Newsletter	October 2003

From the Commodore
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

September turned out to be a great Indian Summer.  Those of us lucky enough to get out on the water got to experience some wonderful sailing.  Between my own daysailing, I also got to enjoy the Fourth Annual Catalina Rendezvous, the Sail for the Cure, and spent the better part of one day showing a couple how to setup their Catalina 22 and sail it.

Meeting Ideas

Big surprise, no one step forward to fill the vacant Vice Commodore position, so I'll move ahead with pulling together a committee to help me organize the December Holiday Party and our booth at the Portland Boat Show.  As for monthly meetings I'm partial to holding them at RCYC, but feel free to email me your ideas about other possible venues if you'd like.  I'd really appreciate it if someone would volunteer to line up a guest speaker for any of the following four meetings: 

• November 19
• January 28
• February 25
• March 24

The locations for these meetings still needs to be determined.

I need volunteers to sit down with me and plan this activity.  I figure we can either meet at a restaurant, a home,  or do a potluck at one of the boats like the committee that organized the rendezvous did.

• Social Hour
  • Share photo albums and electronic slide shows
• Potluck Dinner
• Potluck Dessert
• Gift Exchange or White Elephant Gift Exchange.  The planning committee may have to decide if a White Elephant Gift Exchange is doable since some of the feedback we got from last year's party was that the number of participants was starting to make a White Elephant Gift Exchange impractical (took too long).

Holiday Party participants will also be encouraged to bring non-perishable items for donation to the Oregon Food Bank.

I'm looking for volunteers to help plan CRACA's participation at the Portland Boat Show in January.

There was some talk last year about returning to setting up our own booth like we had done prior to 2003.  One suggestion was to see whether one of the Catalina 22/25 owners would be interested in letting us display their boat as part of the booth like several of the one-design associations do at the show.  Another suggestion was to video tape some of the electronic slide shows or transfer them to DVD and have it playing on a TV in the booth.

Here are some of the notes I've made from past shows after observing how other associations had prepared:

• Brochures to give away
• TV/VCR playing a tape of Catalina's in action or a factory tour tape (if such a thing exists)
• Sign-up sheets so people can leave their name and address, especially email.
• Name Tags for booth personnel
• Large banner with "Columbia River All Catalina Association" and our burgee.
• Printed copies of the Fleet's newsletter to handout to prospective members.
• Display copies of the Mainsheet magazine
• Something like a yacht brokerage board with lots of Catalina boat pictures to attract people looking for a boat.  We wouldn't be selling boats, but I've found a lot of people tend to stop and look at the pictures of boats.
• As an incentive, perhaps everyone who serves booth duty would be eligible for a raffle-style prize drawing at the January general meeting.

As you can see there is lots to think about, so we need to get started early.  Please consider volunteering to be on the planning committee.

Sailboats of Oregon

Let me pass along a couple of notes I received from Dave Dudek, the owner of Sailboats of Oregon and North Channel Marine. 

New C42 Open for Viewing.  Dale - the new 2004 Catalina 42 mkII has arrived here at Sailboats of Oregon. She has a fin keel, a furling main, and is a two cabin, centerline forward model. Please let all the CRACA members know that she is here, and that they can board her during our hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday, CLOSED).

Help Wanted.  Dale - I am looking for a salesman that can handle the new Catalina's, the brokerage boats, and some service sales. The person I am looking for must be a professional person in both speech and demeanor. Previous "outbound" (proactive selling) selling experience is required. I want someone here from 50% to 100% of a working week. The compensation plan is attractive. Thank you.  I can be reached at (503) 289-1436.

Cruising

I want to encourage your participation in the Coon Island cruise in October.  Don't let the weather be a deterrent.  We've had sunny days and cloud days, so you just never know.  What I do know is that it has been a lot of fun in the past when you come prepared for Autumn cruising.

Next Year's Destination for the All Catalina Rendezvous

Where would you like to hold next year's All Catalina Rendezvous?  Any idea about the type of event you'd like to see would be welcomed.

Some News from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is Good News...
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

Quillayute River (aka La Push) including the Marina was dredged this spring and the entrance is to be dredged this winter to a depth of 12 feet MLLW. This will make it possible for most boats to make it into La Push. As always, one would want to time ingress and egress on a rising tide.

It makes it possible to do the journey up or down the coast without an overnighter (i.e. Astoria, Westport, La Push then where ever the winds blow you).

La Push is not a 5 star resort or even a destination but neither is the 30-fathom line in the dark. I know you can buy beer and I heard second hand that a restaurant exists. I hope it is better than the Makah Maiden in Neah Bay.

