Captain Frank Dixon

Long Beach to Avalon to Two Harbors
3 Day Class.

They start as students, become elite sailors and remain friends.

These students had never sailed on a large boat before. Prior to the class they had never sailed to Catalina or knew how to navigate, manage a big boat or pick up a mooring.
They learned quickly because of their attitude, desire to learn and because they studied and listened.

Departing words as I got off the boat so they could sail along Catalina Island and head for Two Harbors and then make the trip back to Long Beach.

"Thank you for having the confidence to let us make the rest of this trip by ourselves"

They had earned that confidence.

Elite sailors. Just like many of you reading this post. Been a blessing over the years to work with people like them ......and you.

Ensenada Sailing. Checking out the new spinnaker.

Sailing the Santana 22, "Andale Pues". First sail with the new spinnaker. First, checked out the rigging without the main. Then ran full sail with the spinnaker. Then put Andale Pues in the new slip at Cruiseport Marina, Ensenada. Finally, the reward for some good sailing practice.

YOU GOTTA LOVE SMALL BOATS!!! ANDALE PUES

From a trailer in Tucson, Az. to launching in Chula Vista, Ca. Then to Ensenada, Mx and back. A raft up in Glorietta Bay and back to the dock. Most days when I am not teaching sailing, I am sailing my Santana 22.

One of my best students and his wife recently flew in from New Mexico to sail San Diego. Qualified to rent any boat up to 50', they opted to rent a Capri 22 for four days while staying at the Hilton Hotel. Enjoyed really sailing and vacationing in San Diego.
Makes sense to me.

Small boats are responsive, more in-tune with the wind and the seas and give you the feeling of really sailing. They make you a better sailor.

In the spring I will sail Andale pues from San Diego to Catalina. Stay in a beach front hotel and sail the boat around Catalina Island every day.

My Santana 22, was named "Andale pues" at the encouragement of my Mexican friends. Could not have a more appropriate name.

Been around boats long enough to know. Most small boat sailors can handle a 40' sailboat. Hardly any 40' sailboat owners can handle a small boat in any significant breeze.

Now you know.

!Andale pues!

A BOAT IN A HARBOR IS SAFE..............but that is not what boats are made for.

75 miles offshore in a 22 foot boat. Overnight passage from San Diego to Ensenada. A folly?? Not at all with proper planning, an accomplished crew and a well founded boat. Being able to make the sail with some good friends just added to the pleasure and sense of accomplishment.

I had planned this trip on my Santana 22, aptly named, "Andale pues" from the day I bought it. My good friend and former student Ricardo was welcome on the trip. Ricardo, one of the best students and sailors that I have worked with, was essential in his contribution to the planning and ex*****on of the overnight passage. As soon as the 30 knot winds and 8-10 foot seas off Point Loma abated, we departed at 10pm.

Our first encounter was about midnight when the Homeland Security Boat followed us and hailed us to ask who we were and where we were going in such a small boat.

The early morning photo of me shows the cockpit of the small boat. I am not about to fall asleep, just trying to shield my face from the bitter early morning cold. But the cold was quickly forgotten as a large pod of dolphins came by to accompany the boat for several miles. They played with the boat and oftentimes were so close that we could almost touch them from the cockpit.

My close friends and former students, Shawn and Karen left their mooring at Two Harbors, Catalina about the same time and made the trip to Ensenada in their Tayana ketch.

Great trip, great crew, good friends capped off by an obligatory cerveca, "anchor beer", in Ensenada. Can't wait to do it again!!!

Andale pues

THE TWO HAPPIEST DAYS OF A BOAT OWNERS LIFE ..........?.

Here is the day I bought my boat, "Transition" in Newport Beach, CA. That is my son Matt standing beside me. That is also my son Matt standing by me a few days after I sold my 42' Ketch in Ensenada. I owned the boat for 36 years. My son grew up with the boat.

Selling a boat is NOT the happiest days of one's boating life, that is, if you bought the boat for the right reasons. Not because some old dude thought it would be a "chick magnet". Or, because you thought your teenage kids or your spouse would want to go sailing with you every weekend. (Especially when you made them uncomfortable) Or, because you quickly found out that your drinking buddies were not sailors, just drinking buddies. If you love the boat, respect it and make sailing your lifestyle, you are not anxious to get rid of it.

Selling the boat was not a happy day at all. Just a transition, a new tack in my love of sailing. Already bought another boat.

SO, IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT, "THE TWO HAPPIEST DAYS OF A BOAT OWNERS LIFE ARE THE DAY HE BUYS IT AND THE DAY HE SELLS IT", walk away from them and never speak to them again.

Footnote: The person that bought Transition is a nice guy. I would not have sold it to someone that I did not like!!!

Advanced Coastal Sail - San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico

"A life changing experience??" Absolutely!!!!!.
Is a sailing/cruising experience in your future?
You will have a more definitive answer to this question after:
1. All day under sail heading for the Coronado Islands, Mexico.
2. Lower the anchor by hand (the windlass was broken"}
3. Prepare dinner at anchor and get ready for an 9 hour overnight sail to Ensenada. Stand watch in utter darkness, keep the boat moving on course while responsible for the safety and well being of the crew sleeping below.
4. Enjoy the experience of being on a boat in a foreign country.
5. Come back to San Diego, confident in your abilities as well as a fondness for the crew that you sailed with for 4 days.

Great crew, some of the best sailors I have worked with. Competent boat handlers and fun to be with.

Executed perfect man overboard rescue drills every time the saw pollution in the ocean caused by something like a Happy Birthday balloon which pollutes the ocean and kills sea life.

BACK TO THE BASICS!!!
I have been to Catalina four times this year and Ensenada once. However, there is nothing more rewarding than teaching a Basic Keelboat Class with students like the ones in last week's class.

Four students will little or no experience sailing. Showed up with a positive attitude and a desire to learn. At the end of the second day, they were qualified to sail the Capri 22, skillfully and without an instructor on board. Furthermore, they had the basic skills to move up to larger boats and more advanced classes. I am sure they will. Bottom line as an instructor?? I would trust any of these students with my own boat.

Skilled sailors as well as fun people to be with. They will be sailing and learning in the future.

ADVANCED COASTAL CRUISE TO ENSENADA, MEXICO

This crew stood the 3am to 6am watch on the overnight motor/sail to Ensenada from the Coronado Islands. They skillfully navigated in total darkness and safely made the passage between the Todas Santos Islands and the mainland. In the photo, you can see in the background the lights of a Cruise Ship. The Cruise Ship is also headed for Ensenada. They wisely opted to let the large ship enter the channel first just as the sun was coming up. Then passing the docked ship, they made their way to the Cruiseport Marina.

The cruise had started with a day sail from San Diego to the Coronado Islands. The day was spent under sail and then after anchoring at the South Coronado, they prepared a great meal aboard. Then after last minute check on the navigation and boat systems they headed for the 50 nautical mile overnight cruise to Ensenada.

The crew learned new skills while enhancing their abilities to handle and manage a large boat. They learned how to check in and out of Mexico, Immigration, Port Captain and Customs. Also, the return check in process to reenter the United States.

They also enjoyed two full days in Ensenada checking out the city and enjoying the cantinas and restaurants. On Saturday, they also enjoyed sailing on the bay.

I would like to offer the valuable sails about once a month. To ensure that you are made aware of the schedule, email: [email protected] and ask to receive the email schedule.