Paddle, Paddle, Paddle Monday Surf & Culture Report



Lost Boys & Co...

It's 32 miles from the Isthmus of Catalina to the south side of the Manhattan Pier.  It takes almost an hour by a fast boat.  You probably can only see Catalina Island 50% of the time from our spot on the mainland.  There are people who have lived all their lives in Southern California and have never been to Catalina.  We have been a number of times, but we have never had the overwhelming compulsion to leave in such a hurry that we'd paddle across the channel.  Oh yeah, the channel.  To cross the channel you must also cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.  Some of the tankers that ply the channel are over 1,000 feet long.  They don't stop and they can't turn.  The channel is home to the full spectrum of sharks from Blue to White, Bull to Black Tip.  Most of the time they don't present a problem, when they do, it can be ugly.  Oh yeah, there are jellyfish that bloom like Venus Flytraps.  At the bottom of the channel, which slinks down to 3,000 feet (No, you can't touch the bottom) in some spots, is an entire array of discarded chemicals and detritus that could split open and pollute an area the size of Orange County.  Come to think of it, those are some good reasons to get across as fast as you can…

So who among us has the cajones to paddle across the channel?  Why Christian Stutzman that's who!  He laughs at tankers, he scoffs at sharks, he swats jellyfish like annoying flies and chemicals?  He eats them for dinner!  Attached is a photo of him making his exit at the Manhattan Beach Pier into the arms of his devoted, beaming wife.  Yeah, he's our hero!

Inline image

Meanwhile, Monday dawned a beautiful summer day wit unlimited visibility and light offshore winds.  The air temperature was 64.9º and the water is a summer-like 70.0º.  Low tide was at 8:19am +2.7' and high tide will be at 3:25pm +5.5'.  It's a SSW swell out of 202º at 2.0' and the surf was 1' to 2' and perfect for a dip, but not exactly boardable.

That  being the case, with no jump in size predicted, we will be having a "Sponge-a-palooza" in the morning south of the Hermosa Pier.  Bring your sponge, kneeboard or paipo and disport yourself among the small surf for your amusement and that of your colleagues and associates.  Water start at 8am!  Donnie says he's going out!
✠
"When the surf breaks, we'll fix it"
The Professor!!





Popular posts from this blog

Teach A Fish To Fly Friday Surf & Culture Report

Image
Lost Boys & Co... Wouldn't it be nice to have some surf to report about?  The simple answer is "yes."  But, and it's a big BUT, we're going to forge ahead and give you the particulars anyway.  5 miles visibility and pretty hazy conditions although it looks like the sun is trying to melt the haze.  Winds were offshore by 1 to 3kts. and the sea surface is smooth.  The air temp was 64.5º and the water is 65.8º.  High tide is at 10:14am +5.6' and low tide follows at 4:55pm +0.6' (Maybe good for a walk on the hard sand.  Don't step on a bee.  Been lots of them on the shallow sand.)  SSW swell out of 206º at 2.3' and it was half of that on the beach.  Just to whet your appetite we've included this shot of the Professor in Nicaragua at "Soupbowls", or "Chicken Soup", or "Noodles".  They were all lefts... Some of you know that the Professor has sparred with some health issues recently.  He submitted this (Attachment) t
Read more

We Came On Different Ships, But We're All In The Same Boat Thursday Surf & Culture Report

Image
Lost Boys & Co... F ound these cool sweatshirts (#1) at Spyder on the Plaza.  They show all of the cool South Bay surf spots and wave magnets.  We managed to get these cool women to show off the threads... H eavy overcast and not quite 7 miles visibility.  Winds were onshore by 2 to 4kts and the surface was generously textured.  The air was 58.5º and the water is 58.5º.  Overcast, windy and chilly, this isn't sounding great is it?  Low tide is at 11:46am +0.6' and high tide follows late at 6:44pm +4.3'.  It's a SSW swell out of 212º at 2.3' and that's about how big it was with a few fatter outsides. F or those of you who knew Brian Sullivan his funeral will be held at St. Lawrence Church at 1pm on Saturday.  Still can't quite believe he's gone... ✠ "When the surf breaks, we'll fix it" The Professor!!
Read more

Riding The Gulf Monday Surf & Culture Report

Image
Lost Boys & Co... Out on the Gulf of Mexico riding some interesting three footers in Freeport.  So here we are with the Maharishi after riding the outside at the "Octagon" jetty.  South wind is blowing at 10kts and it's bit textured, but it was fun and a great workout! More as we explore the area! Hope you all had a Happy Easter! "When the surf breaks, we'll fix it" The Professor!!
Read more