Newsletter	April 2003

Commodore's Deck
By Dave Peoples, C42, Jammin'

What can we do to get more members involved in our club? I know this is the question that haunts all officers of every club I have been involved with. Last week we had a rather disappointing turn out for what I thought would be a really good meeting. We were at Rose City Yacht Club absolutely tremendous facility. It has a large room, no smoke, no noise, a kitchen, BBQ, over all a very casual meeting place. I hope we can have another meeting there later this spring. We had two speakers and actually were able to have a real meeting. For those of us there it was a very nice social event. I have said at meetings and through my e-mails that we need help to find new places and new agendas that people actually want to come and have fun. The old and new officers need help to find out what you as members want to do at your meetings. What works and what doesn't. Let us know!

Nominations for New Officers

On the agenda for the last meeting was nominations for new officers. The following is what we have so far.

All Catalina Rendezvous

Another committee that can always use help is the Rendezvous Committee. This committee has always been fun, because it is our one big event of the year.  Our main committee is as follows:

• Glenn and Deanne Johnson
• John and Annie Meyer
• Todd Bellamy and Valerie Inforzato
• Werner and Renate Bittner
• Bill and Marla Simon
• Bob Gales and Gail O'Neill

There is always room for more help, so please contact any of the members above to volunteer.

Cruising

Cruises are probably the most fun times we have as a club. We need people to help lead these cruises. April's Gilbert River Cruise still needs someone to lead the cruise. Contact Jim Elieff (elieffmaan@yahoo.com or 503-254-7758) and say you want to help with the cruise. There is a small time commitment but the results can be a blast.

April's General Membership Meeting

April's meeting will be on the Wednesday April 23rd.  It will be held at West Marine. West Marine in the past has given us a 10% discount on everything except electronics which is a 5% discount. This is our chance to stock up on all those items needed for our spring projects.

It will also be elections night. The floor will be open to further nominations prior to a vote. You can see from above the is room for some nominations. Please make sure your voice is heard and come to the April meeting.

Be a Volunteer help out and you will never regret it.

Thanks Dave Peoples, Commodore

Notes from the Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

Welcome to our newest members which brings our number to 70 member boats.

John and Kerstin Maroney of Portland

Catalina 30, Quiet Storm, berthed at Harbor 1

Larry and Daniela Brandt of West Linn

Catalina 36, High Flight, in charter with San Juan Sailing

The invoices for the 2003-2004 dues and Mainsheet (if applicable) are in the mail. Please check all of the data at the bottom of the invoice and make any corrections. Dues are from May 1 through April 30. I expect to have the roster ready to print by May 15th.

The Rendezvous committee will be meeting shortly and would appreciate your help and/or input.

Kathleen Lewis, email sewingmaven@msn.com

Past Commodore's Hammock
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

How do you like my new hammock, only a few more months in the hammock and then I can sail away to my intended destinations on the North end of Vancouver Island. Goal is Port McNeil, BC.

I have received a few offers for crew but still want to offer the “opportunity,” so if you are interested in going for part of the trip let me know. Departure in May sometime, weather dependent. I hope that we can start list of boats that want or plan to go North with planned departure dates and destinations so that we can buddy boat up or rendezvous once we are there.

The Port of Astoria is planning to raise moorage rates this year. Looks like I might not have a slip there. Below is a sampling of what and why they are doing it. I have not heard the result of the meeting but expect no changes based upon my e-mails opposing it.

While on the subject of downriver, the Corps of Engineers proposed three sites downriver for dumping the spoils of the dredging. We don’t hear too much here except about Martin Island. But they have proposed three dredge spoil dump sites which they call “environment enhancements.” The sites are Lois Island, Miller Island-Pillar Rock Area. Their proposal is to render useless the only two off-channel recreational and safety user areas West of Puget Island. We boaters should be disconcerted (read: UPSET ENOUGH TO DO SOME WRITING TO SALEM). Our safe harbors, fishing holes, day anchorages and great recreational spots are now called “ecosystem restoration features,” i.e., dredge spoils.

In 2001, the east section of the West Mooring Basin Breakwater failed. The replacement cost was $1 million. To pay for the annual debt service cost of $72,065, moorage rates were increased from $14 per foot per year to $16 raising annual income from $238,575 to $257,755 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 over the previous year.

The west section of the breakwater is near failure. The proposed Astoria Conference Center will require relocation of the fuel tank, marina office and rest rooms. There is a waiting list of 39 vessel owners waiting for slips. Increase commercial fishing in the area has put a significant strain on capacity during the peak season not to mention increasing demand from larger recreational vessels.

The Oregon State Marine Board recognizes the demands on local capacity and has obtained a grant from the Federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Program together with their commitment for a total grand of$500,000. Preliminary cost estimates for the project total $3.1 million, of which $2.6 must be borrowed. Annual debt service cost is $181,000.

