Friday 11/29/02   

I arrived at Cabrillo Beach at a little after 0800 to find several folk, including my co-host, Duane, already out on the water surfing.  While the surf was not real high it did have a sharp shore-break with a hint of haystacking.  Joining them just behind the breakers was a pod of Dolphin, playing.

We had a total of 15 paddlers.  Three launched at the opposite end of the beach, paddled over and landed.  One of the three, a relative beginner, capsized on landing, wet exited, recovered her boat like a champ and joined us for briefing.  Of note was the appearance of a Los Angeles County Life Guard who asked about our float plan, ETA back on the beach and if there was anything they could do to assist us.   What a positive experience!

Sharply at 0900 we began to launch.  Several of us assisted the less experienced with appropriate timing and launching.  Almost everybody made it without much hassle.  One of our more experienced paddlers, however, launched into the rising set, eventually leaving his boat which went airborne without him.   I will leave it to the imagination the identity of the paddler who has earned his new nick name of CARNAGE BOY!

By 0915 we had all launched and were heading towards Smugglers Cove.  The sea was calm, there was no wind and the sun was shining.  We kept an easy pace arriving at Smugglers at about 1100.  There were almost perfect landings by all, including those who had never done a surf landing before.  We  stood on the beach and talked, snacked and just relaxed for about 1/2 hour.  Looking out at Catalina, which a half hour previous looked clear and just a few miles away, I saw rain shading the island and the horizon.  Time to get going.

We launched, one by one, with assistance to some.  The paddle back was uneventful, several of the group paddled along the shore taking advantage of the surf and rocks while most of us just paddled on.  As we approached Pt. Fermin we could see the high breaking waves that appeared to be right where we were going.  It was really an optical illusion as we paddled around the breakers to our original launch sites.  We were met with a pod of about 30 Dolphin playing behind the breakers.  It appeared they were curious with the first paddlers to land and followed them all the way to the shore break.  Various types of landing were all completed with almost perfect precision.   No slouches in this group--skills never practiced before were learned and performed well and with enthusiasm. 

Just in time,  for as we hauled or gear off the beach the winds began, white caps appeared in the bay and the air became cold.  We cleaned up and moved to the parking lot where we were shielded from the wind.  Well, almost all of us--one of us locked their keys in the car and had to wait for a tow truck.  He opened the door but his tool stuck in door and the paddler had to drive to his shop after food to have it removed by an expert.  A table appeared and was soon stocked with food:  Fried chicken, potato salad, Spanish rice, ceviche, smoked turkey, tuna salad, two kinds of pasta salad and Italian wine.  There was probably more but...  We ate, we talked, we ate. And for desert we had two apple pies, chocolate cake and Christmas cookies. 

We all agreed that this was a great day  on the water.  The paddling was a little slower and easier than usual but it was appropriate to the day.  The new folks that showed were quick learners and fit in well with the group; they kept up, they took direction on their landings and launchings and weren't afraid to get wet.  Welcome aboard!

As the raindrops began to fall we quickly collected our goodies and left ending another successful day on the water.  The weather mostly was fantastic, the company warm and social and the food, well, nobody left hungry and there was but a little left. 

Here's looking forward to the 4th Annual Day After T-Day paddle next year. 

Mike Brown