PSA - Dana Point: Stay Away 08/05 - The Hull Truth

FearNaut · 08-03-2006, 09:32 PM

The annual Dana Point Outrigger Canoe race will be held this Saturday. That's going to make the launch ramp a complete nightmare with the usual crowd + 60 canoes + 60 escort boats.

If you're going to go (I hear there's a great bite on) go early (before 0600) and come back after 1600 or be prepared to deal with a LOT of aggrevation.

If you are out there and you see a swarm of outriggers heading your way, please swing wide and watch your wake - they are racing and are easily swamped or capsized due to the low freeboard.

No need to get out of their way if you're anchored or drifting though.

Thanks

Snapper Head · 08-03-2006, 09:39 PM

Hey Rich,

Be a sport and shoot some video of the ramp action for your good pals here on THT

Get some good lunacy on tape, I'll up ya a wheel

Big Al
payin' for dolts

FearNaut · 08-03-2006, 09:41 PM

Would if I could - no digital mini-cam since my son left for USN boot camp yesterday (and left the cam at his mom's house). Maybe I can get some good stills.

Snapper Head · 08-03-2006, 09:46 PM

Rich,

Rgr, rgr on the no video.

Tell ya what, if you can get something truly worthy of the title of 'ramp idiot' (besides a picture of me

), its a wheelie.

Big Al
wheeler dealer

jiminoc · 08-03-2006, 10:40 PM

whoa, thanks for the heads up guys
I was planning on going out saturday right from there. hmmm must rethink now

Trout About · 08-03-2006, 10:50 PM

Hi Rich,

We wish your son all the best in the NAVY and thanks to him for serving our country.

David

FearNaut · 08-04-2006, 01:30 AM

Thanks Trout - I'll pass that along when he finally gets to make contact with home.

Overcurrent · 08-04-2006, 02:28 PM

I assume you're patrolling the event? Good luck and stay safe!

08-04-2006, 02:53 PM

I used to work for the Dana Point Marina Co. in my "yute", early '80's. Lunchtime in the summer consisted of a sandwich from Proud Mary's and heading over to the wall to watch the entertainment at the ramp. That sure was a good time!!! Proud Marys still there, Rich? How about Turks? That was a great harbor in the early 80's, still nice and fairly quiet. I'm sure it's changed a bit!!!

SSheila · 08-06-2006, 09:56 AM

HBO, I know you didn't ask me, but Proud Mary's and Turk's are still going strong.

One of the really great things about DP (Oceanside shares this same characteristic) is that it's the only marina for some distance along the coast, so you don't have 5,000 boats all trying to get in/out of the inlet at the same time (cf., for example, Newport, or San Diego).

FearNaut · 08-07-2006, 10:42 AM

HBO - So far the harbor is relatively unchanged since the 80's. A few of the Embarcadero shops have changed hands, but other than that it's pretty much the same.

Overcurrent - I was working as Safety Boat (non-CGAux) - I do Safety boat for these races routinely. It's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.

Sorry Snapper - Since I launched out of Newport, I didn't get any good shots of the nuttiness at the Dana Point ramp, but I'm sure it had more than its fair share!

I guess my word about the event got out - at 0600 I sat in the turn pocket on Dana Harbor dr for 30 minutes before finally giving up and heading up to Newport to launch. According to a friend of mine that launched at 0400, it was a mess then!.....and that was just the fisherman.