Moorage rates in the lower river (Warrenton, Ilwaco and Astoria) are substantially lower than populated areas such as Portland and the Puget Sound. Raising moorage rates to pay for necessary improvements from $16 to $27 is still a bargain compared with up river rates.

Consideration of changing moorage rates should also include providing alternatives billing and payment options such as monthly payments and use of credit cards.

Moorage Rates

There are 411 slips of which 351 are currently subject to annual moorages. The above expansion will increase capacity to 451 slips.

Raising moorage rates from $16 per foot per year to $27 will raise $135,852 from annual moorages. Forty new slips will raise and additional $54,000 and a corresponding increase to transient tenants of $28,892. Higher rates could result in an overall reduction in tenants and some will leave for cheaper moorage. These proposed rates will absorb an overall 8% reduction in business while retaining sufficient overall increase to meet debt service.

Allowing tenants to pay monthly can lessen the burden of higher annual moorage rates. The calculation of monthly rates must take into consideration for the loss of the use of funds and the probability that many may take advantage of use of credit cards. Thus the annual rate of $27 per foot is not 1/12 or $2.25 per foot per month but $2.37 per foot per month.

In addition, the current daily moorage is based on a flat $10 per vessel up to 20 ft per day, and $1 more per each 10 feet in length. A flat $0.45 per foot would reduce the cost of a 20 foot boat owner from $10 to $9 but would increase the rate on a 30 ft from $12 to $13.50, on a 50ft from $14 to $22.50 and on a 90ft from $18 to $40.50.

Sampling of Rate options being considered

Reading

I have just finished reading an interesting book that was written for those who, without previous experience in navigation and without navigating instruments, find themselves in small craft in open sea and who have to make their way to land. The book was written 1943 and was put in the life rafts of ships during WW II. It addresses, stars, birds, fish, navigation per the Polynesians, etc. I found a copy or two on www.ebay.com. It wasn’t my fault that I won twice or so. I thought this one excerpt was interesting. I have seen and hooked one off the Columbia River Bar myself but was on a charter boat and let it go too!

BLUE SHARK

This slender frequenter of the warm seas is the only shark usually found far out from land. Most other sharks stay close to shore. The blue Shark, found in tropical waters throughout the world, is of deep to bright blue color. The average adult is about 12 feet in length but some reach as much as 20 feet.

…The Blue Shark is excellent eating and not difficult to catch, provided you have heavy enough tackle.

Some sharks have a great deal of ammonia in the flesh and are inedible unless the ammonia is removed by washing or drying out. If the flesh is sliced into small pieces, towed astern for a few hours and then dried out, it should be edible.

A simple method of catching sharks still used by Samoans is to hold some bait in the water near the bow of the canoe while a large noose is held over the side amidships. The shark, attracted by bait, comes alongside and swims through the noose towards the bait. A sudden tightening of the noose around its middle is followed by a heave on line by several natives. In this manner the shark is hauled bodily into the canoe and is quickly clubbed to avoid upsetting the craft.

Trailing the foot as shark bait is not recommended, but with other bait lacking, it has proved successful. It will be realized, of course, that there are limitations to what can be tried in a rubber boat or life raft. Handling a fish that may be 12 feet in length requires common sense as well as a stout line.

Excerpt from The Raft Book: Lore of the Sea and Sky by Harold Gatty

PS I am glad my foot can’t reach the water from the boat. But crew is still needed for offshore work. I am sure we can rig something and natives are welcome.

Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Checkout these links to more Northwest All Catalina newsletters:

Catalina Association of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS)

http://home.earthlink.net/~jimhettinger/CATSS%20Newsletters/

Catalina Association of Puget Sound (CAPS)

http://www.capsfleet1.com/News%20Letters.htm

Plans for April's General Membership Meeting

Editor's Note:  This cruise is still in need of a cruise host.  In the absence of a volunteer, the cruise will still take place.

April 26-27.  The Columbia  River All Catalina Association would like to invite you to attend an overnight weekend cruise to the Gilbert River.