360 Degree Moving Movie Tours of La Push, Washington

• Harbor Entrance
• Harbor and Surrounding Sights

The Zen of Coffee
By Dale Mack

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

Checkout these links to more Northwest Catalina newsletters:

• Catalina 22 Fleet 20 of Portland
• Catalina Association of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS)
• Catalina Association of Puget Sound (CAPS)

 

All Catalina Rendezvous Draws a Crowd
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Floating harbormaster office and businesses Saturday afternoon appetizer potluck Mary Kay facials

McCuddy's Landing on Multnomah Channel served as the venue for the Fourth Annual All Catalina Rendezvous (Sept. 12-14).  Two-thirds of the participants arrived on Friday with the remaining third showing up over the course of Saturday.

Every boat had its own slip with power and water, and early concerns that the boats were spread amongst four different areas of the marina subsided as the veranda (the overhanging porch surrounding the harbormaster's office complex) worked out so well as a congregation area.

As boats checked in they were provided:

• An agenda
• A BurgeeWear order form
• A hanging sign to be attached to the boat announcing them as a rendezvous participant and welcoming others aboard.
• A raffle ticket used later for the gift exchange and the raffling off of donated items.

McCuddy's was an outstanding host.  Not only was the moorage free, the ice machine and shower and restroom facilities opened to us, but harbormaster Renan Sherman was so supportive during the whole weekend, even allowing us to leave our chairs and tables on the veranda during the event.

Saturday Morning & Afternoon

Saturday started off slow and easy.  For early risers there was an awesome sunrise to behold.  Breakfast was a fend for yourself affair followed by walks for many.  From 1:30 to 4:30 we toured boats, and mostly hung out at the veranda sharing appetizers and stories.  What an incredible feast was served up.  You could have easily skipped dinner based on the abundance and variety available on the tables.

While many of us sat around describing our 2003 sailing adventures, another group gathered together as Laura Mack led them through a Mary Kay facial. 

Rendezvous Participants

1. Terry & Kathie Annis, C25, Lematike
2. Craig & Julie Beck, C36, Beck-N-Me
3. Werner & Renate Bittner, C28, Loki
4. Jim Elieff & Marilyn, C30, Fortune
5. Bennie & Debbie Harrison, C27*, Spirit
6. Jim & Marlene Himes, C28, R-Time
7. Gary & Jeanine Jaeckel, C30, Mistress II
8. David & Sylvia Keller, C27, River Rose
9. John & Kathie Kneeland, C36, Silver Fox
10. Doug Knight, C320, Voyager
11. Dale & Laura Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
12. Kelly & Debbie Martin, C30, Second Wind
13. John & Annie Meyer, C34, Shekinah
14. Dave & Helen Peoples, C42*, Jammin
15. Jerry Sampson & Karen Clouse, C27, Sydera
16. Bill & Marla Simon, C270, Windswept
17. Bob & Rick Teeter, C42, Camelot
18. Dave & Julie Thomas, C30, Sunchaser
19. Gail Wigen, C42*, Ursa Minor
20. Eugene Wilkinson, C36*, What, Me Worry?
21. Walt & Marilyn Wittke, C27*, Senior Moments

Mark's on the Channel restaurant Saturday evening dessert potluck, raffle, and gift exchange Sunday morning potluck brunch

1. Terry & Kathie Annis, C25, Lematike
2. Gary & Kathleen Bruner, C25, Encore!
3. Richard & Jenny Freeman, C36, Raven's Dream
4. Dale & Laura Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
5. Gary Whitney, C28, KASL

Like most enjoying the day's activities, Laura and I had several others aboard the boat including two women that had signed up and were looking for a boat to go on, so the Sail for the Cure organizers pointed them our way since we still had space aboard.

Boggle

After leaving the marina we found the committee boat just a short distance upstream of Hayden Island.  As Laura maneuvered Celtic Myst to pass down the portside of the committee boat, I stood at the starboard shrouds with my right arm outstretched and picked up the sailing packet protruding from a ten foot length of PVC pipe being held out from the committee boat.

Inside the packet was a one foot high letter of the alphabet that we were to attach to the backstay of the boat using the nylon tie wraps provided in the packet.  The instruction sheet went on to describe a waterborne version of Boggle that would commence at 2pm and end at 4pm.

The committee had positioned two buoys; one upstream of Hayden Island and the other near the upstream entrance to Tomahawk Bay Moorage.  Our task was to sail as many laps as possible before 4 pm, and to write down letters seen on other participating boats.  The goal was to submit as many nautical words from the letters seen, and the winner would be the boat submitting the most unique words.

