Thanksgiving in SoCal

[Eddie Offermann]

For you Southern California Newporter owners, I wanted to share with you a tradition that I've developed and invite any others to meet up at my destination.

The last couple years, I have sailed out to Santa Barbara Island, departing Wednesday evening and arriving at some point the next day. The idea of course is to recreate the sense of exploration and discovery that the original settlers must have felt. The first year, I did it solo, on my 1968 Newport 20'. Last year, I took a buddy with me on that same boat and we camped a couple nights on the island. It was quiet, beautiful, and very solitary.

This year, I have SoNice and a larger crew planned, including my buddy from last year and a young lady or two. I don't know who might be interested, but I thought it might make for a fun meetup of Newporter owners. I'll probably end up spending a couple days at the island, hiking, fishing, maybe camp there: there are always nothing but empty campsites. No one ventures to SBI. I'm planning to bring a couple dinghies and a kayak, and we'll be making dinner on board.  (Last year we cooked pheasant at the campsite!)

So this is your open invitation: how great would it be to have several Newporters on the hook off Santa Barbara Island?

[Hans Petrie]

Well, I'm anchored out on the Sacramento river right now so I'm a long way away.  If I get down that way though I will most definitely see if we could hook up.  I've been to Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa and even San Miguel but never Santa Barbara Island.  It is in the middle of nowhere, literally.

[Eddie Offermann]

Hey, Hans! Just wondering if you'll be joining us!

I'm still planning to make the trip with a boat full of friends, and have another buddy that's also sailing out to meet up with us (sadly, not another Newporter, but a classic boat nonetheless).

Naturally it's somewhat weather-dependent, but my plan is to depart next Wednesday night so that we arrive at the island on Thanksgiving morning. We'll probably spend Thursday and Friday night and sail back on Saturday.

[Eddie Offermann]

Just some additional info for folks about the Thanksgiving flotilla:

In my mind, it's the best way to celebrate the holiday - and is my own mini reenactment. Last year we cooked pheasant on the island, this year it looks like it'll be pheasant, rabbit and lamb cooked aboard (carrying all the materials to cook thanksgiving dinner out on a dinghy, up a ladder and hiking with it up to the campsite was way too much - carrying even more, for more people is right out.)

Naturally, anybody else coming along can contribute food as well - we'll dinghy between boats, I'm not too keen on side-tying out there. It can get a little bouncy!

I've felt like Thanksgiving has gotten really maligned in recent years, as people have thought themselves to be more sensitive to Native Americans, but the nature of the celebration is one of companionship, goodwill, and being grateful for what we have: and it's a misrepresentation of history to confuse the story of the settlers and natives with the later violence associated with the westward expansion. It's sad that a poor understanding of context has ruined the meaning of the holiday for an increasing number of people.

(Ok, soapbox off... mostly!)

This has been a tough few years for a lot of people - and and it's good to remember to be thankful for our jobs, the food on our table, our families and friends, and of course our beautiful Newporters.

Of course, this is a weather-permitting flotilla. I don't want to encourage people to sail out there and try to prepare Thanksgiving dinner during a gale. Even if I end up doing it anyway. ;)

[Eddie Offermann]

Bob suggested I put up a couple pictures of SBI and as luck would have it, I have a bunch that I took last Thanksgiving.

Here's the view from our camp. The little boat in the middle is my other boat, a 20' 1968 Newport named "Thoreau's Idyll" - the best equipped 20 in all of SoCal. She's pimp, but we won't be taking her along this year. 

 

 

 

There are a couple of sea lion and seal rookeries on either side of the island, and some nice views to kayak around. The seals in the area are very, very curious about people - they don't get a lot of visitors here: 50 miles off the coast, with only primitive campsites, no moorings, and no easy docks, it's the least-visited of the publicly-open Channel Islands.

A view from partway up the trail from the only access point to the island.  My little 20 footer is anchored off the coast.  This year, I would *love* to look out and see a couple Newporters.
 
Anchoring isn't too bad, I drop anchor a ways offshore and there's room for several boats to give each other adequate space. My Newporter doesn't have a working depth sounder, but if you stay a couple hundred meters offshore, you'll be in 30-50ft water and still protected from the prevailing winds. Access to the island is curious. There is a platform about 20-30 feet up, with a ladder that descends into the water. Tie off your dinghy loosely: otherwise, it may dangle or be dragged under.  Watch out for the curious and playful little seals! They'll untie your lines or tie them *again* to the ladder. They like to play with the ends of your rope!