ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org		October 2006

Rear Commodore's Log
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

I'm sorry Laura and I missed everyone at the Catalina Rendezvous last month.  Even delaying our departure a day didn't have Laura feeling any better so we just accepted the fact that it wasn't meant to be.  Through the grapevine I hear that lots of summer sailing stories were traded back an forth along with a few photos.  It sounds like everyone had a great time.

OWSA Wednesday Night Sails (WNS)

Celtic Myst continued to host crews from the Oregon Women's Sailing Association on OWSA's Wednesday Night Sails.  Since the first WNS in May, I have never handled the wheel once.  Most crews were pretty inexperienced, but they successfully got the boat underway and back into the slip at the end of the sail with me talking them through each step.  The undocking and docking was probably one of the most intimidating parts of the sail  since most crews thought I'd be handling the boat in and out of the berth.  Three of the sail's had winds strong enough to prevent Celtic Myst from swinging its bow into the wind as we backed out of the slip.  On those nights the OWSA helmsperson got to learn how to back the boat down the fairway, a distance of several hundred feet.  The last sail of the season was September 27th.  Due to calm conditions, Celtic Myst, Upstart, and Radio Flyer motored down to Canoe Bay (Grandma's Cove) just upriver of the railroad bridge and rafted up.  OWSA is always looking for boats to volunteer for WNS so think about it for 2007.  As for you ladies, joining OWSA and participating in the WNS is a wonderful way to connect with other women, sail aboard a variety of boats, and enjoy practicing a few skills in a supportive environment.  Oh, and what do men like  Bill Sanborn on Upstart and me do on the sails?  We coach when needed, otherwise we try to be invisible.

New Pumpout Stations

Normally I don't write about heads, holding tanks, or pumpout facilities, but every once in awhile something happens that makes life a little easier.  Recently I was returning from Donaldson Marina after refueling the boat and decided to visit the pumpout station at Hayden Bay since the station at Tomahawk Bay was closed when I pulled out of the marina.  It turns out that Columbia Crossing was in the process of replacing the old slow holding tank pumpout stations at their marinas.  Fortunately for me, one of the two units at Hayden Bay was operational, so I got to try it out.  WOW!  Talk about suction.  It emptied my fifteen gallon holding tank in less than a minute.  I couldn't believe it, so I used the nearby water hose to refill the holding tank and try it again.  Sure enough, less than a minute after starting the pump the holding tank was empty.  Totally awesome!

Halloween Cruise

Laura and I are looking forward to the CRACA Halloween Cruise to Bartlett Landing.  While we miss going to Coon Island this time of year, we have to admit the closeness of Government Island is starting to emerge as a favorite destination.

Our hosts for the cruise have been deliberately vague when it comes to details beyond what's published in the announcement.  All I was able to get out of them was "...be prepared for anything, but remember that it is Halloween".  As for the Great Pumpkin River Race our hosts passed along "...the Great Pumpkin River Race is about taking a pumpkin and making a boat out of it.  Some will cut it in half, others will leave it whole.  Some will put sails on it, while others might float it whole.  It really doesn't matter, just be creative."  I've included some photos of past entries in the race and past entries in the "Best Use of a Pumpkin" contest.

This cruise is always fun.  Even when it has been wet and foggy, folks always seem to have a great time and leave looking forward to next year.  So, unless the river is frozen or it's blowing a gale, Laura and I will see you there.

From the Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

Please welcome three new members to CRACA:

Rick and Cheryl Ward of West Linn

Their 1983 C36 Cheryl Lynn is at Tomahawk

John and Cheryl Fulton of Tigard

Their 2005 C320 Mystique is at F38 at Tomahawk

Jim Nocar of Pleasanton, CA

His 1986 C36 is at Tomahawk

A brief report of the journeys of Wind Raven and her crew—

The crew of Wind Raven left our home port the last week in June and spent the next five and a half weeks visiting various ports of call in Oregon, Washington, the San Juan and Gulf Islands.

It was the year to check out marinas and visit yacht clubs that have reciprocal arrangements with PYC.  We met many interesting boaters along the way.  It is amazing how many people have, have had or know someone who has a Newfoundland.  Bear greeted all who came along.

We also checked out the customs procedures in Canada at Sidney and Victoria.  In the United States we visited Point Roberts and Port Angeles.

Kathy Lewis
Secretary/Treasurer
sewingmaven@msn.com

Hello fellow CRACA members, we've enjoyed a beautiful warm and windy summer.  The boats that came to the cruises have had a great time.  I'm looking to more of the same next year!!!  Don't forget we still have another cruise this year.  I hope to see you at our Halloween cruise October 21-22 to Government Island, East Dock (aka Bartlett Landing).

McCuddy's Landing on Multnomah  Channel near Scappoose played host to the 2006 Catalina Rendezvous.  We had members attending by boat and by car.  Our Vice Commodore Eric Rouzee gave a great presentation on his boat's participation in this year's Oregon Offshore race from the mouth of the Columbia River to Victoria, B.C.  Eric's presentation had some great photos.

Sixteen of us ate at Mark's on the Channel, located at the marina.  The food was great and the company even better.  It was wonderful seeing members Bill & Marla Simon along with  Dave & Eli, and Jerry & Lisa Sullivan.  Kevin Cote form Sailboats of Oregon came and brought some door prizes.  We all had a terrific time together.

• At the CRYA meeting on September 18th they reported that the Christmas Ship schedule will posted on their site at www.crya.us .
• The Oregon State Marine Board has issued 146,000 Boaters Educational cards,  which is way over the anticipated number.
• The Sand Island lower docks near St. Helens have been damaged and won't be ready for the CRYA Halloween cruise.
• The Sandy Beach Park project, located at Government Island, West, is in the design and engineering stage.  The project's completion is approximately two years in the future.
• JJ Colins (Coon Island) E. side request for permits did not get out in time, therefore construction will not begin before 2007.
• The O’Laughlin’s will be passing out children’s PFDs again at the January Portland Boat Show. They also will exchange PFDs that no longer fit for new ones. The old PFDs will go into a loaner program.

The Sail for the Cure continues to be one of my favorite annual sailing events and 2006 was no exception.  The sun was out, the wind was moderate, everyone was in high spirits, and more than fifty boats enjoyed this non-racing event.  The nine Catalina participants included:

• C22 Sunrise, Karen Maynard
• C25 Encore!, Gary & Kathy Bruner
• C25 Lematike, Terry & Kathie Annis
• C25 Leucothea, Nate & Margaret Hanson
• C25 Tybreaker, Alice Patten
• C250 <<no name yet>>, Doug and JoNell McClary
• C27 Mojito, Carl & Beth Sorensen
• C28 KA-SL, Gary Whitney
• C30 Celtic Myst, Dale & Laura Mack

Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

Catalina 22 Fleet 20 of Portland www.C22pdx.org Sail Portland www.sailpdx.com Oregon Women's Sailing Association www.owsa.net

Catalina Assoc.  of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS) home.earthlink.net/~catss/CATSS Web Page.htm Catalina Association of Puget Sound capsfleet1.com/News Letters.htm Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO) www.sailpdx.com/sysco.htm

October

• Meeting:  25, General Meeting & 2007 Board Election Mars Meadows, 6:30 pm
• Cruise:  21 - 22, Bartlett Landing, Government Island - East Dock

See the calendar