DANA POINT : You Can Get to Catalina From Here

Despite the gloomy weather Friday morning, riders on the maiden voyage of a new ferry service from South County to Santa Catalina Island were buoyant over the city’s latest tourist attraction.

“South County residents are going to go for this in a big way,” said Bill Peverill, who, with his wife, Jan, was among the first passengers on board. “Everyone is looking for a getaway. . . . Avalon is one of the nicest spots around.”

The gleaming blue and white ferry took about 100 passengers, or two-thirds of its capacity, on its inaugural trip from the Dana Point Wharf. SeaJet Cruise Lines joins a Newport Beach-based ferry in offering a Catalina shuttle service from Orange County.

Although California as a whole is in an economic slump, SeaJet officials are counting on the wealth of South County residents to make their ferry a success.

“There is some risk because this is a smaller population base,” said company President Ted Gurnee, whose firm also operates shuttles to Catalina from Oceanside and San Diego. “But I think people are going to be surprised how well this works. The demographics in South County are very high.”

The company also plans to offer dinner-entertainment harbor cruises this summer around Dana Point Harbor.

The Catalina ferry adds another amenity to the Dana Point Harbor, a bustling water recreation center. In addition to several restaurants, the area is home to small firms that offer jet skiing, para-sailing, ocean tours, kayaking and other activities.

Business leaders are enthusiastic about the tourism revenue they expect the cruise line to bring to Dana Point.

“This is the newest and best thing going in Dana Point since cityhood,” said Jody Tyson, director of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce. “The shuttle will bring people here who don’t want to drive to Oceanside or Newport Beach,” where other Catalina shuttle services operate.

“This tour will expose the natural beauty of the Dana Point coastline,” she said. “Hopefully, it will get a lot more people introduced to Dana Point who will come back.”

The boat is a 105-foot cruiser that cuts through the water at an average of 20 knots, Gurnee said. A one-way trip takes about 90 minutes. Round-trip tickets cost $42.

The SeaJet vessel holds 150 passengers on three decks. It offers beverages and a video terminal showing travel films describing things to do on Santa Catalina Island. Gurnee plans to schedule live entertainment on weekends this summer.

“We’re going to provide first-class service at sea level,” Gurnee said. “I think people in South County will enjoy this cruise for a long time to come.”