Newsletter

August 2003

From the Commodore
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

It has been a wonderful sailing season so far.  I've really enjoyed the daysailing, cruising, and racing.  We took Celtic Myst downriver for the first time to Astoria at the end of July and had a wonderful time.  I'm hoping to write up our trip for the September newsletter.

Laura let me buy a 1979 Catalina 22 this Spring.  I and two other guys race the boat, and it has been a blast racing as a team.  Having three "skippers" (we've all previously owned Catalina 22's before) onboard the boat was interesting in the beginning, but we seem to have settled on a protocol whereby he who has the tiller gets to decide.

I have really enjoyed daysailing this year and sharing our sport with non-sailors.  We've taken out friends, family, and even Laura's fellow Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants.

The Fort Vancouver fireworks show was spectacular viewed from the cockpit of Celtic Myst.  The boat stayed in Tomahawk Bay Moorage, and we celebrated the the fourth with several friends who came down for dinner and the light show.

I frequently see other CRACA boats out when Laura and I are, so I know many of you must also be enjoying daysailing your boats too.  The club's printed roster with the sail number and boat name indexes has made it a lot easier to quickly look up whether a boat you see is a member of CRACA.

Moving Up

Another Catalina 22 Fleet 20 member moved up to a larger boat in July.  Dennis and Sandy Thomas of Forrest Grove found a beautiful Catalina 27 up north and brought it to the Columbia River.  Their new boat's name is WindChaser, which is the same as their Catalina 22 which is rumored to be for sale soon.

Dennis is a former Fleet Captain for local Catalina 22 Fleet 20.  Dennis and Sandy raced WindChaser on the Columbia River in the Thursday night Spring and Summer Series and have also cruised their Catalina 22 in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands with Fleet 20.

I'm hoping to twist Dennis and Sandy's arms into joining CRACA.

Thank You Kathleen Lewis

All current members of CRACA received the 2003 Membership Roster in July.  To create the roster, I converted the membership database (an Excel spreadsheet) into the format you received and then outputted it as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.  Our Treasurer/Secretary Kathleen Lewis then did the heavy lifting by working with a print shop to create this year's red covered booklet and then mailing them out.  Thank You Kathleen for making this happen.

Please join me in extending to Kathleen Lewis our best wishes as she takes on the responsibility of being the 100% caregiver for her brother after he suffered a stroke a month ago.

Cruising

I hope you'll consider joining us for part of the Beacon Rock Cruise this month.  Some additional information on this event can be found latter in the newsletter.

Just a couple of reminders of cruises in September.

  • Fourth Annual All Catalina Rendezvous (Sept. 12-14).  This year the event is being held at McCuddy's Landing on Multnomah Channel.  Open to Catalina's of all sizes (regardless of whether they are CRACA members or not), this event continues to grow and is becoming the premiere regional event for owners of Catalina Yachts.  Featuring delicious potluck meals, boat tours, door prizes, and boat sponsored hors d'oeuvres, the rendezvous is open to all and can be easily reached by boat or car depending on whether you just want to come down for the day, or spend the weekend.  More details on this event can be found later in the newsletter.

  • Sail for the Cure (Sept. 20) organized by the Oregon Women's Sailing Association, this is a fun daysail on the Columbia River.  More details can be found later in the newsletter.

 

The rendezvous is an open invitation to all Catalina owners both CRACA members and non-members to enjoy a wonderful weekend in the company of fellow Catalina Yachts enthusiasts as they open their boats for your personal tours and share hors d'oeuvres in the beautiful surrounds of McCuddy's Landing on the tranquil banks of Multnomah Channel.  Participants are welcomed to arrive by car or by boat.

Mark McCuddy, of McCuddy's marinas, has generously offered rendezvous participants free moorage, power, ice, access to the restrooms & showers, and the use of the covered area around the moorage office and store.   Power for the 50' slips will require a 50A/250V adapter, otherwise they are standard 30A.

This year's rendezvous is a FREE event.  There will be no charge to attend, although registration is still required so the organizing committee can plan for how many boats will be attending.  Registration packets will be emailed out in August.  The registration form can also be downloaded and printed out.

For those interested in clothing, hats, or bags embroidered  with the CRACA burgee, orders can be placed during the rendezvous.

 

 Itinerary

Friday September 12th
  Afternoon Registration/Check-in starts on the committee boat (look for the boat flying the long red pennant). Please check in upon arrival.
     
  Evening Dinner on your own

 Saturday September 13th

  Continued Registration/Check-in on the committee boat.
     
  Morning Breakfast on your own
  1:30—4:30 Boat sponsored hors d’oeuvres, boat tours and refreshments
  5:30 Bring you own dinner and visit together on the veranda, or walk over to Mark's on Channel and enjoy a wonderful dinner at a great little restaurant.
  7:00 Potluck desserts, raffle, and door prizes at the veranda

Sunday September 14th
  10:00 Potluck Bunch on the veranda

Notes About the Rendezvous

Please bring one (1) gift per boat (value no more than $15.00) and drop it off at the committee boat upon arrival. The gift does not have to be Nautical.

