equipment and the like. Some cell phones don't like being on while charging but otherwise I have not had a problem with any electronics.

Refrigerator space is very limited, the inside dimensions are 16 inches high, 13 inches deep, and 18 inches wide some of this is taken up by the "freezer" section leaving a space of 16 inches high, 13 inches deep, and 10 inches wide for the largest volume inside. It is normally stuffed pretty full at the beginning of a trip and as goodies are eaten more space is available for water, soda, and the like.

The stove and oven run on propane, the stove top is a 3 burner system much like any home system and the oven is 8 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 13 inches deep. Enough for cooking a small turkey with a broiler for making nachos, toast, and the like.

My spice collection aboard is pretty extensive as well as staples, canned goods, drinks, and prepared foods.  These lists reflect what is in the galley most of the time. The current items in the food locker are found in an excel spreadsheet labeled foodstores.

Hot and cold pressure water is available for showers, a three chamber water filter makes the water out of a special tap taste as good as most bottled water.

For overnight trips, soft luggage is much preferred as it can be put anywhere, used as pillows, and does not hurt anything if it goes flying!

Please be aware that the U.S. Coast Guard has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy with regard to illegal substances aboard vessels. The assumption is that if anything is found aboard (including personal items brought along by crew) then the owner was probably transporting large quantities and they confiscate the vessel, permanently. The Coast Guard never needs a reason to search a vessel, it can happen at any time. There have been cases where the drug dogs go nuts aboard, the Coast Guard or ATF hauls the boat out of the water, drills large (several inches across) holes in the hull, fuel tanks, water tanks looking for things. Thank you for paying attention to from whom you borrow items you bring aboard to avoid unintended consequences.

At Catalina Island cell phone service is generally pretty good at Avalon, Isthmus, Cat Harbor, and Emerald Bay. Cell phone service is generally unavailable in the Channel Islands and Santa Barbara Island. I find that I can get good cell reception about 15 miles off the coast and within 10 miles of Catalina leaving a couple of miles in between with limited coverage. Note that many phones will consume considerably more power than normal even when not talking as the towers are further away than normally found on the mainland. When cell service is available low speed (14.4Kbits/sec) internet access is available, web based e-mail works quite well. When cell service is not available the long range e-mail system can get a message out at 50 bits/second (i.e. several minutes per page).

On the subject of motion induced discomfort (i.e. sea sickness) there are basically three medications generally available. The original Dramamine, Bonine (Dramamine No Drowsy has the same active ingredient), and Scopolamine patches which work for three days with limited side effects. Dramamine and Bonine are available over the counter, Scopolamine will require a trip to the doctor and will cost something like $4/patch. If I am using the patch I will apply it 12 hours ahead of time, for the over the counter preparations I find that 4 hours ahead of time works well. Everyone gets queasy from time to time, small changes in boat speed, course, or even autopilot settings can make an amazing difference (The yaw damping accelerometer in the latest Ray Marine below decks autopilots make an amazing difference when engaged under certain conditions!) Many people find that taking the wheel helps quite a bit, even if letting the autopilot steer and just holding the wheel lightly!

If arriving or departing Botany Bay at Catalina the easiest way to get to and from the mainland is Catalina Express (310)519-1212 or on the web at www.CatalinaExpress.com. Note that only the boat out of San Pedro goes to Two Harbors (i.e. Isthmus) while there are boats from Long Beach and Dana Point which go to Avalon. The trip from Avalon to Two Harbors by land is a long one which may not have regular service depending on the time of year. There is also supposedly a boat out of Marina Del Ray to Two Harbors with a different company.

Avalon and Two Harbors are both interesting destinations. Avalon is like a small beach town with many shops, eateries, clubs, and the like. Two Harbors is more "rustic" with a single formal restaurant (Doug's Harbor Reef), a bar with a deck for dancing, a small general store, a bed and breakfast called the "Banning House Lodge" (800)851-0217, camping (310-510-TENT), hiking, diving (310)510-4272, a "Hummer" Tour (310)510-4205, etc. For more information about what is available at Two Harbors try their web site www.scico.com/twoharbors.

Another fun place to visit is the Wrigley Marine Science Center which offers touch tank tours and other educational information about the flora and fauna of Catalina and the surrounding waters.

Back at the dock we have the SEA Lab which is an interactive marine science education center in Redondo Beach, this facility is within easy walking distance of Botany Bay and has FREE tours on the weekends every hour from 10am - 4pm and Tuesday-Friday at 1 and 1:30pm.