On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 05:17:20 GMT, something compelled bryan
, to say:

Do you know anything about the normal summer wind direction between San
Diego and Catalina? I've heard it's on the nose the whole way there.

Let's assume that's the case. I'd imagine an ocean wind wouldn't
shift much in that distance, so if it's on the nose out of San
Diego, it should be there all the way.

I've also heard that one option is to head west from San Diego then to
tack and head for Catalina. If the latter is the only way to sail from
San Diego to Catalina, how far out west before tacking for Catalina?

How high can you point? Let's assume forty-five degrees.

Get a chart (you'll want one anyway) and draw a line forty-five
degrees from the given wind out of San Diego to the northwest.
Draw another line forty-five degrees from the given wind
southwest from Catalina. Where those lines intersect, is where
you need to make your turn.