Water and 30 amp power will be available on the docks.

You may want to bring:

  • Folding chairs and a small table
  • Dessert for Saturday potluck
  • A breakfast item for the Sunday potluck brunch
  • Hors d’oeuvres to share
  • Gift ($15.00 or less)

A Docking Crew will be on duty to help all boats find a spot to tie up based on the list of available slips provided by Mark McCuddy. The Docking Crew will be monitoring channel 16 and then moving to working channel 72. Just ask for the “All Catalina Rendezvous” and they will answer.

 

CRACA Plans for SAIL for the CURE
By Jenny Freeman, C36, Raven's Dream

Tomahawk Bay Moorage is willing to let us have as many slips as we need to gather our club together for participating in the 2003 Sail for the Cure.  I just have to let them know one week in advance how many club boats will be coming.

Also, do we want to collect pledges and donations as a group? Last year, the winning group collected $1300 dollars. I bet we could do better.  We can discuss donation collections at the August meeting.

 

SAIL for the CURE
September 20, 2003
Organized by the Oregon Woman's Sailing Association

About the Event

Our common opponents is breast cancer, so Sail for the Cure® was designed as a fun event for the whole family that emphasizes boat-handling skills and cooperation rather than competition.

Previous year's events included creative games such as Bingo and Q & A.  This year's event is sure to be just as fun and exciting!

After the sailing event, join us for the post-event party featuring music by the Second Wind Jazz Ensemble and food by Bugatti's Restaurants.  A silent auction (opening at the morning check-in) will be sure to tantalize you with items such as sailing clothing, classes, massages, wine and goodies, and other fun things.

Who can Attend?

Everyone from non-sailors to novices to expert sailors are invited.  If you would like to participate but don't have a boat, let us know on the registration form.  We'll do our best to match people who need boats with boats that need people.  If you have a boat but need crew (or can take crew), let us know on the form.  A few rules:  each boat does need to have a woman acting as skipper (no necessarily the helmsman), everyone must provide their own lifejacket (boats may have one you can use; check with the skipper) and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration Fees

Early registration, through September 3:  $20 per person (children age 12 and under are $12 and allowed by skipper permission only) and includes a T-shirt.

Event Day Registration:  $30 per person (children age 12 and under are $22 and allowed by skipper permission only) and includes a shirt if supply allows (there is no guarantee).

Breast cancer survivors will receive a Sail for the Cure baseball cap (additional hats will be for sale) and all net  proceeds will be donated to the local affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Register by Mail

Mail registration form and entry fee (please make checks payable to Oregon Women's Sailing Association) to:

Oregon Women's Sailing Association
Sail for the Cure
PO Box 17615
Portland, OR  97217

Deadline to enter:
September 2, 2003

Be sure to enter by this date to guarantee your T-shirt and avoid the late fee.

For more information, call the Sail for the Cure Hotline at 503-254-CURE, send an e-mail to sailforthecure@creativeabandon.com, or visit our Web page at www.owsa.net.

Event Day Schedule
10am - 1pm:  Event Check-In.  Pick up your Sail for the Cure packet and T-shirt, check out the silent auction items, and register if you haven't already (no on-the-water registrations will be permitted).  Day-of-Event registrations are $30.*  Tomahawk Bay Moorage Picnic Area, 515 NE Tomahawk Island Drive.

The skipper's packet will include instruction on how to do this year's event.

2 - 4pm:  Sail for the Cure.  The Columbia River at navigational buoy #14.

4 - 7pm:  Post-event Party.  Food, music, silent auction and fun prizes!  Tomahawk Bay Moorage Picnic Area.

* We cannot guarantee T-shirts will be available for later registrations.

Silent Auction

Bring your checkbook!  Last year's silent auction included items such as sailing and kayaking classes, clothing, sailing equipment, wine and goodies, massages, haircuts and pedicures, framed photographs, a gas barbecue, gift certificates and more!  At this year's auction, you can expect and even better selection of goodies.

The auction will open during the morning check-in at 10am.  A bidding sheet listing fixed amounts will be beside each item.  Write your name beside the amount you want to bid for that item.  Note that there will be a "Buy It Now" price, which means that you are guaranteed to get that item.  Be sure to take a quick look and start your bidding before you head out on the boat.  When you come back for the party, don't forget to check your items!

The tables have a range of closing times, so be sure to look for a sign on each of the tables.  When the table closes (a 15-minute warning will be given), go to the cashier who will be set up nearby, and see what you've won.  Once you've made your payment, someone will retrieve your item for you.  Cash or checks only and items must be purchased and picked up by 7:00pm.  Please make arrangements with the cashier if you will be unable to claim your item(s).

Donating to the Silent Auction

Have something you'd like to donate to the cause?  Maybe a service, gift certificate or theme basket of items?

Call the Sail for the Cure Hotline 503-254-CURE or send an e-mail to sailforthecure@creativeabandon.com and our donation committee will contact you.  Please make arrangement to donate by August 30.