Ladies Cruise 2003
By OWSA

Ladies Cruise 2003 Island Getaway Held at the PYC Outstation May 16,17,18   This year's event will be at PYC Outstation on the Columbia River.  All Women Sail and Power Boaters are invited to join us for this, the 18th annual event. SKIPPER AND CREW COORDINATION MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 25, AT 7PM Please come join us at the Rose City Yacht Club. 3737 NE Marine Dr. The gate will be opened at 6:30pm ¨For information call or e-mail: Your Cruise Captains: Sue Johnson, lspbj@comcast.net , 503-661-7199 Sheila Drews, Sheila.drews@saiemail.com Cheri Tuma, svabsolut@cs.com

Cruise Hosts Needed
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Our Cruise Officer, Jim Elieff, is looking for volunteers to lead cruises for the 2003 season.  As a cruise host your duties typically include:

• Checking on the status of any destinations and facilities planned for the cruise.
• In some cases making appropriate marina reservations (depends on the event)
• Communicating the plans for the cruise including destinations, schedules, activities and any other significant information.  This is typically done via email.
• Collecting the names of those planning to participate on the cruise.
• Provide or organize assistance in planning, preparation, navigation, etc. as required to encourage the participation of inexperienced cruisers.
• Organizing a "buddy" system to accommodate the needs of inexperienced crews during the cruise.
• In the event of adverse weather, notify participants of any changes.
• Show up on the cruise.  If you can't make it, find a replacement and notify the participants and the Cruise Officer.

Note: The cruise host will at times give advice or make decisions that will be directed to the boats involved. However it must be understood that the responsibility for the safe operation of each boat and its crew during the cruise does not reside with CRACA or the cruise host but is the sole responsibility of the boat’s captain.

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Jim at elieffmaan@yahoo.com or 503-254-7758.

Sail for the Cure
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

Jenny Freeman (C36, Raven's Dream) has volunteered to coordinate CRACA's participation in this year's Sail for the Cure event sponsored by the Oregon Women's Sailing Association (OWSA) on September 20.

What is Sail for the Cure

• An event organized by OWSA to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• The event starts out with coffee & snacks at check-in, then we sail a "fun race" stressing cooperation more than winning, followed by a post event party with food and prizes.
• Each boat must be skippered by a woman (she doesn't have to own it to be the skipper), and men are welcome to crew.
• The entry fee is $20.00 per person, with all profits go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

For more information about the Sail for the Cure, click here.

Racing Catalina 30's
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

April 26-27.  Bob Gales (C30, Imagine), and myself (C30, Celtic Myst) would like to invite our fellow Catalina 30 owners to a casual, spinnaker-free weekend of racing out on the Columbia River between the Interstate Bridge and the I-205 Bridge.

The Gilbert River cruise got shifted to the same weekend after it was discovered to have been scheduled for Easter, so I and Bob realize we'll miss a few potential racers who've already made a commitment to attend the cruise instead.

Why You Should Race

The following is an excerpt from an excellent article by Steve Milby, C25, Captiva Wind, #2554.  Steve captures many of the elements that attracted me to racing in the first place, and his reference to newbies just following the fleet around the course in the beginning is just how I got started and built confidence.

If you really want to learn how to sail, there is no better way to increase your sailing skills than by racing. Racing provides you a strong incentive to make your boat perform to the peak of its design capability. Moreover, by comparing your progress with that of the other boats, you have a means of testing the extent of your success. When the boat next to you is sailing closer to the wind than you, you start looking for adjustments that you can make to your own sails to improve your pointing ability. When you are racing, your pointing ability might be a mere matter of pride of achievement, but when you are trying to claw off a lee shore in blustery winds, it might be a matter of survival for your boat and crew.

Racing also complements the social aspects of sailing. It creates a reason for people to crew for each other, which in turn gives us a chance to get to know the new people on the dock, or people who were previously just passing acquaintances. When racers return to the docks after a race, they like to discuss the interesting and exciting action that occurred during the race, so they can better understand what they did right and what they did wrong, and experience those exciting moments one more time.

In many sailing clubs, only 15-20% of the members participate in the racing program. One of the reasons most frequently heard is, “I sail to relax, and racing is too intense.” Many of our favorite pastimes are competitive in their nature and require intense concentration. We usually think of golf as a relaxing sport, but great beads of perspiration break out on our brows when we are about to hit a $5.00 ball to a green that is surrounded by a water hazard. Likewise, the intensity of tennis, chess, skiing, scuba diving and other sports does not deter us from resorting to those sports as a means of relaxation. Why do we find work-related intensity exhausting, and sports-related intensity invigorating? It is relaxing to turn our thoughts away from serious activities that are of vital importance to others, and upon which our security and livelihood depend. By focusing our attention on completely frivolous activities that are important only as a matter of our personal pride, we can prevent those work-related activities from intruding on our thoughts. When the weekend is over, and we have to turn our attention back to more serious matters, we are re-invigorated, and better able to cope with occupational stresses.

