ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org		February 2008

Commodore
By Alden Andre', C38, Fly Bye

It has been a cold and wet winter. I haven’t had my boat out yet this winter, but I did have the joy of sailing on a new Catalina 42.

Justin gave me a call one Friday night last month and asked if I would like to go out sailing on their new Catalina 42. That night it was clear, cold and windy. I had never been on a 42, so I was very curious about how it would handle. Coming out of the slip she backed out and turned as quick as a Catalina 30, with a lot less prop walk than my 38. As we came out of Tomahawk moorage and entered the river the wind blast (20-30kts) hit me in the face. We motored into the wind and pulled up the main. It went up with ease even without using the electric winch. We then unfurled the head sail without reefing. The boat accelerated with surprising ease on a tight reach, broad reach had little weather helm. I turned to get the max power in the sails to see what she would take. With the rail in the water, I could let go of the steering wheel and she would hold and track a strait line beautifully.

I gave up the wheel and decided to go below to see what it was like to walk around the big cabin while heeled 15-20 degrees. I was pleased to find that it was very easy to walk around the cabin, and with plenty of hand holds I felt totally secure.

I was very impressed with how the Catalina 42 handled strong winds. For a boat that is 42 feet big, she handles like a lot smaller boat. More like a sports car vs a big Mack truck. This is a boat that one person would not have a problem with in strong winds and heavy seas. Every thing on the boat, from all the rigging running to the cockpit to the huge storage lockers, makes me give this model two thumbs up!

I hope every one is having a good year. See you on the water soon.

Alden Andre

Vice Commodore
By Jim Turner, C30, Fat Cat

   I've Been pretty busy lately, and frankly I haven’t had much time to spend on putting together club functions, for which I apologize. It was great visiting with many of you at the Old Town Pizza in January. We were happy to see such a large turnout and enjoyed visiting with everyone including a few new members. For anyone that wasn’t able to join us in taking the Portland Underground tour, you didn’t miss much and it should be renamed the Portland dusty basement tour! However the tour certainly didn’t dampen the evening and we had a wonderful time.

In our discussion about future events of interest, I noted the following…

· More Cruise and Racing speakers

· Floatation devices and person-overboard-drills

· Pets-On-Board

· Multi-Club events

· Surveyor

· Diesel Maintenance

· Salvage – Sea Tow

· Learn to sail or experience sailing on others boats

   I recently contacted Catalina Yachts and am inquiring about their sending a representative to our 2008 Rendezvous. Since Frank Butler detailed the genesis of the Catalina 440 last time they attended our Rendezvous, maybe this year they could do the same for the new Catalina 375 model. I’ve contacted Sea Tow to see if they are interested in presenting as well. At the Seattle Boat show I also learned of a boating business that specializes in Green Boating products which may be an area of interest to many of us. So we’ll keep working on putting together new events and hopefully have something for you soon!

We are looking forward to Spring with longing and anxiously anticipating going cruising with you soon!

JimT

Secretary/Treasurer
By John Kerrigan, C30, Magewind

Communications Officer
By Justin Albano, New Catalinas Every Year!

Hello CRACA Members,
   The summer sailing season is right around the corner, I can almost taste it! (Ok maybe its still pretty far away, but I'm trying to be optimistic here!) In the meantime, the RCS team and I have had some amazing, (and yes, cold) winter sails out on the Columbia. The other week we took the new Catalina 309 out for her maiden voyage, and I am once again head over heals in love. She handles like a Ferrari and is as comfortable as a Cadillac. I hope we can get some other people as excited as I am, because she would be a fantastic race boat!

   Also, remember that CRACA now has a page in Facebook. Facebook is a free social network that would allow us to easily pass along messages, post pictures, ask each other questions etc. You don’t have to post any personal information that you don’t want to and like I said it is free to sign up. You can sign up at www.facebook.com or if you are already a member go directly to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18947715159  The only catch is that it only works if people participate...

-Justin

Safety Focal
By Larry Brandt, C36, High Flight

SAFETY
February 2008 Newsletter

   Maybe it isn't April 1st yet, but you should probably take this safety recommendation with a grain of salt anyway: Beware of Ghosts! And I'm not referring to "ghosting" over the seas with a spinnaker offering barely steerageway.

   I am talking about January's CRACA meeting, held at Old Town Pizza in downtown Portland. Some of us attending had the chance to get a tour of ghostly (ghastly???) underground Portland, hearing about, and seeing the remnants of, the old passage ways and opium dens of a day long past when Portland was the hangout of thugs ready to knock a stranger in the head and "shanghai" him onboard a ship bound to sea. The shanghai'd victim often never again saw his loved ones, as it was a dangerous time aboard square-riggers back then. There was money to be made by "provisioning" departing ships with manpower, willing or not.