We managed to get around the course eight times, while some of the faster boats completed ten laps.  With Laura steering the boat and me handling lines, the remaining five members of the crew we busy searching for letters and coming up with words.  We kept coming up with great words we couldn't use because we hadn't found that letter yet on a boat.  It turns out the the committee had deliberately left out some letters.

How was the Sailing?

The wind steadily grew as the afternoon wore on.  By the time 4 pm rolled around, we had white caps and the boat was showing an apparent wind of 15-18 with an occasional gust to 21. I was enjoying some of the best sailing of the year and that's saying quite a lot considering I had raced in the Spring Regatta, the Spring and Summer Series, the SYSCO 25th Anniversary Regatta, and had daysailed a bunch already.

None of our crew were sailors, but they were having a blast.  The boat would get hit by a gust, heel over another five degrees, and they'd all let out a shriek.

Ashore at Tomahawk Bay Moorage

A beautiful day on the water was backed up by an equally enjoyable time ashore which started at 4 pm and went until 7 pm.  We setup our folding chairs in the shade of the trees overlooking the marina, and while we consumed our event provided boxed dinners, we listened to the great sounds of Second Wind.

The donations at the silent auction were nice, and we bid on several and walked away with one.  I suspect Laura and I will donate something to the auction next year, in addition to participating in the event.

This was and absolutely great event, and I understand the organizers change the on the water activity annually just to keep things interesting.  Laura and I will definitely be back next year with a boat load of folks.  We had a wonderful time both on and off the water, and we want to thank the Oregon Women's Sailing Association (OWSA) and their horde of volunteers for putting on such a great event.

Planning the Cruising Schedule for 2004
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Come December 1st, CRACA must submit our cruising plans for 2004 to the Columbia River Yachting Association (CRYA), so they can examine everyone's schedules and look for too much overlap at some facilities.  To submit a schedule in December, we need to start thinking about it in October and November.

I'd like to collect feedback from the membership over the next few weeks before our Cruising Chairman, Jim Elieff, has to submit our plan.  Here's a proposed plan just to get your mental juices flowing.  Please take a look at it and let me know what you think.  Please bare in mind that coming up with a CRACA schedule that doesn't conflict with other clubs (several CRACA members, like myself, belong to multiple boating clubs) or personal plans is nearly impossible so we looking for the best compromise.  Again, this is only a proposal to get you thinking about it, I have no emotional attachment, so free feel to shoot away.

*Note:  We are still guessing on the dates for many of the area's events since they haven't been published yet.

FRS Radios and their Usefulness Aboard
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Note:  I'm not an expert on this subject, but Laura, Sean, and I use FRS radios aboard the boat and have found them very useful.  What follows is a quick overview put together with information gleaned from various websites.

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is one of the Citizens Band Radio Services. It is for your family, friends and associates to communicate among yourselves within your neighborhood and while on group outings.  FRS operates at a 1/2 watt with 14 channels of unlicensed communication.   What this means is that they will carry your signal further than the average walkie-talkie, usually around 1 mile, sometimes up to two miles.

Some of the radios offer voice-activated microphone/headset combinations, while others use a push-to-talk ear bud and microphone. The voice-activated systems are sometimes very usable, as just about any surrounding noise sets them off. If you adjust them to be less sensitive, they cut out when you are speaking.

One caveat when using radios from different manufacturers is that some features only work with radios from the same manufacturer, or even the same model.  For example, one website described an experience where they were unable to communicate using some of the CTCSS sub-channels on radios that were not the same brand.  Radio accessories are not standard, so any accessories you buy may need to come from the manufacturer of your radio.

Rules and Regulations for FRS

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates FRS. Here are the rules for FRS:

• You cannot modify your radio in any way.
• You cannot swear on FRS.
• You cannot play music or do any other type of one-way communications, except for SOS messages, brief test messages, and traveler assistance.
• You cannot use FRS for any illegal purpose, or to assist you in any illegal purpose.
• You cannot monitor others using FRS. You may only use it for two-way (or three, or four, or five....) communications.

What's the Story with CTCSS (are there more that 14 channels)?

The first thing to say is that these are NOT additional channels, and do NOT keep your conversations private.  There are only 14 FRS channels.

CTCSS [Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System] is essentially a way to keep your own radio from hearing transmissions you don't want it to hear. It does not keep anyone from listening to your transmissions.