More Information

 

 

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

Checkout these links to more Northwest All Catalina newsletters:

 

Meeting Notes

August Meeting to be held at RCYC
By Dale Mack (Commodore), C30, Celtic Myst

What CRACA General Membership Meeting & BBQ

This is a bring your own food and beverages barbeque.   RCYC is providing the grills out on the docks just steps away from the floating clubhouse.
Where Rose City Yacht Club
 www.RoseCityYachtClub.org
3737 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR  97211
503-282-2049
When Wednesday, August 27
Gate opens at 6 pm
BBQ and Social from 6 pm to 7:30 pm
General Meeting and Rendezvous discussion starts at 7 pm
Agenda
  • Discuss plans for September's 4th Annual All Catalina Rendezvous
  • Discuss plans for the September 20th Sail for the Cure
  • Socialize and enjoy the view from the deck.

 

Cruising

The Almost Perfect Day
 By Ralph Ahseln, C27, Oblio

Editor's Note:  Ralph submitted this to the northwest sailing email discussion group back on July 15th.  In a few short paragraphs, Ralph captures the essence of a daysail on the Columbia River.

There are those times when everything just comes together to make The Almost Perfect Day. Today was one of those times.  A warm muggy day. No wind. Time for an ice cold drink and sitting in the cockpit. Lots of jobs to be done. I HAVE to figure out what I want to do with the galley stove. I'll do that later, Maybe.

6PM. Wind? From the North ? Rare on the Columbia River in Portland. A marine layer moving in from the West finally covers the glare of the sun. Go sail. The chance to sail up river on a broad teach shouldn't be missed. You don't get that chance too often. More wind 10 plus knots. Nice. Out of the marina and hitting five on the knotmeter. REAL nice. Waving at some of the dozen other sailors out. NO power boats?

North wind, broad reach, hand barely moving the tiller, tracking and balanced. Heavenly. I gotta make the turn soon and head back or I'll just keep on going until I bump into a dam 50 miles away. I'm at a choke part of the river where winds die shadowed by the lower hills of SW Washington and the I-205 bridge. Oops,  wind does a 90 degree turn to the West and a rain squall hits. Unprepared there is a moment when sheets tangle and I feel stupid (I said it was an "Almost " perfect day). Settled back into the seat, it's a close hauled ride back home now. Warm Summer rain cool against my face. The cloud covered sun breaks through spotlighting Mt Hood. Now a golden triangle of snow and rock alone against the sky. Two tacks and I'm back into the marina.

8PM And then as I tie up the sun breaks through under the cloud layer.  Every cloud is afire!  Bright red bunting of the sky!  Everyone standing around on the docks is still, not moving.  It takes 15 minutes for the sun to finish painting and then it's gone. It's time now to put my little boat to bed. Closed and locked, little Oblio and I have had a good day on the playground. Home to a plate of salad greens from my garden, home made tomato based meat balls and a dish of Spumoni ice cream.  Yep, Almost a PERFECT DAY.

 

Plans for the Beacon Rock Cruise
 By Dale Mack (Commodore), C30, Celtic Myst

CRYA Submitted Cruise Itinerary
Date Day Destination
16-17 sa-su Beacon Rock
18-20 mo-we Government Cove
21-23 th-sa Beacon Rock
24 su Portland

August 16-24.  CRACA has an upriver cruise planned to Beacon Rock and beyond for August.  The schedule at the right is roughly what CRACA submitted back in December to the Columbia River Yachting Association, in order to help them coordinate the cruising schedules of various clubs to avoid congestion at boating facilities. 

As has been the recent trend in 2003 CRACA cruises, no one has actually confessed their intention to attend the cruise so we might rename it the "Upriver Mystery Rendezvous" where you just show up and discover if you are the only CRACA boat at the event.

Laura, Sean, and I are planning to attend the Beacon Rock portion of the cruise.  This cruise can easily be enjoyed on a three-day weekend, and in fact one Catalina came up last year for just one night.  Laura and I are going to stretch it over four days so we can enjoy the peaceful moorage and give Sean a chance to try out his new kayak.

C30, Celtic Myst Itinerary
Date Day Destination
15-17 fr-su Beacon Rock
18 mo Portland

Our plan is to get underway shortly after 6 am on Friday and motor/sail straight through to Beacon Rock (30 nm upriver).

I look forward to seeing some of you there.  We had such a wonderful time on this cruise last year.  It has definitely become one of our favorite places on the river, and the journey into the gorge is just breathtaking.

 

Upcoming Events

August

  • 16-24, Upriver Cruise (Reed Island, Beacon Rock, Government Cove)
  • 27 Monthly Meeting at RCYC

September

  • 12-14, 4th Annual All Catalina Rendezvous at McCuddy's Landing
  • 20, Sail for the Cure
  • No General Membership Meeting

See the calendar

The Columbia River All Catalina Association newsletter is published once a month online at ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org. Articles are the opinions of the authors and don't necessarily represent the consensus of the Association.