   I suppose that's one way we can get a crew for those weekly races. Another way might be to be a good skipper, exercising the leadership necessary to keeping the boat a No Yell Zone, respecting everyone, making for a happy ship in the pursuit of victory.

Here are a few photos taken during the underground Portland tour at the last CRACA meeting. Look for the ghost.

OK, I know you haven’t found the ghost. Either that’s him over the Watch Your Step sign, or that’s his hand reaching down from the ceiling.

See you at the next CRACA meeting.

Larry Brandt

Historian
By Alex Andre', C38, Fly Bye

<No Submission>

Rear Commodore
By Eric Rouzee, C36, Legacy

<No Submission>

    Well members of CRCA , The Boat show was a lot of fun. I spent most of my time at the Salpare Bay booth , but managed to see a lot of CRACA members and a bunch of vendors that I haven't seen for a long time. Had dinner and a few drinks with some of them.  All in all, it was a fun social event for me. 

    I was at the CRACA booth on the last Sunday mourning and a couple of people signed up to join. I'm telling you that NEW 309 Catalina is one terrific boat.  The aft cabin is as big as a 34' Catalina, the kitchen is bigger and has a real refer! The head has a larger shower than an older 30', which I own. Just a great boat all around. I don't know how they do it, but I'm glad they did. 

   The cruise schedules should be out after the next CRYA meeting on the 19th of this month. I will bring them to the meeting on the 20th, if we have one then??

    One of my friends that I sold a 30' Newport joined the club as an honorary member. I think his friend might join , too.

    I hope the weather isn't dampening anybody's spirits. I've been living on my boat all the time, except for a couple of nights when the temp was down in the 20's.  I hope all is well with all of you. Come in and see me at Salpare Bay Marina, Friday to Tuesdays and I'll be happy to show you around!!!

  Until then Have a Happy Valentines Day James M. Elieff C.D.

Submitted By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

VESSEL SAFETY CHECKS

The Vessel Safety Check is a complimentary check of your boat conducted by members of the Auxiliary, confirming that it meets both federal and state requirements for safety. No citations are issued and the results of the safety check are not reported to any enforcement agency, but a decal is awarded to display if the vessel has passed the examination.

An example of some of the items checked include:
Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets)
Registration and numbering
Navigation lights
Ventilation
Fire extinguishers
Distress signals (flares, horn, etc.)
Battery cover and connections
All of these items are currently required by state and federal laws and, if missing or non-operating, can result in a citation if your vessel is inspected by the Coast Guard.
The Vessel Safety Check gives you a risk-free way to check that you meet the legal minimums and to potentially avoid a citation later.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit SafetySeal.net - A website devoted exclusively to the Vessel Safety Check program co-sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons.
Contact a member of the Auxiliary, Michael Lewis, 503-981-7467 or watch for information at the upcoming cruises.

West Marine Offers Safety Equipment Discount West Marine will again offer a 10% discount on safety equipment to boaters who receive a Vessel Safety Check. West Marine has long been an active supporter of the VSC program and the educational value it brings to the recreational boating community.

So get a VSC and get the coupon for the 10% discount.

From Boat US

February 6, 2008

Dear BoatUS Member,

When recreational boaters in Oregon fill up their boat's gasoline tanks this year, they will be introduced to a blend of gasoline mixed with a 10% concentration of ethanol (E-10).

While ethanol allows gasoline engines to burn cleaner, it has some side effects for marine engine systems. BoatUS is sending this email to our Oregon members to help alert you to some of these problems. Please visit these links for more information:

BoatUS Ethanol Fact and Tip Sheet

Visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Seaworthy for articles we've written.

Read our message boards at http://My.BoatUS.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=142

Please forward this email to your boating and fishing friends, clubs, and neighbors!

As a result of Oregon's Biofuel Mandate Law, passed into law last year, starting in January the blended fuel will become mandatory in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, and Marion counties. The City of Portland has its own requirement for ethanol-blended fuel already in place. By April 15, 2008, Linn, Lane, Benton, Lincoln, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, and Curry counties will join. By September 16, 2008, all counties east of the Cascades will complete the full statewide implementation.

Thanks for being a BoatUS Member

Margaret Podlich
Vice President, Government Affairs
BoatUS

More questions? Email Seaworthy@BoatUS.com

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 Assoc. www.owsa.net

Catalina Assoc.  of Tacoma and South Sound 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

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