Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 23)

with 200,000 truckloads of fill. Work was halted and the runway was disguised during World War II for fear it might be used in an enemy attack. Building resumed after the war and the airport opened in 1946. The challenge of landing at Airport in the Sky is a major attraction for private pilots, and more than 10,000 land here each year. “Pilots have an ego,” explains Paul Moritz, director of airport operations for the past 28 years. “It’s because we’re on the top of a mountain, out in the ocean and the perspective is different because of the landscape. It’s the hangar talk, the ego that makes them come here.” Once safely on the ground, our first stop (after paying a $20 landing fee) was the airport restaurant — the Buffalo Springs Station, where pilots traditionally have their “$100 burger,” made from 100% buffalo meat. The burger actually costs $7.45, but pilots call it a $100 burger because it costs that much or more to rent a plane and fly to the island. After lunch, like many aviators, we took the shuttle bus to the port city of Avalon, just six miles to the southeast of the airport. At $20 for the return trip, the steep, bumpy and harrowing bus ride downhill made our Airport in the Sky landing seem like a picnic. Avalon is best known for its many attractions, from excellent boating and diving to historical and cultural sites such as the imposing Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens and the Casino, which houses the world’s largest circular ballroom and a 1,184seat movie theatre. Throughout the small bustling city of about 3,500 people, distinctive handmade glazed tiles cover fountains, planters and building facades — colorful remnants of the time when Wrigley Jr. built a tile factory on the island to provide decorative materials for building projects — both public and private. Photo by Cedric Dupont not provide reciprocal privileges for visiting yachtsmen. Boat rentals and a range of boating excursions are available from Avalon and Isthmus harbors for those who arrive at Catalina by air or mainland ferry. We considered such a trip, but a fog layer was expected to move in, so we decided to shorten our time on the ground and head back to the skies while the weather was still fair. Much of the island’s 47,987 acres is wilderness and 88% is protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy — a nonprofit organization established in 1972 by the Wrigley family with the aim of preserving the island. Today, adventurous hikers enjoy the many trails meandering through the rugged terrain, which is teeming with native flora and wildlife. On a busy day, the Airport in the Sky sees about 80 aircraft landings — only one is commercial, a daily scheduled cargo-carrying Like moorings, plane parking spaces fill up fast on busy days. DC-3. The rest are all visits Harbor Patrol drop a dye tablet in your head by private aircraft, either personally owned or rented from the many Southern California to monitor overboard pumping or holding flying clubs. An average day sees about 40 tank leakage. Offenders are handed a hefty fine, evicted and told not to return for a year. planes arrive, and the busiest day on record Anchoring near Avalon is permitted, but was when 232 planes arrived for a chili cookoff in the 1970s. is restricted to an area outside the harbor in We lifted off from Airport in the Sky deep water (80+ feet) and is at your own with a fog bank threatening to the west. As risk. More remote parts of the island are we pointed the plane’s nose toward the blue flush with anchorage and mooring opportusky-capped mainland, a feeling of released nities. tension washed over me — like I had just A word of caution for visiting sailors, crossed the bar and I was now safely headed unlike most yacht clubs, the Catalina Island home. Yacht Club, whose members included — By Jill Culora Hollywood personalities such as Jack Warner, Rudolph Valentino and James Cagney, does Resting in pristine water and offering plenty of idyllic coves and harbors, Catalina Island is described as a boater’s paradise. But don’t be fooled by the seemingly endless number of moorings lining populated areas of the island. These moorings are privately owned or leased and are only rented to visiting boats on a first-come basis when they become vacant. Best bet is to visit off-season or arrive early in the week and be prepared to wait days if necessary to get into Avalon Harbor for the weekend. If you do make it into Avalon Harbor, be prepared to have the Moorings at the immensely popular Avalon Harbor. BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 23

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.