Southern California & Catalina
Fog, wind and island channels
The channel between the mainland and Santa Catalina Island carries steady coastal traffic through fog and steep island shores.
Coastal steamers and passenger boats crossed to Catalina and worked the harbours of San Pedro and San Diego in fog that can close the channel without warning. The islands rise steeply from deep water, giving little margin to a ship running by dead reckoning, and offshore banks lie in the track. Wind funnels down the channels in the afternoon, and a vessel driven onto an island shore had no beach to strand on.
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Records in These Waters
AvailableAda Hancock
AH-WR-0803Wilmington, Los Angeles Harbor, California
1863 · Steam Tender
AvailableChanson d'Mer
AH-WR-0844Hamilton Cove, Santa Catalina Island, California
1983 · Ketch · 160 ft deep
AvailableDiosa del Mar
AH-WR-0447Ship Rock, Catalina Island, California
1990 · Staysail Schooner · 15-25 deep
AvailableEl Rey
AH-WR-0731Mission Beach, San Diego, California
1987 · Kelp Harvester · 75 ft deep
Historical ListingHMCS Yukon
AH-WR-0801Mission Beach, San Diego, California
2000 · Destroyer · 65-105 deep
AvailableLa Jenelle
AH-WR-0802Port Hueneme, California
1970 · Passenger Liner
AvailableMindanao
AH-WR-0451Newport Beach, California
1946 · Schooner · 100 ft deep
AvailableMuriel
AH-WR-0449Newport Beach, California
1926 · Schooner
AvailableNing Po
AH-WR-0131Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, California
1938 · Chinese Junk · 0-3 deep
AvailablePalawan
AH-WR-0843Redondo Beach, California
1977 · Cargo Ship · 110-124 deep
AvailableProsper
AH-WR-0397Santa Catalina Island, California
1924 · Motor Launch
Historical ListingRuby E.
AH-WR-0733Mission Beach, San Diego, California
1989 · Coast Guard Cutter · 80-130 deep
AvailableSS Dominator
AH-WR-0129Palos Verdes Estates, California
1961 · Bulk Freighter
AvailableSS Monte Carlo
AH-WR-0450Coronado, California
1937 · Concrete Oil Tanker · 0 ft deep
AvailableStar of Scotland
AH-WR-0225Santa Monica, California
1942 · Auxiliary Schooner · 60 to 70 feet deep
Historical ListingUSS Delphy
AH-WR-0839Honda Point, near Lompoc, California
1923 · Destroyer
Historical ListingUSS S. P. Lee
AH-WR-0841Honda Point, near Lompoc, California
1923 · Destroyer
Historical ListingUSS Woodbury
AH-WR-0842Honda Point, near Lompoc, California
1923 · Destroyer
Historical ListingUSS Young
AH-WR-0840Honda Point, near Lompoc, California
1923 · Destroyer
AvailableValiant
AH-WR-0130Descanso Bay, Santa Catalina Island, California
1930 · Steam/Motor Yacht · 70-100 deep