It does not add additional channels. There are only 14 of them, each one can carry one transmission at a time (within the given transmission area) no matter what CTCSS tone is used.  If two people try to talk on any given channel at the same time in the same area, even if they have different CTCSS tones selected, they will interfere with each other.

CTCSS is a way to tell your radio not to open the squelch on incoming transmissions unless the transmission has a SUBAUDIBLE TONE (a tone that you can't hear but your radio can) that matches the one your radio is set to use.  If a transmission comes in without a matching tone, your radio won't open the squelch, so you won't hear it even though it is still there.

When you set up CTCSS in your radio, you tell it what tone to listen for. FRS Radios use a subset of 38 of the total of 50 tones allocated for CTCSS.

If you are planning on using this feature, make sure that all of the radios in your group are set to the same tone.

Several online sources recommended not using this feature for the following reasons:

• There can still be only one transmission on a given channel in a given area at the same time. If you have a CTCSS set in your radio and someone else has a different one - if you both try to talk at the same time you will interfere with each other.
• CTCSS is not secure. If I set NO CTCSS in my radio, I will hear every transmission on a given channel in a given area, even if they have CTCSS set in their radios.
• If someone is calling for help and they have NO tone set in their radio - you won't hear them if one is set in your radio.

FRS Aboard the Boat

Onboard Celtic Myst we like the radios for staying in contact when out and about in the kayak.  Another use is when we are ashore and separate for awhile.

We also find them useful when one of us is on the bow and the other is at the helm (i.e. anchoring).  Our recent trip to McCuddy's Landings on Multnomah Channel is a classic example of how we use these radios at night.  With Laura steering and following the radar image, I could communicate with her as I stood watch at the bow with the spotlight.

Sanding the Bottom of Your Boat
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

I took this from the Catalina 30 email discussion group and thought it might be of interest to those do-it-yourselfers in the club.

From: Paul Jacobs [mailto:pjacobs@laserfare.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 1:11 PM
To: c30-list@sailnet.net
Subject: Re: [C30] Newbe bottom painting

[When sanding the bottom,] I use a drywall swivel head, 100 grit 3M "Wet-or-Dry" sandpaper (which doesn't gradually turn to "mush" when wet), and a 5 gallon plastic bucket about 2/3 full of water. The water eliminates toxic dust which saves your skin, your eyes, and your lungs, and means you do NOT need to wear a respirator, which I personally find uncomfortable for an extended period. Repeatedly dipping the swivel head in the water also "unloads" the sanding residue from the sandpaper...significantly increasing its "life" so that I usually only need 3 or 4 sheets of 100 grit Wet-or-Dry paper to do the entire underbody, including the keel and rudder.

The swivel head insures that the surface of the sandpaper complies with the surface being sanded. Since C-30's , like most sailboats have lots of compound curves this is important. Also, the pole allows you to "stand back" from the working area, so you are not getting toxic paint loaded water all over yourself, rather the dirty water drips on the ground 3 or 4 feet away from you! Finally, you are generally working with the pole more or less horizontal, and your arms near chest height, moving them back and forth. This is MUCH less exhausting than sanding "over your head" which turns the strongest arms in the world to jelly in less than ten minutes.

Using the "pole-drywall swivel, Wet-or-Dry sandpaper, bucket of water" method, it generally takes me less than an hour to get CdL's bottom smooth and clean. After a final wash down with a hose, and air drying, she is ready for bottom painting which is the very last thing I do to CdL before she goes into the water in the spring, and surely is one of the best moments of the year for any sailor!

Paul Jacobs
Clair de Lune
C30, 1982 SR #2622
Jamestown, RI

Can You Believe This?
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

I participate in several sailing email discussion groups, so imagine my surprise when the following email and photo appeared showing a winged keel Catalina 30 aground and balanced on its keel.

From: Ekko1@aol.com [mailto:Ekko1@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 9:59 AM
To: c30-list@sailnet.net
Subject: [C30] Fwd: pic of grounding

Anyone who wants to see a nice picture of me grounded a few weekends ago in Manhasset Bay, NY here's the link.

ftp://ftp.sailnet.com/c30/Ekko%20ll/grounded.jpg

Lloyd Sarakin
Catalina 30 TRBS
Hull #4840
EKKO ll
City Island,NY

October

• 21 Monthly Meeting at RCYC (on Tuesday, not Wednesday)
• 25-26, Cruise:  Coon Island (Halloween theme)

November

• 19 Monthly Meeting at TBD
• 22-23, Cruise:  Government Island - East Dock

December

• 13, Holiday Party at RCYC
• No General Membership Meeting

See the calendar