Some other reasons many sailors give for not racing are, “The racers are too aggressive,” and “I don’t know how to race, and I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself.” In my opinion, it is not generally true that racers are too aggressive, but it undoubtedly appears to be true to an inexperienced racer. When a newbie sees an experienced racer bearing down on his beam, and then head off at the last moment to cross his stern, clearing it by only two or three feet, it is intimidating. When a newbie hears another racer hail for room at a mark, or requesting right-of-way, and the newbie doesn’t know what the rules require, it is intimidating. My advice to all newbies is, for the first few races, just sail the course and stay clear of the other boats. Avoid the crowded portion of the starting line. If a situation arises and you don’t know who has the right-of-way, assume that it is the other boat, and give way. After the race is over, discuss the situation with other racers at the dock, and ask them to explain the applicable rule. As a consequence, you will not only make new acquaintances, but you will also learn the most commonly used rules, and racing will no longer seem intimidating. The bottom-line rule that all racers should always follow is that, no matter who has the right-of-way, it is always the duty of all participants to avoid a collision. It is, after all, only a boat race. If you follow these simple suggestions while you are learning, you won’t have to worry about embarrassing yourself on the racecourse.

One of the greatest hazards of yacht racing is that the skipper will contract a case of the “Blighs,” demanding perfection from himself and his crew, and taking it as a personal affront every time another skipper calls out a right-of-way rule. The experienced skipper knows that no crew error will be nearly so damaging as his own errors, and that browbeating his crew will ensure the occurrence of more errors. A crew member who has been criticized will become nervous, and is sure to drop a winch handle or fumble a sheet during a tack. If a mistake is made, calm your crew member. Assure him or her that the mistake is minor, and encourage him or her to correct it and forget about it. The experienced racer also knows that skippers hail competing boats to alert them to an action that is about to take place. These communications between boats contribute to the safety of all boats, and help them avoid misunderstandings. They should never be done to intimidate, embarrass or fool a newbie, and you should never be offended if another racer hails you.

So, the next time you see the racers heading out for the racecourse, join them. It will enhance your sailing skills and enrich your opportunities for social interaction. If you are an experienced racer, encourage the newbies to come out and play, and consider it your responsibility to ensure that they enjoy a positive learning experience.

The Spring Regatta

I've already contacted the Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) about setting up spinnaker-free course for the Catalina 30's.  SYSCO was very supportive of the idea, and said that all we needed to do was to bring three boats to the starting line.  With Imagine and Celtic Myst, that's two, so Bob and I are in search of at least one other boat to commit to the regatta.

Below is the official Notice of Race for the regatta.

More information about local racing is available on the Catalina 22 Fleet 20 website at Catalina22Fleet20.home.comcast.net.

Cruising and Seamanship Course
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

North Sails is planning on having a Cruising and Seamanship course in June in Portland this year.

More information with a specific date is expected shortly. I have asked Kerry Poe for special pricing if we can develop the interest for a number of cruisers or cruisers wantabees.

The revised North U Cruising Course will teach sailing, cruising and seamanship skills. Prepared in conjunction with John Rousmaniere, author of the Annapolis Book of Seamanship, the course will focus on techniques for improved performance, safety, and enjoyment.

Special emphasis will be placed on heavy weather sailing and seamanship, safety, and emergency techniques. We'll look at the equipment, preparation, and techniques needed to prevent and handle a variety of challenges. A segment on the wonder and challenges of night sailing is sure to open your eyes and expand your cruising horizons.

Our unique approach to techniques for upwind trim and balance will translate into faster, more comfortable sailing (and less motoring) in the coming season. Whether you sail under jib and main, Gennaker, or spinnaker, our coverage of downwind sail trim will improve your reaching and running performance in all conditions.

As described by North U Director Bill Gladstone, "About half the day will focus on safety, heavy air, and emergency techniques you should know, but hopefully never need; while the other half will cover sailing and seamanship skills which you can use every day."

The instructors for the North U Cruising seminars are seasoned sailors, whose combined sailing skills and teaching experience mean the course will emphasize your sailing, not their sea stories. Bring your questions.

Cruising and Seamanship Class Outline

Vessel Safety Checks
By Dave Thomas, C30, Sunchaser

The Columbia River All Catalina Association Charter calls for a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) on all member’s boats in the interest of safety. For more information check out www.safetyseal.net

Michael Lewis and I will be available to do Vessel Safety Checks during the Gilbert River Cruise on April 26 & 27.

We will also be walking the docks at Hayden Bay and Tomahawk Bay on Saturday, May 3rd from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm.  And, Sunday afternoon, May 4th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Lifesling Seminar
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

The Oregon Women’s Sailing Association has scheduled a LIFESLING SEMINAR for August 16, 2003 at Rose City Yacht Club (RCYC). They will be sending us a packet of registration forms with details for those who would like to register. They have redesigned the class based upon our suggestions and will have lots of updates to the class. If you missed it last time, take it now.

April

• 19, West Marine Swap Meet
• 23, Annual Meeting & Elections
• 26-27, Gilbert River Cruise

May

• 16-18, Ladies Cruise - PYC Outstation, Willow Bar, Columbia River
• 24-26, Memorial Day Cruise  - Martin Island
• 28, Monthly Meeting

See the calendar