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Beach Cats — Signs of the Times

We’re often concerned with how ongoing waterfront development is limiting sailors’, boaters’ and paddlers’ access to the Bay and waterfront. It’s just not as easy as it used to be to own a small boat and find a place to put it into the water. Therefore we were happy to see, when passing through Santa Barbara last weekend, a large collection of beach cats lined up and ready to launch just west of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. It just looks like one long row of good times.

Santa Barbara Beach Cats
We’re always excited to see beach cats lined up and ready to sail.
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

It looks simple enough. But you know there have to be restrictions. We looked west to the end of the row and saw a sign clearly stating, “No Catamarans Beyond This Point.” The small sign seems to work, as the last beach cat was parked right in front of it. But we walked just beyond the sign to turn around and saw the same sign facing the other direction. Are we missing something?

Beach Cat Signs
This sign appears to work.
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John
Beach Cat signs
Looking back to the club, the sign said the exact same thing!
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

We’re not sure how people decide which side of the sign to put their beach cat, but presumably it’s in accordance with the same phenomenon that happens on beaches everywhere — when you put your beach towel down, the next person puts theirs down next to yours. Somehow it works out.

Either way, we’re happy to see beach cats still have a path to the water, and would have been very psyched to launch one when the wind came up later in the day.

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